by Meagan Parent
As an international Law with Business Studies student, I was happy to be selected for Dr Luke Butler’s project: ‘The United States and International Trade Liberalisation: Reciprocal Defence Procurement Agreements’ (try saying that three times fast!). This seemed an excellent way to combine my study areas, which I sometimes struggle to link mentally. I had started digging into the topic but when I called Dr Butler the week before my project officially started, I quickly learned about the flexibility required in academic research.
Since the time I secured his UGRS, Dr Butler had been presented with a higher-priority opportunity investigating social value procurement within the public sector. The UK government has been developing policies around the topic and had asked his help; he reshuffled his work for the summer, so he asked me to divert course slightly within the procurement field.
I was happy to complete the project in its new form because I am interested in the intersection between public and private spheres – and because the investigation would more specifically centre around the employment of disabled people, something that affects my family at home too.
Also interesting was the change from desk-based to qualitative research. I had been trained for interviewing techniques during a pro bono project the prior term, so I was eager for further exposure to that instead of to standard legal research I do all the time for my coursework. This positive attitude helped me be excited about the change, rather than getting anxious or annoyed.
I spent my UGRS time primarily reaching out to local authorities to secure interviews with Dr Butler or Dr Chris Lonsdale, his research partner in the Business School, which took dedication and wasn’t necessarily glamorous…but is a very real (and challenging) part of this kind of work. But I also got to transcribe audio recordings of interviews already completed, which reinforced lessons about research ethics and how to get usable information from interviewees. My attention to detail was also tested, and I probably still have some of the interviewees’ phrases memorised after listening to the same audio so many times to capture all the information!
I was happy I could work on my own time and from anywhere where I could e-mail and use headphones, because even during uni breaks I am quite busy. Dr Butler was a good role model in flexibility too, remaining understanding and encouraging even when assessment centres and deferred exams meant I didn’t work predictable hours. Overall, this was an excellent lesson on adaptability in an area (academics) I didn’t think necessarily called for it (definitely does).
And now? I’m hopeful my contributions help Dr Butler deliver a quality report to government partners, because I strongly believe this is an area that needs more positive legislation to help alleviate the nearly 40% employment gap that disabled people face in the UK.