School of Public Policy connects students, alumni and industry for speed mentoring

When public policy graduate students begin undertaking their Master of Public Policy (MPP) capstone, a major research paper required to fulfill their degree, it can be challenging to conceive of a pressing policy issue and develop it in a manner that meets academic requirements, yet also is of interest to external policy professionals across business sectors.

MPP’s third annual Capstone Enhancement Event, held on April 23, saw policy professionals from across Alberta, including MPP alumni, speak with students around a range of policy issues. The speed mentoring format enabled students to consider numerous suggestions and insights they may want to assess as they begin developing their capstone topics.

Above, Jim Campbell of Catholic Family Services and MPP student Jade McLean at the University of Calgary's School of Public Policy capstone event.

MPP student Shae Doyle says, "The MPP Capstone Enhancement Event was an excellent opportunity to connect with policy specialists as I transition from a master's student to a working professional.” 

Such discussions are intended to make MPP capstones particularly timely, relevant and insightful, while generating connections among all participants. Akash Aasif, a current MPP student, says, "The event provided me with the chance to network with several industry professionals, which included previous MPP graduates. I had an incredible opportunity to provide a snapshot of my capstone project proposal and obtain input from individuals working with policies every day within various industries.”

Judy Eng-Hum, executive director of Alberta’s Promise, Inspiring Partnerships for Kids, says,“The students are certainly an impressive group with great project ideas for their capstone projects. It was fantastic to be part of the industry individuals invited to hear the topics from the students and given the opportunity to provide feedback and suggestions at the early stages of their MPP capstone research. I hope it was as enjoyable and rewarding for the students as it was for us.” 

Hussein Warsame, MPP program director, says, "The Capstone Enhancement Event, like the School of Public Policy’s (SPP) annual fall Capstone Symposium, is a commitment to engage students by generating links between MPP students, alumni and industry representatives representing one of the MPP degree’s four focus areas." 

Jason Fransoo, MPP 2012 and vice president, transportation for Hanson Lake Sands Corporation, says, "It is very encouraging to see that the school continues to attract top students who are researching very relevant topics; it is exactly this type of capacity that continues to be needed if we are to get right the many public policy challenges Canada faces." 

Oksana Golovchenko, a research analyst with The City of Calgary’s Corporate Planning and Application Group, adds, “It was a great opportunity to connect with students and discuss their emerging projects and ideas. I was impressed by the enthusiasm of students and the spectrum of timely policy-related issues under consideration at this important moment for Alberta and Canada.”

Identifying and bridging a gap

Geoff Webb, SPP’s senior advisor, conceived the Capstone Enhancement Event after witnessing the success of the school’s first Capstone Symposium in October 2015. The symposium provides an opportunity for graduating students to present their finished capstones to policy professionals and MPP alumni. Students new to the program also attend and obtain a first-hand understanding of the relevance of the MPP degree.

“A space existed towards the conclusion of MPP courses, and before students formally start their capstone projects, to enliven the front end of the capstone production process. Students can, in a sense, stress test their capstone ideas by obtaining input from various people in a forum that fosters novel thinking and produces significant professional relationships,” says Webb. 

He adds, “It is increasingly recognized that generating experiential partnerships integrated around a key educational prerequisite enriches the learning environment while strengthening ties with program stakeholders.”

Salimah Kassam, MPP'13, is employed at United Way Calgary and Area as an innovation and incubation strategist. She has attended many MPP capstone-related events and has acted as a mentor in the MPP program’s student-alumni mentorship initiative, one that is unique across Canadian MPP and MPA programs.

Kassam says, “Thinkers who can balance the needs of citizens and commerce alongside the needs of our environment are crucial to the health of our future. Now, more than ever, our public systems are in catch-up mode, and so we must keep invigorating these systems with talented and thoughtful leaders, like the students coming out of The School of Public Policy.”

Learn more about the MPP Program at The School of Public Policy.