Executive MA
Objectives
Executive Master is first of its kind inter-disciplinary and analytical degree program in Public Policy. Innovatively designed to cater to professional needs of mid-career leaders in the public, nonprofit and private sectors, the program integrates domestic requirements, philosophical dimensions and futuristic vision to promote leadership qualities, inculcate ethical values and develop analytical expertise in formulating citizen friendly policies and in providing efficient and transparent governance.
Who It’s For
Executive Master is a one year evening program tailored for mid-career working professionals interested in public policy and governance: public servants, development professionals, journalists, private sector professionals. It is a program for diligent and goal driven mid-career professionals who have a certain element of ambition and aspiration. If you like to be challenged, want to think outside the box, explore new career avenues, and develop needed analytical skills for the 21st century to enhance your career and understand the world around you, then this is the program for you.
Class Profile
Why Do It
Exec MA is designed to bring together policy relevant research, teaching, training and professional skill development under one umbrella. It aspires to open new avenues and is built around two fundamental concepts:
- To pass on skills and knowledge based education ensuring that students can conduct credible and policy relevant research.
- To host seminars/webinars, workshops, policy dialogues and academic debates as a part of the teaching process to instill leadership qualities among students, thus serving an exceptional dual purpose.
“CPPG provided an environment to think critically about an issue and analyze it layer after layer. I leant to present my research in an understandable manner to the decision makers. Dr Saeed Shafqat along with his team is setting the tone of policy making in a subtle manner and linking CPPG alumni with global policy centres. Learning at CPPG helped me accept the most challenging responsibilities in the public sector”.
“If it was not for the training and guidance, I received at CPPG, I do not believe I would be where I am in my career right now. The environment at CPPG helped me explore the interests that eventually led me down the path of becoming an academic. The support and mentorship that faculty and staff provided made it possible for me to thrive as a student and seek out a new challenge that I genuinely enjoy doing. Thanks, CPPG!”
“Master’s in public policy experience has certainly added to my ability to evaluate and understand ideas, think critically, argue concepts, resolve conflict and sometimes, simply agreeing. I also believe that getting this degree has helped provide me the ability to see the “bigger picture” associated with the programs I support. I found most beneficial/rewarding about the program in my career were the classroom assignments that involved working on problem solving scenarios. By using my critical thinking skills, I was able to gather and evaluate the information given to arrive at the best possible solution. This has made me a stronger employee and smarter decision-maker”.
“I feel no hesitation to say as an accomplished practitioner in the field of youth development and youth policy that the CPPG has provided me with academic leverage and considerations for critical thinking in youth policy analysis. It has given me an advantage to complement practices with policy analysis competencies. I would encourage those interested in policy to join the CPPG that is led by a distinguished name in Pakistani social sciences and policy analysis. It would make a difference!”
“The Executive Masters in Public Policy enabled me to draw decisions on evidence through critical thinking and analytical skills. The study here empowers one to combine theory and tools to formulate responses to complex issues in a deeper and more thoughtful way across a multitude of fields mirroring real life work challenges. It is not just the syllabus, or the instructors but you get to interact with the talented pool of executive students that come from a variety of professional backgrounds”.
“I had joined the program because I felt that the world was changing fast with particular reference to policy formulation paradigms and implementation mechanisms. The courses I attended gave new strength and enthusiasm to my career and prepared me for future growth, while the program changed my concepts with regard to policy formulation, policy planning and policy implementation”.
Executive MA is a one year professional degree program comprising of two full semesters of course work, followed by a writing course in the summer which supports participants to complete their short thesis.
The course curriculum comprises of four types of courses. Participants take four Required courses for grounding in concepts and skills that are essential for today’s policy leaders. Further, a section of the curriculum is dedicated to Skills Development courses to draw attention to communication, analytical and technological skills. Lastly as an advanced degree in social sciences, the program imparts theoretical grounding and problem solving skills in two concentration areas: Governance, Democracy, and Institution Building (GDIB) and Environment, Demography, and Urban Change (EDUC). A supervised Research Thesis under active faculty guidance on an actionable policy issue provides the opportunity to develop a policy paper to re-design public policy and influence the policy process of your interest and passion.
Required
Required Courses comprise of essentials of Public Policy for working professionals. This includes: an introduction to public policy to familiarize participants with general approaches to ask questions in the policy world and answer them by using appropriate research methods; instill basic skills in economics, statistics and accounting which are required for policy analysis; and lastly acquaint participants with concepts and tools related to the use of technology in development and governance.
Skills Development
Skills development is essential for professionals to excel in their respective fields as thorough analytical skills are required to understand a policy problem. This is can be done through various methods whether quantitative or qualitative, and also different approaches that may either include power dynamics or concentrate on a technocratic cost-benefit analysis. Further, effective writing and communication skills are needed to both formulate a policy position as well as lobby for it through a well thought out communications strategy. Lastly modern era is increasingly defined by the use of technology both in development and governance, making technology regulation and application a critical feature of the policy domain.
Governance, Democracy, and Institution Building (GDIB)
Skills development is essential for professionals to excel in their respective fields as thorough analytical skills are required to understand a policy problem. This is can be done through various methods whether quantitative or qualitative, and also different approaches that may either include power dynamics or concentrate on a technocratic cost-benefit analysis. Further, effective writing and communication skills are needed to both formulate a policy position as well as lobby for it through a well thought out communications strategy. Lastly modern era is increasingly defined by the use of technology both in development and governance, making technology regulation and application a critical feature of the policy domain.
Environment, Demography, and Urban Change (EDUC)
Environmental decay, rising population and accelerated urbanization is visible in Pakistan. Demographic change is phenomenal. The country has a population of 170 million and growing at a rate of 2% per annum. Forecasts of demographic transition in Pakistan raise concerns about citizen security, environmental decay, challenges of urban governance, energy self-sufficiency, water conservation, employment generation, peace, security, governance and the list is unending. Population is a human resource that demands investment in improving its quality, productivity and skills.
The concentration will explore the nexus between environment, urban change and demographic transition, specifically exploring questions in population strategy that helps in managing demographic transition and is not simply a Family planning/Reproductive health issue but a core national issue, which has implications for the very survival and efficient functioning of the Pakistani nation-state.
- Completion of two semesters of course work
- Completion of writing course
- Completion of Research Thesis
Centre for Language Development (CLD) at FC College offers personalized sessions to improve writing and analytical skills in English language. A participant may take their assignment along with feedback to the CLD to work with a language instructor to improve their grammar, sentence structure and overall writing style.
- 16 years of education from an HEC recognized university
- Degree in Social Sciences, Humanities, Sciences or Management
- 4+ years of work experience
- Clearance of Entrance Test
- Interview Selection by CPPG Selection Committee
Sample Program
Fall |
601 Introduction to Public Policy |
602 Introduction to Statistics, Economics & Accounting Concepts |
603 ICT Concepts & Tools for Policy Makers |
606 Policy Analysis: Policy Design |
Spring |
604 Research Methods |
610 Cost Benefit Analysis |
650 Federalism & Decentralization |
655 Political Economy of Public Policy |
Summer |
605 Writing & Communicating Public Policy |
698 Research Thesis |
FAQ
Classes are held four days a week while Seminars are held on alternate weeks which are mandatory for all students to attend.
This program has been specifically designed keeping in view the needs of working professionals. Therefore class timings are 5 – 8 pm.
Executive Masters in Public Policy is a one year program comprising of three semesters. Students work on their research thesis in the third semester.
Course Concentrations
Required
Skills development
Governance, Democracy, and Institution Building (GDIB)
Environment, Demography, and Urban Change (EDUC)