Reflections on a research internship

Before this internship, research into higher education inequalities never seemed to accurately reflect my experiences and I thought that quant analysis had removed the personal, emotional sides of stories completely. That changed when one day I found a report by TASO into mental health and disability. For the first time, I felt represented in findings that were about people like me. It was then I decided that I had to apply to be a Research Intern at TASO.

From the application to the interview to the last month and a half itself, everything has been just so rewarding and enjoyable. Even when it seemed to be completely different to any field I already had academic knowledge in (I’m a languages and law student), I was welcomed in with open arms and encouraged to try absolutely anything and everything.

I’ve been working in literature reviews and research synthesis, examining whether the different tuition fee funding models between devolved nations have an impact in widening participation. Aside from this, I helped to score invitations to tender from evaluators and higher education providers and provided input in meetings on issues and topics that really mattered to me. The one thing that stuck out to me was how much freedom and encouragement we were given to pursue projects that mattered to us, meaning that I also got to help conduct interviews and research into renewing TASO’s youth engagement strategy.

If all of this wasn’t enough, we also were lucky enough to be able to visit the Treasury to meet the Evaluation Task Force (ETF) and talk about their work and plans for the future, as well as hear just how vital the What Works Network is to government and policy decisions. As interns, we came out of this and the whole experience feeling so inspired and renewed in our passion for and commitment to evidence-based interventions and policy. I could not be more grateful to TASO and the wider Evidence Quarter for giving me the opportunity to develop so many skills and interests during my time here. What I’ve learnt here will stay with me forever and will help me immensely in my future career and I’m sure this definitely isn’t the last time TASO and I will be crossing paths.

Bethan has just completed a summer internship at TASO as a Research Intern. She is studying European Social and Political Studies at UCL.