MASTER IN PUBLIC POLICY
Master in Public Policy (MPP) is a two-year full-time program launched in 2013.
The mission of MPP program is to prepare a new generation of progressive policy professionals to provide efficient, effective, sustainable and reliable public service at national and international levels.
MPP students can choose to specialize in one of 4 tracks (economic policy, international political economy, public governance or sustainable development) to enhance their career prospects.
Program Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the program, graduates will have the ability to:
1. Lead and manage in the public interest;
2. Participate in and contribute to the policy process;
3. Analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems and make evidence-informed decisions in a complex and dynamic environment;
4. Articulate, apply and advance a public service perspective;
5. Communicate and interact productively and in culturally responsive ways with a diverse and changing workforce and society at large.
Professional competency: In addition, the program will ensure that students learn to apply their education, such as through experiential exercises and interactions with practitioners across the broad range of public affairs, administration, and policy professions and sectors.
Accredited status
Master in Public Policy program is accredited by the European Association for Public Administration Accreditation (EAPAA) and the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA).
Qualifications
Upon completion of an academic program, students will be awarded the Master in Public Policy degree.
Teaching and learning methods used: lectures, seminars, tutorials, flipped classrooms, blended learning, laboratory practicum, individual and team projects, independent study, field trips (including overseas), simulation, case studies, other methods.
Assessment methods: examinations, term papers, essays, presentations, final projects, case studies, reflective practice, portfolio, quizzes, debates, role play, audio/video production, peer and self-assessment, other methods.
Program Completion Requirements
Progression
To continue in the program, students must be in Good Academic Standing at the conclusion of each grading period as determined by:
- minimum CGPA for Good Academic Standing is ≥ 2.67; and
- timely completion of milestones for МРР 699 Policy Analysis Exercise with Overseas Component.
Completion
Satisfactory completion of the program requires that the student progresses through a number of distinct stages, each of which is characterized by a key evaluation point. The necessary stages are:
- Successful completion of all core and elective modules in the program as outlined in the Curriculum;
- Completion and successful defense of the МРР 699 Policy Analysis Exercise with Overseas Component.
The program structure includes the following key components:
1. Orientation Week. It is the first week in MPP program. The purpose is to prepare students for the program, and forge bonds among them as classmates. Before arriving for the Orientation Week, students must have submitted all required documents and have completed any pre-assigned work.
2. Core Courses – courses that all students are required to complete within the program.
3. Elective Courses – courses that MPP program students can select from among alternatives. Elective courses are subject to change as they are based on students’ interests/preferences, faculty availability and program design.
4. Policy Analysis Exercise (PAE) with Overseas Component
The PAE, a capstone project, is a public policy study, normally completed for a client or target organization. It requires students to define and analyze an actual public policy issue so that the students develop confidence and competence in meeting the professional demands they will subsequently face. In completing the PAE, students must be prepared to define and structure the problem, organize data, define, and carry out analyses of the issue and conclude with specific action recommendations as part of a clear and persuasive written report.
Overseas Component (currently in Singapore) normally takes place at the end of the first academic year (Summer semester), where students learn about Singapore’s approaches in long-term urban planning and economic development through lectures and learning journeys, reflect on the lessons learnt, and whether/how they could be applied or adapted to the context of Kazakhstan. This can be particularly useful for students who are working on their PAE projects.
Funding Opportunities
Admission to the MPP program is merit-based. Award of all types of scholarships is carried out based on the competition.
NU offers the following funding options:
– Government funding: the Nazarbayev University educational grant (Government-funded scholarship) funded by the Government, covers full tuition fees and a monthly stipend. Government-funded scholarship is not offered to applicants who previously received the same degree under the state educational order or under the Bolashak international scholarship. This scholarship is also not available for the applicants who previously studied at Nazarbayev University and had been dismissed for disciplinary reasons. The number of grants is annually approved by the Governmental Decree of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
– “Abay Kunanbayev” scholarship: “Abay Kunanbayev” scholarship is named after Abay Kunanbayev (1845-1904) a Kazakh poet, a great thinker, composer, philosopher, the founder of the Kazakh written literature. This scholarship is specifically designed for foreign citizens and persons without citizenship and awarded on a competitive basis. This scholarship is funded by Nazarbayev University and covers tuition fees, a monthly stipend and basic medical insurance. The scholarship is provided for an entire period of the specified program. Number of scholarships is annually approved by Nazarbayev University.
– Fee-paying education and partial scholarships: admission to a fee-paying education is available to candidates who meet all admission requirements, are recommended for admission. Number of seats for a fee-paying education is approved annually by the Nazarbayev University depending on the capacity of the Schools. Certain categories of candidates enrolled on a fee-paying basis can be provided with a scholarship, which covers from 50% to 100% of the tuition costs (partial scholarship). For more information about these categories please visit this web-page.
MASTER IN PUBLIC POLICY CURRICULUM
The core curriculum focuses on quantitative skills and analysis, economics, data analytics, political science, public management and leadership.
MPP students may opt for an internship instead of one elective. The total number of credits in the program is 120 ECTS.
|
MPP curriculum* |
|
|
Year 1: Semester 1 |
|
|
Module |
ECTS Credits |
|
MPP 601 – Microeconomics and Public Policy |
8 |
|
MPP 611 – Statistics for Public Policy |
8 |
|
MPP 621 – Public Policy and Analysis |
8 |
|
MPP 613 – Policy Research Design and Methods |
8 |
|
SEMESTER SUBTOTAL: |
32 |
|
Year 1: Semester 2 |
|
|
Module |
ECTS Credits |
|
MPP 602 – Macroeconomics and Public Policy |
8 |
|
MPP 603 – Data Analytics in Public Policy |
8 |
|
MPP 641 – Public Management and Leadership |
8 |
|
MPP 699 – PAE with Overseas Component (I) |
0 |
|
Elective 1 |
8 |
|
SEMESTER SUBTOTAL: |
32 |
|
Year 1: Semester 3 (Summer) |
|
|
MPP 699 – PAE with Overseas Component (II) |
0 |
|
Internship (taken in Semester 3 or 5) |
[8] |
|
SEMESTER SUBTOTAL: |
[8] |
|
Year 2: Semester 4 |
|
|
Module |
ECTS Credits |
|
MPP 631 – Politics and Public Policy |
8 |
|
Elective 2 |
8 |
|
Elective 3 |
8 |
|
MPP 699 – PAE with Overseas Component (III) |
0 |
|
SEMESTER SUBTOTAL: |
24 |
|
Year 2: Semester 5 |
|
|
Module |
ECTS Credits |
|
Elective 4 |
8 |
|
Elective 5 or Internship |
[8] |
|
MPP 699 – PAE with Overseas Component (IV) |
16 |
|
SEMESTER SUBTOTAL: |
32 |
|
TOTAL |
120 |
*Order of the modules can be reconsidered by the School
THE LIST OF CORE MODULES
MPP 601 – Microeconomics and Public Policy
MPP601 is a core module in the Master in Public Policy program and is a prerequisite for many of the other modules in the program. The main aim of the module is to provide you with a set of tools to model individual and firm behavior, the economic outcomes that result from this behavior, and their application in the formulation of public policy.
MPP 611 – Statistics for Public Policy
The purpose of this course is to equip students with the necessary statistical tools and model building expertise that are related to the empirical analysis of public policy problems in a professional environment. Students can apply these tools for descriptive as well as inferential purposes: policy evaluation, and explaining bivariate and multivariate relationships in general. The course begins with an introduction to statistical and probability theory, probability distributions, types of data, inferential statistics, hypothesis testing, correlation analysis and ends with bivariate and multiple regression.
MPP 621 – Public Policy and Analysis
Government officials are frequently confronted with decisions about whether or not to initiate, continue, modify, or terminate policies or programs, and the knowledge about public policy and skills in policy analysis is essential for them to make intelligent choices. The course will cover important considerations in conducting policy analysis and evaluation, such as identifying policy problems, establishing criteria, assessing policy alternatives, choosing among policies, and evaluating policy impacts.
MPP 602 – Macroeconomics and Public Policy
Macroeconomic developments are a central theme of policy debate around the globe. This course provides a sound understanding of macroeconomics for students wishing to become proficient civil servants, policy experts, or analysts in the field of public policy. This is a core course in the MPP program and is a prerequisite for many of the other modules in the program. This module assumes that you are comfortable with basic mathematical skills. We begin by reviewing the microeconomics content of MPP601 and extend the discussion on selected topics to an advanced level. We devote the remainder of the module to explore the study of macroeconomic policy analysis. The microeconomics content helps us develop the theme micro-foundations of macroeconomics.
MPP 603 – Data Analytics in Public Policy
This class is for graduate students studying public policy at the GSPP. The class is customized that students apply data analytical knowledge to examining models explaining public policy and public administration issues. So, the main purpose of this class is to provide knowledge of data analytics relating to various models with continuous or categorical dependent variable, in addition to including moderators or mediators as well as Big Data analysis, so as to address students’ own research questions. During the semester, students will learn and practice how to code mainly Stata or R and Python if necessary, so as to conduct empirical analysis on their own research questions in the end. Students will present the results in the end of semester and hand in their written term papers.
MPP 613 – Policy Research Design and Methods
MPP613 is a core module on the Masters in Public Policy Program and provides students with an early appreciation of the main elements of doing research in public policy. The module is delivered in three parts: Part 1 introduces what ‘research’ in Social Sciences is, what the main components of a research paper are, and how to write those components (abstract, introduction, literature review, and etc.); In Part 2, participants learn about the role of concepts and theories in doing social science research; Part 3 provides students with the basics of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches in conducting an empirical inquiry. At the end of the course, students come up with a research proposal that can be eventually used for their PAEs (Policy Analysis Exercises).
MPP 641 – Public Management and Leadership
This core module aims to introduce MPP students to key theoretical concepts and practices of public management and leadership in a cross-institutional and cross-border manner. The effect of public management and leadership models and strategies on the performance on government institutions and implementation of public sector reforms all over the world is truly an important subject which the module addresses. The case studies draw from a wide range of public policy schools around the world and will help students to understand, identify and measure better the manifestations of these institutional effects. Developing policy briefs is also an essential element of the course. Upon completion of the module, students will be able to understand theoretical concepts and examine their applicability in real-world practices.
MPP 631 – Politics and Public Policy
This core course introduces MPP students to relationship and interplay between public policy and politics. This course covers key topics such as the role of government; public and private sector relations and dynamics; political-administrative relations; collaboration and networks; performance management; stakeholder management; and ethics and anti-corruption strategies. Case studies and class discussions throughout the course will ensure that students are able to link research insights and conceptual frameworks to practice.
MPP 699 – Policy Analysis Exercise with Overseas Component
The PAE is a public policy or management study, completed for a client or a target organization (where possible). It is, in essence, the applied version of the traditionally theoretical Master thesis. It requires each student to define and analyze an actual policy issue. In doing this, students develop confidence and competence in meeting the professional demands they will subsequently face. In completing the PAE, students must be prepared to define and structure the problem, organize data, define and carry out analyses of the issue and conclude with specific action recommendations as part of a clear and persuasive written report.
ILLUSTRATIVE LIST OF ELECTIVE MODULES OFFERED BY GSPP
Economic Policy
• Applied Public Economics and Finance
• Behavioral Insights and Public Policy
• Benefit Cost Analysis
• Environmental Economics and Policy
• International Financial Policy
• Game Theory and Public Policy
International Political Economy
• Comparative Policy Making & Public Policy
• Contemporary Security Challenges in Central Asia and Beyond
• Foreign Policy Analysis
• Globalization and Public Policy
• National Identity and Public Policy
• Political Economy of State Building
Public Governance
• Collaborative Governance
• Communications for Public Leadership
• Development Assistance and Governance
• Ethical Challenges in Governance
• Good Governance and Anti-Corruption
• The Third Sector: Civil Society & Non-profits
Sustainable Development
• Sustainable Development and Environmental Governance
• Energy Systems and Climate Policy
• Global Energy Policy
• Global Food and Agricultural Policy Analysis
• Health Systems and Policy
• Natural Resource Management and Policy
• Water Resource Management and Policy
A complete list of courses, including electives, can be found on the Registrar’s website.