IPU carries out research on parliaments in partnership with parliaments and many other organizations, including the Association of Secretaries General of Parliament, universities and international organizations.
The themes developed on the guide on Parliament and democracy in the twenty-first century – a parliament that is representative, open and transparent, accessible, accountable and effective at the national and international levels – form the framework for current and future research activities.
INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF INDUCTION
AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES FOR PARLIAMENTARIANS
Background
A parliamentarian’s role is complex and multi-faceted. There are no defined qualifications or criteria for the role of parliamentarian, who is expected to "possess indefinable qualities to do an indescribable job"1. Parliamentarians have to manage growing expectations of their capabilities as policy makers, advocates, and knowledge workers.
For new parliamentarians, the change of status upon election is obvious and instantaneous. Irrespective of their professional background or political experience, parliamentarians find their new role vastly different from non-parliamentary roles.
New members may acquire the requisite experience for their parliamentary duties in a number of ways. One way is through programmes designed to introduce members to parliamentary procedures, particularly in countries in which parliamentary traditions are less deeply rooted and/or there has been a major change in the membership of the assembly.
Activities and expected outcomes
This International review is investigating the nature, content and andragogy of induction and professional development programmes for parliamentarians. This project is being built into a comprehensive applied research programme, investigating, developing and communicating effective induction and career development models according to the particular needs of members of parliaments, having regard to the constitutional structure, stage of democratisation and other features.
Expected outcomes include:
- a database of the main features of the programmes in each parliament
- an understanding of the relationship between programmes offered by parliaments and by other institutions including political parties and donor agencies, from the perspectives of the parliaments
- a typology of such programmes
- criteria by which member parliaments could assess and evaluate their own programmes
- a handbook of good practice to assist parliaments in the development and delivery of induction and training for parliamentarians
Methodology
The review is being carried out by IPU in partnership with the Monash Governance Research Unit at Monash University, Australia.
The review includes two complementary survey questionnaires. The first is intended for parliamentary chambers and the second for new parliamentarians who first took office following the most recent parliamentary elections. Each questionnaire is estimated to take between 15 and 30 minutes to complete.
All parliamentary chambers and new members of parliament are invited to complete the questionnaires and return them to IPU by 7 September 2007. DEADLINE EXTENDED TO 28 SEPTEMBER 2007.
Download or complete the survey online
The survey can be downloaded from this site in English, French and Spanish, in Microsoft® Word format.
| Parliamentary chambers |  [ English ] [ French ] [ Spanish ] |
| New members of parliament | [ English ] [ French ] [ Spanish ] |
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Completed surveys should be returned to:
Inter-Parliamentary Union
5, chemin du Pommier
Case postale 330
CH-1218 Le Grand-Saconnex / Geneva
Switzerland
Fax: +41(22) 919 41 60
E-mail:
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The survey can also be completed online, accessible through the following links:
See also
PARLINE database. The Parliamentary Mandate module contains brief descriptions of the training opportunities offered to parliamentarians.
Wojciech Sawicki, 1993. Induction Programmes for New Members. In Constitutional and Parliamentary Information No. 167, Association of Secretaries General of Parliament (PDF, 165kB)
1 Kate Jones, 2006. One Step at a Time: Australian Parliamentarians, Professionalism and the Need for Staff. Parliamentary Affairs 59: 638-653
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