Parliamentary Reception celebrates success of students and alumni working in public affairs
Students and academics from SSE met with MPs and Peers met on 4th March at the Houses of Parliament for a parliamentary reception celebrating the success of Queen Mary’s current and former students working in public affairs.
Colin Bailey, Principal of Queen Mary gave a speech to attendees along with the reception’s host and former politics student Lloyd Hatton Labour MP for South Dorset, and Uma Kumaran MP for Stratford and Bow, also a former student of Queen Mary.
This year 44 students are taking part in the parliamentary placement module – most working with MPs, from four different political parties. The placement gives them the opportunity to put their academic learning about parliament into practice, with typical responsibilities including drafting letters, preparing briefings, writing speeches, and attending parliamentary meetings.
Each placement lasts 12 weeks, and the scheme is designed to build on Queen Mary’s prior Parliamentary Studies module, which is taught in formal collaboration with the Houses of Parliament. As part of the module, students write weekly reflections on their experiences, and draw on academic research about how parliament operates.
Among the other MPs who attended the reception were: Helen Hayes MP, the Chair of the Education Committee; Ruth Cadbury MP, the Chair of the Transport Committee; and Zoe Franklin, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Local Government.