IGEES Internship Programme
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From: Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform
- Published on: 17 September 2014
- Last updated on: 17 September 2024
Since 2018, the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGESS) Internship Programme has been providing students the opportunity to gain valuable experience working as interns with IGEES units across the Civil Service. Applications are accepted from those in the final or second last year of a Bachelor’s Degree, or from those pursuing a Master’s Degree.
The 12-week internship runs within the period from June to September (inclusive). The 2024 programme had 37 interns assigned across 14 government departments. This was up from 23 interns in 2023, demonstrating the high level of interest both from potential candidates and host departments, as well as the overall success of the programme.
During the programme the interns will work a variety of projects. While each project is specific to the host department and project goals, they all have similar characteristics and offer students similar opportunities, including:
- Project work involving data analysis and research;
- The completion of tasks arising from the daily work of the Civil Service;
- On the job training and development opportunities.
At the end of the programme, interns participate in a series of workshops where they present on their work over the course of the programme. These presentations showcase the contribution that both they individually, and the programme more generally, make to host departments as well as the broader analytical and research landscape.
Interns have shared that they would highly recommend the programme to other students. They believe it is a valuable way of applying their knowledge and skills while gaining insights and hands on experience on policy in a government department.
Speaking of her time as an 2024 intern in the Education Vote in the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (DPENDR), Sadhbh Nic Con Iomaire stated that it was:
“An amazing experience. I learned so much and got hands on experience in the civil service, including the opportunity to get involved in the budget process. I would definitely recommend this internship to any undergraduate students who are interested in getting a taste for politics and the civil service”.
2024 Department of Health intern, Hannah Scanlon shared her view that:
“Research papers often describe the value such research has on influencing the decision-making process of policymakers. My IGEES experience bridged this gap between researcher and policymaker by providing an opportunity to conduct health economics research, working directly with Ireland’s health policy makers – a truly unique experience as an undergraduate! In addition, I’ve developed as a working professional, which will serve me well in all my future pursuits.”
During the course of their engagement with the IGEES Internship Programme, interns are made aware of recruitment channels and competitions for IGEES. There are a number of previous interns who have been successful in being recruited into IGEES following their graduation. This meets a key objective of the programme, that is the cultivation of a cohort of knowledgeable and skilled recruits with policy experience and a strong interest in public policy and delivering better public services.