Where are you currently working and what is your job title?
I was working with Pakistan Government as Research Officer in Human Rights Department. I am also working with cross disability organization; Special Talent Exchange Program (STEP) as a Research Associate (RA).
What did you study at undergraduate level?
Undergrad: Bachelors of Arts (BA) in Economics, Mass communication Postgrad: Master of Business Administration (MBA)
What made you decide to apply for Crawford School?
I’m an Australia Awards scholar (AAS). I always have passion to work for public (esp. marginalized communities in Pakistan). Also, my past working experience helped me in choosing world’s finest public policy program.
How did you choose your particular further study course (compared to others)? I’m studying public policy and understanding processes and challenges of agenda-setting, formulation, implementation, management and evaluation of public policy. Being a qualitative/ interpretivists person, this degree program I found more theoretical and easier to grasp.
Were you weighing up any alternative degrees or career pathways before choosing this qualification? I have previous working experience with Government, think tanks, NGOs in the areas of gender, human rights, disability issues, aid and development, eco-tourism, health and environment issues, etc .The best thing about MPP is its vast scope and one can connect the learnings of public policy to real practice. This degree is very much align with my future career goals. Besides, I acknowledge that Graduates from ANU have been rated as Australia's most employable graduates and among the most sought after by employers worldwide
What was the process to get accepted into your course?
ANU-Crawford school of Public policy is ranked number 5th in the world. I am lucky to be accepted into this course. One must have love and passion to work for the public.
What were the prerequisites?
One must have studies disciplines like Anthropology, Demography, Development Studies, Economics, Geography, International Relations, Law, Policy Studies, Political Science, Public Administration, Sociology or have sound working experience in the similar fields.
What does your study involve?
There is a wide range of courses/specializations offered with MPP. Along with my MPP degree, I’m doing ‘Social research methods’ specialization. I’ll also take health and policy communication specialization courses to meet my career goals.
Can you describe a typical day at Crawford School?
Being an international student, introductory academic program (IAP) proved very helpful in comprehending Crawford study environment. Also, you can meet and learn from culturally diverse students.
What characteristics or skills do you hope to gain by completing your course?
I am learning how to apply theory to real world problems and provide compelling policy advice. Also, quantitative and qualitative approaches to policy analysis. MPP courses will equip me to think independently and communicate persuasively by drawing on policy evidence.
Will this course be beneficial in your career? Where could you or others in your position go from here? Please explain your answer.
The Social Research Methods specialisation will advance my career by providing much sought methodological skills to carry out social science research in the government, private ,NGO employment sectors. It also equips me with a solid foundation for undertaking PhD research.
Where could you or others in your position go from here? Please explain your answer. After successful completion of this degree, I found many students got good jobs in the development sector, government departments, academia, think tanks ,private sectors. Few of them started their own consultancies. Not only lecturers, but students at Crawford, possess wonderful working experiences and one can get the opportunity for professional networking .Also, I’m looking to work as a policy researcher to resolve issues of marginalized communities in my country. I want to continue my work by taking all the policy stakeholders in confidence in bringing inclusive approach to policy formulation.
What do you love the most about your course?
In MPP, I am learning different tools and techniques of policy process. I’m understanding how to resolve public policy issues effectively by providing better policy advice/research. All the MPP courses demonstrate deep understanding of public policy that’s why I always try to connect policy theory with real life time policy problems. I also love the versatile specializations of MPP degree a lot. We can select 2/10 specializations along with our MPP degree. I’m loving my Specialization of ‘Social research Methods’ and thinking to take few courses from Specialization of ‘health Policy’ and ‘Policy communication’ because of my deep interest and future career goals.
What are the limitations of your course?
MPP is the most popular degree at ANU and that’s’ why large number of students present in the class in all eight (08) compulsory courses. It can affect quality of studies as a student get less time to interact with best teachers of the world. Also, at Crawford there are very unique specialization courses which I cannot study elsewhere. But in my two (02) years degree program, I’ve to complete 08 compulsory courses and can study only 08 electives.
TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12002 (Australian University) | CRICOS Provider Code: 00120C