Graduate School of Public Policy

On May 14, 2022, Nazarbayev University hosted a Policy Challenge 2022 contest among students and graduates of the NU Graduate School of Public Policy (NU GSPP), the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, KAZGUU and the Bolashak Association.

The event was initiated by the NU GSPP Alumni Chapter and was organized with the support of NU GSPP, Department of Public Administration of the Executive Office of the President of Kazakhstan, Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Astana Civil Service Hub and NU Alumni Association. It is also worth noting the valuable contribution of representatives of the Presidential Youth Personnel Reserve, who participated as mentors for the teams.

Altair Akhmetov, Head of the Public Administration Department, Executive Office of the President of Kazakhstan; Jean-François Marteau, World Bank Country Manager for Kazakhstan; Maxut Uteshev, Astana Civil Service Hub Technical Advisor; Aigul Kosherbayeva, Director of the Institute of Applied Research of the Academy of Public Administration under the President of Kazakhstan; Riccardo Pelizzo, NU GSPP Vice Dean for Research; Iftikhar Lodhi, NU GSPP Assistant Professor and the author of the case participated the event as the members of the panel of judges.

During the Policy Challenge, the teams studied the document on the Concept for the Development of Public Administration until 2030 and the Action Plan for its implementation. In the final, 6 teams presented an analysis to achieve the set goals and prepared proposals for improving the process of implementing the Concept. According to the results, the team VIVENDI (comprising NU GSPP & KAZGUU students) won.

A. Akhmetov thanked the organizers of the event, noting the importance both academic and practical approaches in solving public policy issues.

J.-F. Marto positively appreciated the idea of organizing a contest that allows the voice of the population to be heard through students and graduates on improving public administration in Kazakhstan. He also noted that the Government has adopted important strategic documents in the state planning system. The most difficult is the implementation of these programs, where the opinion of stakeholders is important.

M. Uteshev noted that the research in the field of public policy and public administration was given insufficient attention, but in recent years, interest in scientific approaches has increased. As the evidence of the increasing interest Mr. Uteshev mentioned the development of the Concept for the Development of Public Administration.

It is expected that the results of the analysis of the winning team will be published in the International Journal of Civil Service Reform and Practice of the Astana Civil Service Hub. Also, the winners will be invited to internship programs at the governmental agencies of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Office for Monitoring the Implementation of National Projects.

This Policy Challenge 2022 has proven to be a promising platform for attracting youth to the process of managerial decision-making. The contest is expected to be held on an annual basis.