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Emphasizing project-based or case-based learning model as the main learning strategy for each course.
Output-based learning activities in the form of ‘academic work legacy’ of student groups through determining the focus of study, research management, and flexible writing.
The student’s final project can take the form of a thesis (academic oriented) or policypaper (practical oriented) which weighs 13 credits.
Most courses are supported by training programs that are relevant to the formation of student competencies and skills..
The implementation of learning programs is directed to form competencies & expertise in three interrelated graduate professional fields.
Lecture (lectures and discussions) which are only held 7-10 session, the rest are project-based learning and technical skills training.
Tutors will be selected and trained to effectively manage project-based or case-basedlearning.
Examines public problems and mechanisms for its management by government and non-government institutions. Basic Compulsory Courses:
This foundational compulsory course provides students with a comprehensive understanding of publicness and diverse governance models in the public sector. The subject of study can take the form of government organizations, state-owned enterprises, private companies, NGOs, social communities, or collaborations among them in managing public issues and interests. Students will explore concepts, theories, and empirical cases related to public sector governance, focusing on institutional complexity, where organizations encounter conflicting institutional demands or logics, such as public service vs. profit-oriented, inclusivity vs. selectivity, and environmental conservation vs. economic development. The course aims to equip students with the skills to analyze, evaluate, and develop strategic solutions that allow organizations to effectively address public issues amid these competing demands. To further enhance their analytical and policy advocacy skills, the course offers training in action research and policy brief writing.
This foundational compulsory course is designed to provide students with a foundational understanding of public policy. It covers the policy cycle, including agenda setting, policy formulation, policy implementation, and policy evaluation. A range of relevant concepts and theories will be reviewed for each stage, such as the Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF), path dependence, and institutional change for agenda setting and policy formulation; policy alienation, discretion, and street-level bureaucrats for policy implementation; and policy learning for policy evaluation. Public policy in this course will be examined using a multidimensional approach, encompassing legal, economic, political, social, and even cultural perspectives. By the end of the course, students are expected to critically analyze various public policy issues using the different approaches discussed in class. To enhance students’ understanding of new developments in concepts and theories relevant to policy issues, the course facilitates students in learning and applying systematic literature review (SLR) to study public policy concepts and theories. Additionally, students are encouraged and supported to develop research proposals for writing a policy paper, which can be an option for their final project as part of the graduation requirements.
This course is designed to provide a comprehensive foundation in public management, encompassing the evolution of theories, concepts, and major paradigms in the field, such as New Public Administration, New Public Management, New Public Service, New Public Governance, and collaborative governance. Alongside exploring foundational concepts and theories, students gain practical insight into public management applications through case studies. To help students map recent developments in theory and concepts, the course also includes training in Systematic Literature Review (SLR), a skill with substantial academic benefits. SLR training equips students to enhance critical analysis, construct a more rigorous conceptual framework, and identify existing research gaps in public management. Mastery of SLR allows students to build stronger scientific arguments and make valuable academic contributions. Additionally, SLR enables students to conduct structured, evidence-based literature reviews, an essential capability for thesis writing and other scholarly research.
This foundational compulsory course aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills to design research proposals using inductive reasoning. Students are expected to be sensitive to social (public) realities, understand the types of qualitative data, and know how to interpret or make sense of that data. The course will help students develop skills in data analysis, interpretation, and narrative presentation. Students will be trained in ethnography, including interview and observation techniques for data collection, enabling them to design research approaches, data collection methods, and analysis techniques for their studies. Students’ skills in using qualitative analysis software will also be enhanced through integrated training on NVivo. By the end of this course, students are expected to be able to apply qualitative research methods, whether for concept and theory development, or for the evaluation and advocacy of policy change.
The foundational compulsory course ‘Quantitative Methods’ is intended to provide an understanding of public policy phenomena and their impact on society through quantitative research paradigms, methods, and formats. Learning activities in this course include lectures, discussions, and skill training in the use of STATA and SPSS. Additionally, project-based learning assignments are part of the curriculum, including practical sessions on data collection and analysis. All of these are aimed at equipping students with the knowledge and skills necessary for conducting research, whether focused on testing concepts and theories or evaluating policies. Therefore, students’ knowledge and skills in applying various policy evaluation approaches, such as randomized controlled trials (RCT), instrumental variables, and regression discontinuity design (RDD), are also emphasized in this course.
Solving public problems through public policy instruments. Core Compulsory Courses:
This core compulsory course aims to equip students with a comprehensive understanding and mastery of public policy analysis techniques. The learning process, which includes lectures, discussions, project-based learning, and skills training, is designed to ensure that students can effectively apply policy analysis techniques in a structured manner. Students will follow a sequential analytical process, starting with evaluating existing policy conditions, projecting potential future scenarios, and setting clear orientation and outcome targets. This will be tailored to specific policy cases selected by students through project-based learning. As part of the analysis, students will assess the effectiveness and potential obstacles of the existing policy in achieving the newly defined outcomes. They will then identify, describe, and compare policy alternatives, including the status quo, using criteria such as effectiveness, resource efficiency, and social, political, economic, and technical feasibility. Based on this comparative analysis, students will determine the most viable policy alternative and develop policy change recommendations, along with strategies for implementation and risk mitigation. The course’s training components are designed to guide students in conducting this entire analysis systematically and documenting it in a well-structured policy paper.
This core compulsory course is designed to facilitate students’ understanding of the processes, approaches, measurements, and implementation strategies of policy, viewing policy as a complex political and administrative process. In addition to studying the ecology of policy implementation and critiques of existing approaches, students will be equipped with technical skills for policy evaluation. They will learn and practice both formative and summative evaluations. Through projectbased learning and technical skills training, students are expected to understand and conduct formative evaluations, which involve assessing policy implementation, identifying distortions, and providing recommendations for improvement. Students will also be trained to perform summative evaluations to determine policy sustainability based on impact analysis, using methods such as randomized controlled trials (RCT), regression discontinuity design (RDD), difference-in-differences (DiD), or Matching, thereby supporting accurate and evidence-based policy decision-making.
This core compulsory course enables students to understand policy change as an increasingly common phenomenon in the public sector. Policy change must be viewed as a necessity, especially as public sector organizations frequently face complex and dynamic institutional demands. Technological advancements, innovation, frequent crises, and growing demands for the involvement of non-governmental actors also contribute to the determinants of policy change. The course is divided into two parts. The first part explores the conceptual and theoretical understanding of the urgency, determinants, and forms of policy change. In the second part, following the mid-term exam, the course focuses on the operational aspects of managing policy change. The course is based on project-based learning activities to help students understand the activities and dynamics of policy change within empirical contexts.
This core compulsory course equips students with the skills to understand and apply effective communication strategies in the public policy process, from both government and nongovernmental perspectives. The course explores two key dimensions of policy communication: how governments convey their policies during agenda setting, formulation, and implementation to ensure public understanding of policy goals and strategies, and how non-governmental actors— such as civil society organizations, media, and advocacy groups—communicate their needs and advocate for policy change. Students will study various communication theories and techniques that influence policy decision-making, including political communication, framing, and public opinion shaping. The course also covers advocacy methods such as lobbying, policy campaigns, and collaboration with diverse policy stakeholders. In addition, students will be trained to design and implement evidence-based policy communication strategies, as well as to prepare and deliver policy briefs, policy presentations, and impactful advocacy campaigns. By the end of this course, students will develop practical skills to become effective policy advocates capable of driving policy change at local, national, and global levels.
This core compulsory course is designed to provide an in-depth understanding of the complexity and impact of policy conflicts across various social, political, and economic contexts. It aims to help students develop both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, such as lobbying and conflict management, necessary for analyzing, understanding, and managing policy conflicts that often arise during decision-making processes within governments, organizations, and communities. The course seeks to teach students about the nature of policy conflicts, methods of identifying policy issues, actor analysis, and effective conflict management strategies. Through this course, students will acquire the skills needed to work in various fields, including government, non-profit organizations, policy consulting, and research institutions. Additionally, understanding policy conflicts will enable students to become more effective leaders in formulating and implementing policies that positively impact society. With a deep understanding of policy conflicts, students will be able to contribute significantly to achieving sustainable and effective solutions to existing policy issues.
Strengthening the capacity of future policy analysts, scientists, and advocates through learning by practices in the real-world public policy ecosystem.
The elective course ‘Development Planning Policy’ is designed to help students understand and critically assess development policies across various strategic national sectors, such as energy, food, environment, health, and education. Using a scenario-based strategic planning approach, students are trained to design development strategies for these sectors while considering national dynamics influenced by international changes and crises. The scenario-based approach enables students to explore potential futures and develop policies that are adaptive to global changes, such as economic crises, climate change, energy and food crises, or geopolitical dynamics. By the end of this course, students are expected not only to understand the concepts of national development planning but also to effectively apply strategic planning to create innovative policies that are responsive to international changes and support sustainable development with global competitiveness for the nation’s progress.
This elective course enables students to understand how the integration of public planning and budgeting with human resource management (HRM) can synergistically support effective administrative reform. Students will explore the impact of fiscal policy, decentralization, and political dynamics on public budget planning and allocation, as well as how these policies directly affect HRM, including recruitment, performance management, compensation, and human resource development. The course emphasizes the importance of efficient budget utilization to achieve strategic HRM objectives, such as competency and performance improvement, and how public budgeting decisions can influence the quality of HRM. In addition to theoretical learning, students will engage in practical case studies on how public sector organizations can address financial and HRM challenges adaptively and synergistically, with a focus on transparency, accountability, and efficiency. Through this approach, students are expected to design HRM and financial governance policies that enhance performance and effectiveness in a dynamic and complex administrative environment.
This elective course enables students to understand the concepts and practices of innovation in public policy as a response to complex social, economic, and environmental challenges. Students will explore various innovative approaches in policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation, including technology-based policies, cross-sector collaboration, and the use of data and analytics in decision-making processes. Topics covered include the role of creativity, design thinking, and experimentation in developing new and adaptive policy solutions, as well as the importance of creating an environment that supports policy innovation through flexible governance. Students will also examine case studies of innovative policies from different countries to understand how innovation can enhance policy effectiveness and drive sustainable social change. Through this learning process, students will acquire critical and practical skills to design, test, and implement innovative policies that are relevant to both local and global contexts.
This elective course enables students to understand the role of institutions in the public policy process by examining various institutional theories, including historical institutionalism, rational choice institutionalism, and sociological institutionalism. Students will learn how formal and informal rules, social norms, and institutional structures influence decision-making and the behavior of actors within political systems and public policy. Topics covered include institutional dynamics in policy change, the impact of legacy systems and policies, and how institutions shape interactions among policy actors. Additionally, students will explore the concepts of institutional complexity and conflicts between institutional logics, particularly in situations where policy actors must respond to conflicting demands and logics from various institutions, which can ultimately affect policy orientation and strategy. This course aims to equip students with a deep understanding of how institutions influence policy design and implementation, as well as how institutional reforms can be designed to create more effective and socially responsive policies.
This elective course facilitates students’ understanding of the interaction between economics and politics in the public policy-making process. Students will learn how political interests, power distribution, and economic dynamics influence the formulation and implementation of public policy, as well as their impact on development and societal welfare. Topics covered include public choice theory, institutional political economy, and the roles of actors such as the government, markets, and civil society in shaping economic and social policies. Additionally, students will analyze issues such as economic inequality, redistributive policies, market regulation, and the impact of globalization on domestic policy. Using a multidisciplinary approach, this course aims to equip students with critical skills to evaluate public policy from a political economy perspective and to design policy solutions that address economic-political challenges at the local, national, and global levels.
This elective course enables students to understand the implementation and outcomes of social policies aimed at improving societal welfare. Topics covered include various policy issues such as health, education, housing, employment, and social protection for vulnerable groups. Students will explore how social policies help reduce social and economic disparities and promote social inclusion while critically examining their impact, including whether such policies may inadvertently institutionalize entrenched social stratification. The course emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach, analyzing the roles of government actors, the private sector, and communities in designing and implementing social policies. Additionally, students will be trained to use various social policy analysis tools, including Soft System Methodology (SSM), to analyze complex social problems, engage multiple stakeholders, and design adaptive solutions. This training will enhance students’ ability to evaluate the social and economic impacts of implemented policies, equipping them with critical and analytical skills to contribute to the development of inclusive and sustainable social policies.
The internship is designed to support students in building professional networks while conducting data collection for their final projects, either a thesis or a policy paper. It includes a pre-internship workshop to prepare students for fieldwork, data collection through internships in relevant organizations or communities for 4 to 6 weeks, and a post-internship workshop focused on collaborative drafting of a book compiling individual research articles from the cohort. Workshops can be conducted in parallel and thematically, tailored to major research themes such as Educational Inequality & Talent Management, Energy Transition & Climate Change, Food Sovereignty & Blue Economy, and others. These workshops will involve practitioners relevant to the students’ research topics, providing practical insights and strengthening the alignment between academic work and real-world challenges. Faculty coordinators provide academic guidance to ensure alignment with learning objectives. The key output of this internship is a joint publication, enhancing students’ skills in research, networking, and academic writing.
Strengthening academic and practical contributions in the field of public policy.
Thesis writing marks the culmination of the learning process, with students having the option to choose between a monograph (conventional thesis) or a policy paper format. The conventional thesis emphasizes academic contributions (concept and theory development), while the policy paper focuses on practical contributions (policy improvement recommendations). Preparation for thesis writing begins in the first semester through courses in Quantitative and Qualitative Methods, complemented by various technical skills training. By the end of the first semester, students participate in proposal writing training and are required to submit their research proposals after two sessions. Program administrators then assign supervisors based on the alignment of the student’s research topic with the faculty’s expertise. A joint proposal seminar is held at the end of the second semester, after revisions and refinements made in collaboration with supervisors throughout the semester. The third-semester internship provides a crucial opportunity for students to collect data relevant to their research. In the fourth semester, students concentrate on completing their final project, whether in the form of a monograph, policy paper, or policy advocacy report, with the aim of graduating by the end of the semester.
