Graduate School of Public Policy

The program smoothly combined both profound lectures of practitioners in the area of Singaporean and international public policy with site visits to the Urban Redevelopment Authority, Land Transport Authority, Marina Barrage, and Housing Development Board.

David Ma, Independent Consultant and former Director at Prime Minister’s office gave a lecture on Service Excellence and Performance Assessment. Example of Singaporean civil service in introducing Key performance Indicators (KPI) is spectacular. Moreover, each ministry is responsible for planning the budget and further activities and presents a brief annual report on what is achieved.

Students were deeply impressed with the learning journeys to the URA and LTA. These agencies demonstrated the way how Singapore wisely and efficiently used its scarce resources. Besides, it was obvious that holistic approach works well in this small city-state. Government bodies closely collaborate among each other, dividing their roles in achieving a common goal of making Singapore citizen- and environment-friendly place to live and work.

Other distinguished speakers of the Singapore component were Donald Low, Associate Dean of Lee Kuan Yew School on Global Financial Crisis and Fiscal management in Singapore, series of lectures by Dr. Li Hui on Public Financial Management, Performance management by Dr. Zeger van der Wal; role of technology and innovation in policy making: transitions, impact and failures by Dr. Haresh Khoobchandani and others.

This time both Master in Public Policy and Master in Public Administration students took an international component at the same time. It allowed interacting with peers, reflecting the learnt and discuss among each other.

To the great pleasure of GSPP, our students demonstrated high intellect, analytical skills, critical thinking and understanding of public policy in Kazakhstan that enabled drawing comparisons and assess applicability of policies in the class.