Master in Public Administration
Astana, Kazakhstan
Master degree
DURATION
18 months
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
STUDY FORMAT
Key Summary
About: The Master in Public Administration (MPA) at Nazarbayev University in Astana trains professionals in public administration, public policy, policy analysis, program evaluation, governance. The curriculum stresses economics and statistical techniques. Students may spend a semester in Singapore, South Korea, or China. English is the language of instruction. The programme is fully accredited by NASPAA and EAPAA.
Career Outcomes: Graduates enter public sector roles as policy analysts, policy innovators, and civil service staff; private sector roles in education administration, human resources and public affairs, and government-relations consultancy; or pursue advanced research including PhD studies in public policy and related fields.
The Master in Public Administration (MPA) is a program that is designed for professionals seeking rigorous education and training in public administration. It will give students a strong foundation in policy formulation, analysis, and implementation as well as in policy and program evaluation. GSPP expects its graduates to serve in a wide range of middle to senior-level positions in public and private sectors as well as international and non-profit organizations.
The MPP program has many innovative features. In addition to having a progressive and comprehensive curriculum with a rigorous focus on economics, statistical techniques, and disciplines crucial to public policymaking and analysis; high-performing students will also have the unique opportunity to spend a semester in Singapore, South Korea, and China.
The Master in Public Administration (MPA) is a program that is designed for professionals seeking rigorous education and training in public administration. It will give students a strong foundation in policy formulation, analysis, and implementation as well as in policy and program evaluation. GSPP expects its graduates to serve in a wide range of middle to senior-level positions in public and private sectors as well as international and non-profit organizations.
General information
- Campus: Astana, Kazakhstan
- Language: English
- Delivery mode: Full-time, on-campus
- Duration: 18 months
Program is fully accredited by NASPAA and EAPAA.
Graduate School of Public Policy
The Graduate School of Public Policy (GSPP) has as its mission to improve the quality of life of the people of Kazakhstan and Central Asia by training leaders to improve governance through excellence in teaching, research, and executive development that focuses on key policy and leadership challenges.
Strategic partner
National University of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy
Other strategic partners of Nazarbayev University
- Duke University, Fuqua School of Business (USA)
- The University of Pennsylvania (USA)
- The University of Cambridge (UK)
- Colorado School of Mines (USA)
- The University of Wisconsin-Madison (USA)
- The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (USA)
- The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (USA)
- The Oak Ridge Associated Universities (USA)
The curriculum focuses on enhancing the ability of students to critically review research and to develop detailed policy responses to multidimensional issues as well as understand different levels of governance, from global to local. The curriculum comprises core modules, electives, and Master’s projects.
The curriculum comprises 5 core modules, 5 electives and a Master’s Project with an overseas component.
Each core/elective module equals to 8 ECTS credits, the Master’s Project is worth 12 ECTS. The total number of credits in the program is 92 ECTS.
Term 1
Core modules:
- MPA 602 – Public Administration in Theory and Practice
- MPA 603 – Economic Applications for Public Managers
- MPA 605 – Research Methods for Decision Making
Term 2
Core modules:
- MPA 607 – Accountability, Financial and Performance Management
- MPA 608 – Strategic Management and Leadership
- Elective 1
Term 3 (Summer)
- Elective 2
Term 4
- Elective 3
- Elective 4
- Elective 5
- Master’s Project with an overseas component
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the program, graduates will be able to:
- Utilize theories, research, and leadership skills to examine a wide variety of private and public problems.
- Analyze and evaluate how the network of agencies is organized and the interrelationships between private, public and non-profit organizations.
- Analyze the impact of social, economic, political forces on private, public and non-profit institutions.
- Develop management strategies, and maintain professional and ethical integrity.
- Utilize the knowledge of financial, legal, marketing, and human resource issues of organizations.
- Use information technology to improve organizational management and administration.
- Evaluate, interpret and communicate information.
- Develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
MPA Program at NUGSPP allows students to earn their degree while retaining their jobs, staying on their career trajectories, and enhancing their professional network locally. The schedule implies Friday evenings and Saturdays learning format designed to fit the lifestyle helping students to integrate their studies with personal and/or professional responsibilities. MPA students will have a variety of elective courses, including access to Master in Public Policy (MPP) courses.
Possible career destinations:
- Public sector – in government, civil service, international organizations, social research and non-profit organizations as policy analysts, policy innovators; staff members for political leaders.
- Private sector – in education administration, HR and public affairs, government relations consultancy.
- Advanced research – Ph.D. in Public Policy or other overseas Ph.D.s.
