Working life Relevance, Competence Awareness, and Practical Components in our Studies
Do you want to learn more about, and become familiar with your competence during your studies? Would you like practical experience in your field and to get acquainted with the labour market before you graduate?
The Department of Political Science is committed to highlighting the inherent relevance our studies offers, and the skills our graduates acquire here that are needed in the work force. We also offer specific practical components as part of the studies.
Working life Relevance at the Department of Political Science
The Department of Political Science (ISV) offers research-based, applicable, and socially relevant education. First and foremost you learn to think critically about political matters. An important goal is to educate graduates who qualify for exciting jobs in various sectors and who have the competence to contribute to increased knowledge about society, and thus to help solve problems across many societal areas.
Central to our focus on working life relevance is to make our students aware of the skills the study program provides and how these skills are applicable to the workforce - both within and outside academia.
Therefore, we have numerous collaborations with the workforce and our alumni. As a student, you can, among other things, be placed as an intern with a host institution, engage in student assignments designed by potential employers, and participate in presentations, panel discussions, and courses with guest lecturers. Additionally, our students organize a variety of events, company visits, workshops, etc., across the different study programs.
The Department's guidelines for internship courses with ECT's
The fundamental principle for our internship/practical components is that they should be an integrated part of the study, not encompassing work experience on the side. This underlies the Department's guidelines for internship courses with ECT's:
Internship courses with ECT's at ISV should generally a) not exceed 10 credits and the workload this entails, b) have learning outcome descriptions developed by the academic staff at ISV, c) not be structured in a way that causes delays in the academic progress or disconnects students from ISV and their studies, and d) not be paid and/or replace regular labor for an employer.
Political Science is Working life Relevant
Political science as a discipline is highly relevant to the workforce, and as a student, you will learn, among other things, to think critically about political issues. This means that you should not only understand and acquire existing knowledge, but also be able to develop and evaluate new knowledge independently.
Both the content and methodological courses we offer will enable you to conduct systematic studies and analyses of society and politics. This prepares you to become an independent and constructive contributor to societal development, both in the short and long term Our goal is to educate graduates who enhance the quality of work performed across the many and various societal sectors our students join.
We integrate inquiry-based learning and research practice at all levels of education. At the same time, we emphasize the application to other types of problem-solving in our training, which is why, as a student, you will engage in a number of practically-oriented tasks and opportunities as part of the regular instruction.
ISV Alumni and Working life Relevance
Our alumni are a valuable resource in enhancing working life relevance and increasing competence awareness among students. Alongside current students, they are our foremost ambassadors. In addition to being excellent examples of the work conducted by social and political scientists in both the public and private sectors, they also provide insights into future workforce needs and how we can best approach internships and working-life-relevance for our students. Both recent graduates and more experienced alumni contribute in various contexts and serve as bridges between studies at ISV and the professional world. Therefore, our alumni network, ISV Alumni, is continuously evolving.
Method and Working Life
There is a significant demand for the methodological tools and skills from political science in various sectors of the workforce. To highlight this, we organize the annual event 'Method and Working Life' for master's students.
In this event, we invite various employers from the public and private sectors to participate in a panel discussion on how they utilize social/political science methodologies at their workplace.
Alumni Panel at the Start of Studies
The graduate survey shows that our graduates are attractive and quickly find employment, yet many remain uncertain about life after their studies.
Our best ambassadors for showcasing the range and diversity of careers our graduates pursue are the alumni themselves. At the start of each academic year, we invite a group of them for a discussion about what political scientists do and how they utilize their skills.
The PECOS Practitioner Perspectives Seminar Series
The PECOS Practitioner Perspectives Seminar Series – is an initiative where master's students have the opportunity to be introduced to and speak with alumni and/or professionals working in peace research, security, and conflict resolution. The program is co-hosted by the PECOS students themselves.
The last years we've had practitioners from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Advansia, Norad, Norwegian Intelligence School, Retriever, Save the Children and NOREF, to mention some.
Examples of Collaborations and Company Visits
Stegsten
Voksenåsen Cultural Center, in dialogue with ISV, has developed a career program for political science students. Through two seminars and a mentorship scheme, participants will create networks and gain insights into the workforce and relevant career paths in the Nordic region and internationally.
The Stegsten Career Program, is piloted in 2024 and 2025, is a meeting place for political science students in Norway and Sweden. Participants will hear from distinguished speakers, learn from experienced mentors, and engage in thought-provoking discussions about democracy and society.
Visit from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
On Monday, November 4, 2024, we hosted representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who spoke about what it's like to work there and the career opportunities available. Two current trainees and a diplomat shared their experiences and answered questions from students in a panel discussion moderated by a master's student at ISV
Master's Course in Collaboration with the Ministry of Education
As part of the master’s course STV4447 – Education policies in theory and practice - Policymaking in Norway and around the world the students receive policy problems which they have to address by writing a policy brief outlining their solutions to a given problem.
Other offerings at UiO
Career services at UiO offers career guidance, career courses, career modules, and has its own job portal. Become aware of what you can do during your studies to strengthen your skills and connect with the workforce.
Gain other valuable experience!
By getting involved in an association and/or program committee/council, you can both influence your studies and gain valuable experience along the way.