Volunteer Research Internship Programme, UK

About the Role

             

The purpose of the volunteer research internship programme is to provide research experience to students in order to encourage them to consider a career in research, development and/or child rights.

As a sponsorship organisation Plan collects data on the development of each sponsored child every year in order to update the information to the sponsors of each child. This data was previously stored in individual country databases, which made a global analysis impossible. However, in recent years Plan, at a global level, has undertaken a process of creating a single database of information. This new database is BI online (Cognos 8), and is accessible to every Plan office in the world, making the sponsorship data available for analysis, alongside its traditional main purpose of updating the child sponsors. Currently the database holds information on more than 1.5 million children with data for the fiscal years 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. Each participant will conduct a research project under the guidance of a supervisor and report their findings through a written report and an oral presentation at the end of the Programme.

Reporting to the Research Coordinator, the intern will be based at Plan’s International HQ and will mainly work on the analysis of the sponsorship data, although if another project related to the Research and Knowledge Management Team’s work is found to be of interest and suitable, this may also form a focus of the intern’s time at Plan. The duration of the internship will be for 12 weeks if full-time and could extend up to 24 weeks if on a part-time arrangement. It will be based in Woking, UK (30 min by train from Central London). Local travel expenses of up to £20.00 a day and lunch up to £4.50 a day will be covered.

Eligibility

This internship is only open to currently registered final year or post-graduate students at Universities and Educational Institutions with an interest in international development or a related academic area. The student should:

•  be fluent in English;
• have good analytical skills;
• have good knowledge of a range of research methods;
• have excellent computer skills and experience of undertaking quantitative data analysis using SPSS, Cognos, MS Excel or a similar programme
• have good writing and research skills;
• have good interpersonal skills and be able to work with people from different cultures with integrity and honestly;
• have an understanding and commitment to the aims of Plan and the Convention on the Rights of the Child;
• always maintain research protocols and integrity as mandated by Plan International Headquarters, including upholding the confidentiality of the research material and data at all times.

How to apply

Students should kindly send a covering letter, a brief curriculum vitae, a writing exemplar of no longer than 3000 words (already submitted for assessment in a course) and a supporting statement from one of the student’s academic tutors or lecturers.

This is an unpaid Volunteer Internship; however local travel expenses of up to £20.00 a day and lunch up to £4.50 a day will be covered.

Location and Travel: Based in Woking, Surrey (30 minutes by train from Central London)

Reports to: Research Coordinator

Closing Date: 12 May 2013

Duration: 12 week internship weeks

Applicants must be eligible to visit the UK without restrictions

References will be taken and background and anti-terrorism checks will be carried out in conformity with Plans Child Protection Policy. Plan operates an equal opportunities policy and actively encourages diversity, welcoming applications from all areas of the international community.

Please note that only applications and CVs written in English will be accepted.

Your online application form can be saved, reviewed and amended before submission.

Click here for more details and application