Macquarie Undergraduate Research Internship

MURI has been bridging the equity gaps in higher education since 2010 by offering paid intern opportunities to domestic students.

"This activity has been approved to be recognised on AHEGS as of February 2021. No retrospective recognition will be made prior to this approval date."

Students who coordinate and facilitate the program take advantage of the principles underpinning Macquarie University’s pedagogy and the students as partners (SaP) model that distinguish how students learn and the ways academics teach and engage with students.

This approach ensures that they are supporting and empowering equity students (eg low socio-economic status) to realise their full potential under the voluntary mentorship and sponsorship of an academic.

Role description

MURI offers three roles to participating students:

  • MURInterns, who participate in 6 months of intensive academic and professional upskilling
  • MURI Facilitators, who:
    • are peer leaders
    • previous Interns
  • MURI Coordinators, who:
    • are peer leaders
    • support and guide Facilitators
    • are previous Interns and Facilitators
    • are leaders of widening participation and social inclusion

All roles start in Session 2 and end at the conclusion of Session 3.

AHEGS qualification criteria

MURInterns

They will:

  • attend 10 required workshops (including One-Minute Thesis and Poster Conference)
  • complete approved MURI tasks in accordance with the MURI Program Guide

MURI Facilitator (a former MURIntern)

They will:

  • attend, support and actively promote MURI events
  • commit 3 hours per week to workshop preparation
  • develop and deliver weekly workshops (incl. commencing and completion sessions)
  • contribute to the preparation of the annual report on the academic progress of MURI graduates, the efficacy of the program, and the trajectory of equity UGR training and mentorship at Macquarie University.

MURI Coordinator (a former MURI Facilitator)

They will:

  • monitor and manage MURInterns
  • commit 4 hours per week to workshop preparation including Commencement/Completion/One-Minute Thesis/Poster Conference sessions
  • coordinate the development and delivery of weekly workshops
  • deliver formal presentations for official MURI events as well as design, manage, promote all social event across University portfolios (including faculties, units and offices) for MURI partnerships
  • promote MURI at roundtables, meetings, etc
  • prepare an annual report on the academic progress of MURI graduates, the efficacy of the program, and the trajectory of equity UGR training and mentorship at Macquarie University.

Skills required or developed

MURIntern

MURI equips graduates to:

  • work in professional and academic environments both in Australia and overseas
  • advocate for leadership positions in their career
  • understand systemic inequity affecting higher education and academia.

MURInterns have demonstrated ambition, initiative and advocacy in completing the program requirements.

This program helps interns to:

  • meet new people in the university within their chosen discipline
  • engage with an academic in a one-to-one situation
  • gain an understanding of resources on campus
  • practice networking and communication skills to enhance employability
  • kick-start their career and maximise their potential.

MURI Facilitator

After working with the program, a MURI Facilitator will be able to:

  • design, deliver and evaluate workshops for student peers
  • produce clear and effective student-focused communications
  • understand and communicate social, academic, political aspects of professional academic life in higher education and academia in the international context
  • form meaningful collaborations.

MURI Coordinator

After working with the program, a MURI Coordinator will be able to:

  • design, deliver and evaluate workshops for student peers
  • understand and employ the students-as-partners approach to developing, delivering and evaluating project outcomes
  • Understand and communicate social, academic, political aspects of professional academic life in higher education and academia in the international context
  • co-create large-scale initiatives to become co-creators and agents for change, contributing to a more inclusive academic and higher education sector.

The MURI program facilitates transformative learning experiences, offering both staff development and learning support for students, as evidenced in reflective statements submitted by past participants.