Maastricht Graduate School of Governance

Maastricht Graduate School of Governance (MGSoG) at Maastricht University is a public policy school. It offers a master's degree in public policy and human development and a doctoral degree in public policy and policy analysis, and conducts multi-disciplinary research in topics relating to economics, political science, international relations, and sociology. The School is the United Nations' first public policy graduate school,[1] and one of the few public policy schools in Europe. The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2016-2017 placed social sciences in Maastricht University 65th in the world.[2] Its MSc in Public Policy and Human Development was ranked number four in the category of Political Science and Public Administration, according to the 2018 Keuzegids Masters.[3]

Maastricht Graduate School of Governance
Established2004
DeanProf. dr. Bart Verspagen
Students167
Location
Maastricht
,
The Netherlands
AffiliationsAPPAM, NISPAcee, EADI, EAPAA
Websitehttp://mgsog.merit.unu.edu/

History

Maastricht Graduate School of Governance was formally founded in September 2004 by the University Board of Maastricht University in light of the growing needs for highly trained specialists in public policy analysis and governance with a global perspective. The School has positioned itself to be an academic center based in Europe in the area of 'thought-leadership', as it applies to global governance and public policy. The internationally focused School combined the academic resources of the faculties of Maastricht University and several foreign leading institutes in order to guarantee multidisciplinary training. In January 2011, the School merged with UNU-MERIT and became part of the United Nations University. The School's founding Director was Professor Chris de Neubourg. In 2010 he was succeeded by Professor Luc Soete, who was also Director of UNU-MERIT. Professor Soete became Rector Magnificus of Maastricht University in 2012. The current Director of the School is Professor Bart Verspagen, who is also the Director of UNU-MERIT.

The School was officially opened for operations and teaching on 1 October 2005. Connected to the opening, a conference was organized which commemorated the 60th anniversary of the Yalta conference. At this wartime conference in 1945 British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Soviet premier Joseph Stalin decided on the future of Europe. At the conference in 2005, the grandsons of these three world leaders looked back on the legacy of their grandfathers and discussed with students, politicians and European leaders on the future of Europe.

The mission of the School is to train specialists who combine academic scholarship with leadership, in order to strengthen democratic governance in the domestic and international arena.

Academic Programs

The School provides degree programs only at the postgraduate level (i.e. Master and PhD).

The programs bring together scholars with various disciplinary backgrounds from leading institutes across the world and practitioners from policy-oriented organizations.

Master of Science in Public Policy and Human Development (MPP)

The starting point of the MPP program is to stimulate students to gain an understanding of the basic idea of good governance. The emphasis of the program lies with the question of how can public policy be dealt with in the most effective and efficient way. In addition to giving students a sound theoretical foundation, the program has a strong emphasis on quantitative skills.

The one-year Master program, which is taught in English, has 6 specializations:

  • Innovation, Institutions & Development (in co-operation with UNU-MERIT)
  • Social Protection Policy (in co-operation with ILO)
  • Migration Studies
  • Regional Integration & Multi-Level Governance (in co-operation with UNU-CRIS)
  • Risk and Vulnerability (in co-operation with UNU-EHS)
  • Foreign Policy and Development

The program serves various groups of students, ranging from bachelor's students to mid-career professionals. In this program, students are trained in formulating, implementing, monitoring and evaluating policy in order to be able to give recommendations for improving or replacing ongoing policies. Students are provided with a variety of skills, tools and knowledge which enable them to work as policy designers and policy analysts in public and private institutions.

The school recruits students with strong academic records, demonstrated commitment to public and international affairs and outstanding potential for career growth and leadership. In recent years, the school has received over 500 applications from over 100 countries around the world annually.

The MPP graduates are placed at public, private and nonprofit sectors. Over 500 alumni now work in banks, ministries, consultancies, international organizations, pension funds, health institutes, and NGOs all over the world. Recent employers of MPP graduates include: UNDP, UNICEF, World Bank, WHO, WFP, OECD, ILO, Asian Development Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, European Investment Bank, UNODC. A substantial share of alumni decided to continue doing academic research and joined universities such as the London School of Economics and Political Science and Sciences-Po in Paris.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The School offers the following PhD programs:

  • PhD program on Innovation, Economics and Governance for Development (full-time)
  • Dual Career PhD program in Governance and Policy Analysis (GPAC²) (part-time)

The program focuses on research skills and methods, training fellows to become both scholars and practitioners in the fields of governance and the economics of technology. Current research covers the following areas:

Many of our alumni now work for NGOs, research institutes, as well as international organizations: University of Oxford, University College London, Indiana University Bloomington, World Bank, National University of Singapore, OECD, FAO, Institute for Fiscal Studies, Overseas Development Institute, Pompeu Fabra University, CEPS/INSTEAD, University of Ottawa, University of Canberra, European University Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, University of Amsterdam, and University of Groningen.

Student Body

About 85 percent of the students and researchers at the School come from outside the Netherlands. Over half of them are from the greater Asia, Africa, and Latin America, totaling to over 55 countries around the world. The program attracts not only students from various academic disciplines (business, humanities, engineering, law, science, and social science) but also professionals in journalism, business, government, and NGOs. The diversity results in a stimulating blend of country-specific knowledge and individual experience. In the tutorial groups and in the classroom, students are exposed to different views and ways of approaching the same subject.

MPP students run a Study Association called DEMOS, which organises regular activities to facilitate professional capacity enhancement, network development and academic achievement.

There were about 170 graduate-level students in 2011.

Training Activities

Many members of the School engage in consulting works with government agencies and corporations around the world.[4] They also offer training, short courses, and advanced academic updates to policy makers, researchers, and professionals.[5]

Migration Management Diploma Program (MMDP)

MMDP, a three-month program financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Netherlands), is designed for government officials with experience in the field of migration and asylum. It was established to was established to build capacity in migration management in developing countries, to inform participants of the foreign asylum and migration policy of the European Union, as well as the international priorities of the Netherlands with regard to asylum and migration and to provide a platform for networking between migration civil servants from developing countries, the Dutch Government, European Commission and international governmental and non-governmental organizations. It is also open to other practitioners and students interested in the management of migration and asylum policies.

Networks

Liaisons

Member Institute

Professorial Fellows
  • Mark Bevir - Honorary Professor in Governance
  • Franziska Gassmann - Professor of Social Protection and Development
  • Cathal O'Donoghue - Extraordinary Professor in Policy Modelling
  • Jo Ritzen - former Dutch Minister for Education and Science and former President of Maastricht University
  • Ronald Skeldon - Professor in Human Geography
  • Melissa Siegel - Professor of Migration Studies
  • Khalid Koser
  • Angela Brand
  • Adam Szirmai
  • Shyama V. Ramani [6]

Deans
  • Chris de Neubourg - Professor in Comparative Economics Studies, Founding Director (2004 - 2010)
  • Luc Soete - Professor in International Economic Affairs, Dean (2010 - 2012)
  • Bart Verspagen - Professor in International Economics, Dean (2012 - ) [7]

References
  1. Maastricht Graduate School Of Governance - About us
  2. World University Rankings 2016-2017 by subject: social sciences
  4. Maastricht Graduate School Of Governance - Projects
  5. Maastricht Graduate School Of Governance - Education
  6. https://www.merit.unu.edu/about-us/people/
  7. https://www.merit.unu.edu/about-us/people/

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