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Study Trip Diary

by Ms. Suhaila Matzan, Cohort 3 alumni

US Semester & Study Trip

Seven students from the third cohort of the UBD Master of Public Policy and Management (MPPM) program has just completed their one semester abroad in the United States of America (US). The MPPM is a one year flagship programme at the UBD Institute of Policy Studies that combines a period of time spent at the UBD campus as well as a semester at one of the following world-renowned partner policy schools in the United States of America. For the 2016-2017 cohort, students were placed in the four partner schools namely McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University; Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University; School of Public Policy, University of Maryland; and the Goldman School of Public Policy, University of California, Berkeley. The students had a pleasant and memorable experience studying in such prestigious US universities.

Following their semester completion, with the collaboration between UBD and the University of Maryland, the students were privileged to participate in a study trip to various US government departments, non-governmental agencies and think tanks. The study trip provided a brief, but rather intensive experience of the US governance, its political foundations and business environment.

Through special meetings, lectures and visits to the University of Maryland, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Department of State, Department of Energy, Department of Commerce, the Federal Reserve, US Naval Academy, Capitol Hill, US Cryptologic Museum, the National Mall Leadership Tour and the Brookings Institution; the students gained understanding of the US governance and how it has been influenced by political and historical factors. Moreover, the study trip provided an avenue for students to engage with relevant officials and learn about key policy-decision making and leadership roles. The students were also given the opportunity to learn of these officials’ experiences with the past and current administration as well as the specific challenges associated with it.

After completing the one semester in the US, the third cohort will now continue the remainder of their course at UBD before graduating in September 2017.

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