2023 Winter Research Program
The Summer/Winter Research Program is an opportunity for undergraduate, honours and postgraduate coursework students to get involved in exciting research projects within the school.
Winter research projects are available for 4 weeks between Monday 26 June – Friday 21 July 2023.
Applications for the 2023 Winter Research Program will open 20 March 2023, and close on 16 April 2023.
Project title: | Gender and Electoral Administration in the Pacific Islands |
Project duration: | 4 weeks |
Description: | This project proposes innovative research to build knowledge of, and support for, women’s leadership in election administration in Pacific Island countries (PICs). While Pacific women are perceived to play marginal roles in electoral politics, there are increasing numbers of women in this region who make critical, if under-recognised, contributions to the management and delivery of elections. This is evidenced in the numbers of women working at all levels within national election commissions, and as “street-level” polling officials. While these roles are ignored in broader debates about electoral participation and democracy in the Pacific, they have the potential to build greater popular trust in the electoral process, and challenge political alienation, particularly amongst traditionally marginalised groups. This project will offer critical insights on this leadership in ways that respond to Pacific policy frameworks designed to advance the standing of women as well as Australian aid and development priorities in the area of gender programming. |
Expected outcomes and deliverables: | Scholars will gain skills in developing a literature review to assist the preparation of a major grant application, data gathering and analysis and liaison with research partners across the Pacific Islands. There may be an opportunity to develop a co-written publication surveying the literature on election management bodies and gendered participation in election administration in the Pacific Islands region. |
Suitable for: | This opportunity would be most suitable for students with a background in genders studies, political science and an interest in public policy an political institutions. An interest in Pacific Affairs would also be beneficial. 1-2 students could be recruited. |
Primary Supervisor: | Associate Professor Nicole George. |
Further info: | Please contact Nicole for further information at n.george2@uq.edu.au. |
For queries contact polsis@uq.edu.au