Programme details

The MPP programme consists of two semesters of studies including a master thesis. The fall semester is common for all students. The focus in this semester is on the theories and practice of governance and policy analysis. It introduces the basic knowledge and skills related to policy analysis.

Duration
1 September - 31 August
The MPP programme is constructed in such a way that it is also possible to start in the spring semester with one of the tracks
(1 February- 31 January)

Language
English

Degree
After successful completion of the programme, students will receive a MSc diploma in Public Policy and Human Development, with the chosen specialisation (track elective).

Key lecturers
Jaap Hoogenboezem, Faculty of Arts and Cultures, Maastricht University
Erik de Regt, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Maastricht University
Marjolein van Asselt, Faculty of Arts and Culture, Maastricht University
Hans Maarse, Faculty of Health Sciences, Maastricht University
Christine Arnold, Faculty of Arts and Culture, Maastricht University
Pim Martens, ICIS, Maastricht University
Thomas Ziesemer, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Maastricht University
Peter van den Bossche, Faculty of Law, Maastricht University
Chris de Neubourg, Maastricht Graduate School of Governance

Course description:
Fall semester | Public Policy Analysis and Governance
The fall semester consists of four courses and a skill training period.
Drawing on disciplinary fields such as world history, international relations, sociology, public finance and microeconomics, political science, public management and public policy, the fall semester covers the general aspects of governance. It aims specifically at applying current theories and research to policy issues. In addition to giving students a sound theoretical foundation, this semester also places a high premium on skills. Students will conduct their own research, apply policy-analysis tools and, through practical training sessions, become familiar with negotiating and crisis-management skills. The fall semester prepares students for the detailed analysis of issues studied in the consecutive specialist tracks.


Spring semester | Specializations
At the end of the fall semester, students choose one area of specialization. The programme manager and student advisers are available to assist students with the selection of specializations – taking into account preferences, career plan and previous training. After this, students follow a two-week preparatory course of the track of their choice and an intensive training course to set them up for their thesis.


Research skills and master's thesis
The MPP programme has to be completed with the writing of a comprehensive thesis at the end of the academic year. Students have to work on a problem, making their own analysis and write a thesis reflecting their knowledge, understanding and efforts, using generally accepted methods of analysis and research leading to a manuscript that conforms to generally accepted standards for publishable work. The thesis can be in the form of a survey analysis, empirical investigation, literature review, case study or theoretical investigation. The objective of the master’s thesis not only consists of confirming the skills students acquired in the courses of the programme, it foremost trains students to formulate, approach and solve a problem completely on their own. Each student has the support of a senior staff member as thesis supervisor. In order to stimulate students to work on their thesis throughout the second semester, students have regular contacts with their supervisors or discussants to discuss their progress.
Please note that the following course description of the spring semester is preliminary and still in development. Please check our website regularly for the latest updates.


Specializations

The following specialisations are offered (in exceptional cases the examination board can decide to limit the amount of specializations):

Specialization Social Policy Financing/ Social Policy Design
For the vast majority of the world’s population, labour is the primary and sole means to earn a living. The market value of labour is increasingly dependant on the investment in marketable human capital. Education and training are therefore crucial elements of social policy. Nowadays, it is common knowledge that education and training are essential in fostering economic growth through enhancement of productivity. For those unable to work, temporarily, permanently or because of age, a form of social protection is often the only way to guarantee survival. Public social protection systems redistribute between 5 and 35 percent of GDP, depending on a state’s level of development. Deficient and/or inefficient design and management within (and coordination between) institutions of social protection often leads to waste of public resources as well as social inefficiencies and ineffectiveness of the social transfer systems. This means that the most-needy people may not receive a due share of scarce resources.This raises debates on the arrangement and impact of social protection systems, their financing and sustainability. Public policies are needed in the areas of labour, health, human capital, and old age retirement. The track Social Policy Financing / Social Policy Design, specially designed in cooperation with the International Labour Office (ILO), discusses these issues in an accessible, contemporary and practical manner.


Specialization Globalization, Trade and Development
Before going into the details of theory and policy, it is good to know what the hot issues in globalisation are and what the world looks like. In particular, who trades with whom and how much? It all seems to be a matter of economic weight, or size, or gravity. But there are anomalies and borders and other barriers matter even if free trade is arranged. Globalisation is not entirely new. And so is the theory to be learned later. But what we trade and how we do it has changed considerably. If genetically modified food is traded e.g., there are potential health externalities, which ask for more research. These problems are not ignored but often ultimately not agreed upon in the trade negotiations and sometimes abused as arguments in favour of protectionism. This protectionism calls out for a sound set of regulations and laws. This track comprises four carefully chosen courses that introduce students to the essential components of international economic law. Students will have the opportunity of exploring the realm of trade by taking courses on the Theory of International Trade and the Law and Policy of the World Trade Organisation. Furthermore, the track includes a course on International Intellectual Property Law and Policy and one on International Development Law. In parallel with these four courses, students will participate in a substantive case study that will expand and test their understanding of the subject matter of each individual course.


Specialization Sustainable Development
Sustainable development is a fundamental element of modern policy-making. Many challenges related to global human activities require a central focus on sustainability and development. These challenges include: long-term and sudden climate change; extreme poverty; infectious disease in a globalising world; global demographic change; urban growth; biodiversity loss and ecosystem functioning, and the sustainable use of ocean space and its resources.
The main objective of this track is to give students insights into the principles of governance, sustainable development, and scientific theories by understanding the challenges, constraints and interactions of its academic definitions, decision-making tools and practices. The track builds on an understanding of governance and sustainable development as a co-evolutionary, adaptive process that needs to permeate both human societies and the natural environment. The emphasis will be on explaining and using the generic, complex and, by definition, flexible terms of sustainable development with the help of specific tools and methods. Attention will be given to the processes of international (environmental) politics, the role of NGOs and the civil society. The unique feature of the course is its interdisciplinary core, which provides students with a broad and integrated understanding of sustainable development. It differs from other programmes related to sustainable development in its coverage of sustainable development not only from an ecological perspective, but also from social, economic and institutional point of views.

Specialization Migration Studies
Migration is a growing phenomenon that has gained importance in the public debate on development, welfare and immigration policy. According to the International Organization for Migration, currently there are an estimated 191 million international migrants world wide, constituting 3% of the world population (2005). Remittance transfers (the money that migrants send back to their home countries) currently amount to approximately $300 billion, surpassing foreign direct investment and official development aid in many countries around the world. Migration is a controversial topic in the international and national policy arena and the effects of migration on migrants, their families and communities in the host and origin country need to be studied carefully. While the mass media often focus on a few spectacularly problematic integration cases, the courses in this specialisation will study the issues at hand in depth and with scientific rigour. This specialisation comprises four courses that introduce students to the essential components of migration studies including trends, theories, causes and effects, as well as migration policy. Students will have the opportunity to explore the area of migration studies by taking courses that take a broad perspective on the prevailing theory and practice. Particular emphasis is put on practical field work. This specialisation in Migration Studies aims to train MPP students for the international labour market as policy advisors, practitioners, researchers, etc. working for governments, international organisations or academic institutions.

Specialization Food, Health and Development*
The objective of this specialisation is to acquaint students with the global aspects of public health and to provide students with insight into the various related disciplines such as biomedical sciences, behavioural sciences, law, policy sciences and economics. The aim of the course is to combine these disciplines in four themes or modules and to provide students with the academic skills and conceptual knowledge necessary to analyse issues on public health.  Given its impact upon health, nutrition should be regarded as a fundamental issue in modern public health. Modern public health policy attempts to ensure that everyone has an adequate intake of the basic food groups. Graduates are able to effectively apply relevant theoretical models and concepts to Public Health issues and, vice versa, to reflect upon theoretical developments on the basis of practical experience in the field. This is an academic as well as a practice-oriented endeavour.
* This specialisation is currently under development and will be offered from the second semester onwards