MPAplus+

The Asian School of Governance's MPAplus+ program addresses a critical challenge in public administration education: the difficulty in providing specialized learning experiences in complex, emerging, and interdisciplinary areas. Many MPA programs face resource constraints that hinder their ability to offer in-depth training in crucial fields like AI, climate change, design thinking, game theory, social conflict, international relations, leadership, collective intelligence, and others. MPAplus aims to bridge this gap by providing supplementary educational opportunities that enhance existing MPA programs, both for students and practitioners. Furthermore, MPAplus will work with UN agencies to connect to the global trends and discourse in the practice of advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Our Goal

MPAplus strives to empower MPA programs and public sector practitioners by offering co-curricular, extracurricular, and potentially curricular enhancements, including executive education formats. We believe that all aspiring and current public service leaders deserve access to cutting-edge knowledge and skills, regardless of their institution's resources or career stage. Our program focuses on:

• Expanding Access: Providing high-quality learning experiences to a wider range of MPA students and public sector professionals.

• Fostering Innovation: Introducing students and practitioners to innovative approaches in public administration, including specialized training in emerging fields like AI, climate change, design thinking, game theory, social conflict, international relations, leadership, and collective intelligence, as well as the practical application of the SDGs.

• Strengthening Capacity: Supporting MPA programs in developing their own capacity to deliver advanced training, particularly in niche and interdisciplinary areas, and providing professional development opportunities for practitioners on the field. This includes building capacity related to the SDGs and their implementation.

Program Components

MPAplus offers a range of program components, tailored to the specific needs and context of partner MPA schools and public sector organizations. These may include:

• Co-Curricular Activities: Workshops, seminars, and guest lectures featuring leading experts in public administration, specialized fields, and SDG implementation. These offerings will often be done in collaboration with the social labs of the Asian School of Governance, UN agencies, or through our network of partners across cities and countries.

• Extracurricular Programs: Leadership development programs, case study competitions, research projects, and specialized training programs focused on emerging areas, including those related to the SDGs. These may include Fellowships, internships, co-listed courses, special projects, and social impact projects.

• Curricular Enhancements (Subject to Agreements): Collaborative development of specialized courses or modules that can be integrated into existing MPA curricula, addressing the need for deeper learning in interdisciplinary fields, including those focused on the SDGs.

• Executive Education: Targeted training programs designed for public sector practitioners such as police, city engineers, local legislators, mayors, and other professionals working in government and related fields, with a focus on practical skills and knowledge related to SDG implementation.

Partnerships

MPAplus works in close partnership with MPA schools, public sector organizations, and UN agencies to identify areas where supplemental programming can be most impactful. We collaborate with faculty, administrators, agency leaders, and UN representatives to design and deliver programs that align with their institutional goals, professional development needs, and the global SDG agenda, with a particular focus on expanding access to specialized training in complex and emerging fields. We offer a range of partnership schemes to Schools of Public Administration, including [mention different partnership models - e.g., joint program development, faculty exchange, student scholarships, etc.]. We leverage the resources and expertise of the Asian School of Governance's social labs and our network of partners across cities and countries, including UN agencies, to deliver these unique learning experiences. We are actively seeking partnerships with institutions and organizations committed to advancing public administration education, practice, and the SDGs.