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I have had the privilege of working within the University of Southampton’s Public Policy Unit as an intern for just over three months.
As I had expected, coming into this internship from a purely legal background, and at the final stages of my doctoral studies in marine environmental law has been hugely beneficial for me. Throughout my studies, I have grown more and more aware that, particularly in the field of environmental protection, law and policy are two sides of the same coin. In that sense, my experience at Public Policy| Southampton allowed me to gain a valuable fuller picture of the impact which research could have as evidence in support for policy-making. In the process, I became more familiar with the UK’s political structure, and with the contemporary, national, regional and global policy directions sought by Governments and the UK Parliament, paving the way for legal researchers to influence decisions at the highest levels.
During my internship, I contributed in the various projects and events lead by Public Policy| Southampton. Most notably, I had the unique opportunity to assist the team during a policy event at the Parliament, where I witnessed first-hand the engagement of MPs with University of Southampton academics specialised in various fields. More generally, I was entrusted with identifying and corresponding with the researchers within the University to answer Parliamentary Inquiries and Government consultations. This has helped me enhance my interpersonal and organisational skills, and expand my network. Moreover, and on a more personal level, my involvement in the knowledge brokerage process left me with a great feeling of fulfilment.
My experience with Public Policy| Southampton would not have been so beneficial if it was not for the positive and pro-active environment within the team. The team is enriched by the diversity in the backgrounds of its members, who are distinctively receptive, supportive, ambitious and competent. Their passion towards having an impact on dealing with social, economic, and political issues is unequivocal. To that end, the team is regularly involved with local and national politicians and experts, and frequently promote placement positions for University of Southampton researchers to engage with the policy process at various research councils.
Overall, my time with Public Policy| Southampton not only allowed me to enhance skills vital for any career, but also presented me with a first-hand opportunity to witness the role which research in law (and in other areas) plays in developing the regulations and legislation that govern all of us. I personally found this perspective to be particularly encouraging as it emphasised the sense of purpose underlying my research. I would strongly recommend the internship program for anyone involved in research or in policy making in general.
Wassim Dbouk
BA (Univeristé Saint-Joseph de Beyrouth); LLM Maritime Law (University of Southampton)
PhD Candidate Maritime Law (University of Southampton)