Public Policy

Overview

The aims of the Public Policy program from Nazarbayev University are:

• To contribute to the economic and social welfare of Kazakhstan through the supply of outstanding doctoral graduates in public policy with functional expertise in these areas.
• To build sustainability into the higher education sector in Kazakhstan through the provision of future faculty trained to international standards of teaching and research.
• To strengthen the research base of decision making in the public sector in Kazakhstan through the supply of highly trained researchers.
• To add to existing scholarship on public policy in Central Asia through peer-reviewed publications emanating from the work of PhD students/graduates.
• To raise the profile of GSPP as a School well-known for its research and scholarship.

The program structure comprises: 10 core courses, 2 electives, a thesis proposal and PhD qualifying examination taken the first two years, followed by the thesis preparation and written submission in years 3 & 4.  The two electives modules will be drawn from an existing list of approved courses currently available at Masters level in GSPP but with different learning outcomes and assessment strategies. The overall 4-year program equates to 240 ECTS.

Learning Outcomes 

• Critically apply theories, methods and knowledge to address fundamental questions in the area of public policy, public administration and public management.
• Conduct relevant applied research by formulating, testing and generating hypotheses in key areas of enquiry.
• Collect, synthesize and analyse public policy data.
• Develop and demonstrate skills in oral and written communication, consistent with presentations and research papers disseminated at the doctoral level.
• Add to the body of academic discourse on public policy in Central Asia.
• Respect the principles of academic ethics and integrity.
• Develop and demonstrate academic research and leadership skills.