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Internship at EIPA with the Effective Public Administration Team
The European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA) was created in 1981 on the occasion of the first European Council held in Maastricht and is supported by the EU Member States and the European Commission. Our core mission is to provide a mix of deep insights and practical knowledge about EU policies, to all professionals related to EU public affairs, with the key objective of further improving their skills and capabilities for effective management of the policies. In addition to the Maastricht-based headquarters, EIPA has a centre in Luxembourg: the European Centre for Judges and Lawyers (ECJL).
The position
The poly-crisis of the past decade, such as the financial crisis and the the Covid-19 pandemic, has tested the strength and resilience of governments, prompting a deeper reflection on how to improve public sector performance against the backdrop of austerity policy.
To this end, EIPA is conducting an International Benchmarking Study 2022–2025, in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations of the Netherlands. The study is the fourth edition in a series, following earlier reports in 2004, 2012 and 2015.
The current edition 2022–2025, compares and evaluates the performance of public services in 35 countries across 10 policy areas including public administration. The study analyses efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery, taking into account the relevant policy context, that has an impact on public sector performance as well as trust and satisfaction of citizens.
The ultimate aim of the study is to provide policymakers with the opportunity to learn about good practices and the most important factors that contribute to a high level of achievement of policy objectives.
Our benchmarking team is looking for an intern who is interested in applying the knowledge and skills acquired during their studies and gaining practical experience in analysing public sector performance.
Main tasks and responsibilities
The tasks during this internship will include:
- Support project management and the members of the EIPA benchmarking team
- Contribute to research on national public administrations across Europe, focusing on governance structures and public policy processes,
- Conduct literature review of academic journals and various policy documents to identify and evaluate best practices in areas such as democracy, citizen engagement and digitalisation
- Assist in the collection and processing of quantitative data
- Prepare concise, well-structured summaries and reports in academic English on the findings, tailored to specific project objectives
- Ensure effective written communication of research outputs, including creating infographics or slide decks where necessary.
- Regularly seek and act on feedback to improve research quality and alignment with project needs.
Your profile
You can apply for a student internship if you have/are:
- Enrolled in a Master’s program in Political Science/Public Administration, European Studies, Public Policy or a closely related discipline
- Strong qualitative research skills particularly related to literature review tasks
- Data analysis skills and familiarity with software such as Stata and PowerBI is desirable and considered an asset
- Excellent writing skills
- A good familiarity with the current trends in democracy, citizen engagement and digitalisation
- Good language and communication skills in English (C1/C2-native language)
- Language skills in Dutch are an asset
- Proactivity and constructive approach to challenges
- Preferably the nationality of one of the EU Member States, of the candidate countries to the EU, or one of the EEA countries, Switzerland or the United Kingdom
The internship can be part time or full time, starting as soon as possible.
Are you interested?
Please submit your CV and a motivational letter (maximum one page) in English by email to recruitment@eipa.eu mentioning the vacancy number V0271. Your application will be forwarded to the relevant staff member(s), who will consider the possibilities for cooperation.
Deadline for application: 23 February 2025.
Student internships at EIPA are not remunerated, but in certain circumstances we can offer a small allowance. The duration of the internship can vary from a minimum of four months up to six months.
Internship applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and positions may be filled before the final deadline. We encourage early submissions to maximise your chances
Start Date: As soon as possible
In the body of the email, please copy in: “I hereby consent that my personal data is processed by EIPA for recruitment purposes” so that we have your written consent to follow up on your application.