Learning Through Policy: Insights from a CPP Evaluation Internship
Published: 6 August 2025
6 August 2025: Marina Bomura (she/her) is completing an MSc Education, Public Policy and Equity at the University of Glasgow. In this blog, she shares her experience as an intern for the Centre for Public Policy as a Policy Evaluation Intern.
Marina Bomura (she/her) is completing an MSc Education, Public Policy and Equity at the University of Glasgow. In this blog, she shares her experience as an intern for the Centre for Public Policy as a Policy Evaluation Intern.
Blog by Marina Bomura, CPP Policy Evaluation Intern
I held the position of Policy Evaluation Intern, supporting the wider team in the development of a Policy Evaluation Hub. My responsibilities included gathering relevant literature and official documents from the UK government and its devolved administrations - England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. I also contributed through writing about the current landscape of public policy evaluation in the UK, identifying key gaps, and highlighting the importance of effective evaluation in policymaking.
Being in contact with the professionals at the CPP allowed me to learn from their ideas and initiatives firsthand. The team has deep expertise and works on multiple projects simultaneously, all while maintaining an impressive openness to sharing knowledge. Both the leadership and the team were exceptionally generous and supportive, creating a truly inspiring learning environment.
This experience had a lasting impact on me and reinforced my commitment to carry forward a spirit of collaboration and support in my own career. It also showed me how diverse formats and approaches can be used to deliver high-quality information, foster meaningful discussions in the policy field, and develop projects that truly impact society.
Gaining a deeper understanding of the UK government was essential to both my studies and career in public policy. Its structure and processes are quite different from those of other countries, and exploring how it operates, particularly through the lens of policy evaluation, has given me valuable perspective. I also developed a better grasp of evaluation methodologies, existing gaps, and potential alternatives. It was especially interesting to observe how many of the challenges in policy evaluation are shared across contexts, including in Brazil, my home country, though they manifest in ways that reflect each country’s unique characteristics.
For students considering applying for an internship within the University, I would advise them to select the opportunities that best align with your academic interests and career goals. Take the time to thoroughly research each organization, their website, location, LinkedIn presence, and any available content on platforms like YouTube. Learn about the people working there and reflect on how their experience and expertise can contribute to your professional growth. Then, carefully prepare your application materials and interviews to clearly demonstrate your alignment with the organization’s values, mission, and long-term objectives. Finally, consider not only what you hope to gain, but also how you can meaningfully contribute to the organization’s work and impact.
The Centre for Public Policy stands out for its strong commitment to fostering partnerships between academia, public policy institutions and communities. I also deeply believe that a sustainable future depends on building bridges, bringing people together to engage in dialogue and co-create evidence-based policies that genuinely improve lives.
CPP is a powerful source of inspiration for anyone working in public policy who seeks to contribute to a fairer and more just society. Through its structured approach, evidence-informed practices, public events, and continuous feedback loops, the Centre demonstrates how thoughtful collaboration can lead to meaningful change. I highly recommend learning more about their work, listening to the CPP UofG Spotlight podcast or taking part in their events.
Centre for Public Policy Interns provide hugely valuable contributions to the Centre’s work and we regularly offer internship opportunities to University of Glasgow students through the UofG Student Opportunities Hub. Future opportunities will be advertised to students through the Hub.
First published: 6 August 2025