Reflections from Our Ignite Intern

Health Inequalities • Ignite Internship

This blog has been authored by Salsabilla Zaki

My time with the Centre for the South, under the University of Southampton’s Ignite Internship Scheme, has been the most valuable career-oriented work I have undertaken. Working with such a respected team allowed me to integrate with both the Public Policy | Southampton (PPS) and Centre for the South (CftS) teams, understand the work each person commits to, and the dynamics behind each role.

The most significant takeaway from my time here was gaining a clearer understanding of what it would be like working in such an environment, aligning with my interests stemming from my degree in the social sciences. I can proudly say that I have benefited from a clearer insight into what this field of work entails, and personally, it broadened my horizons about the kind of work possible for me. Prior to this internship, I had a more rigid view that my degree would bind me to research. It became clear to me that my skills can be applied to real-world challenges. I was inspired by the mission statement of CftS, which highlights the process of how research can be used to inform policy. Understanding this aim aided my understanding of future career prospects and helped me visualize a field I could aspire to in the future.

I really appreciated my time at CftS, and I want to note the moments that enhanced my experience as an intern. The in-person introduction session set the tone of working with the team, providing detailed insight into CftS/PPS’s work. This helped me feel more comfortable in the work sphere, especially since it was my first time in such a formal setting. Furthermore, the face-to-face interaction allowed me to ask questions and understand the expectations better. I also want to mention the final presentation meeting, where I could report my research findings to everyone. This felt like a suitable conclusion to my time here, enhancing my communication and presentation skills.

My main take away from developing my report and delivering my presentation is the need to be careful and critical of information. Since my topic involved various official and non-official sources, I had to choose information from reliable sources to evaluate policy effectiveness. Focusing on official sources from the government and the NHS was necessary to understand policies and their impact on local communities. Researching and coordinating these sources was a lengthy process, but regular contact with my supervisor helped me stay on track.

Overall, I appreciate the support from each team member and the training provided, as it gave me valuable insight into this field of work. I hope my future career aligns with the work I have achieved here.

Thank you for everything!