Deborah Kraus, MPP 2010 Cohort:
This summer, I had the opportunity to work as a researcher for BC Housing - a provincial crown corporation responsible for fulfilling the B.C. government’s commitments for subsidized housing. Prior to starting work, the Director had identified a number of research projects for me. She was well-prepared!
One project involved preparing a draft strategy to prevent youth homelessness. I was responsible for outlining a potential role for BC Housing, researching other strategies, identifying best practices, and drafting the strategy together with others within the organization.
I was also asked to contribute to BC Housing’s Building Knowledge Series. This involved preparing highlights of innovative housing projects funded by BC. The purpose of the Series is to share information about the successes and challenges of developing affordable housing, and to have handouts available for conferences and meetings.
Another project involved reviewing strategies to help families in social housing increase their financial resources. This involved a literature review on asset-building and employment initiatives and identifying potential initiatives for BC Housing. This was very useful in helping me identify a topic for my Capstone.
The main thing I learned is what it is like to work in policy and research for a government agency. I found that I really liked being part of a team. I was also pleased to find how well the MPP program had prepared me for my summer co-op. When asked to write about a subject I was unfamiliar with it was no problem - I jumped in and got started with my research and planning.
Jackie Pichette, MPP 2010 Cohort:
Working as Junior Policy Analyst at the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) was an exciting opportunity to learn about and participate in the development of Canada’s international assistance policy. The work I did this summer, advancing evidence-based policy analysis and development of options to address real and pressing policy problems, drew upon many of the skills I developed during my first year of the MPP program. Poverty, hunger, environmental degradation, and gender inequality in developing country contexts are just some of the policy problems that I was given the chance to investigate and help address this summer. I carried out several projects including analyses of current CIDA policies and programmes, I participated in discussions of future plans and priorities for action, and even drafted policy to promote gender equitable and environmentally sustainable economic growth in CIDA’s 20 countries of focus.
CIDA was a wonderful place to learn and develop as a policy analyst. The work I was given was both interesting and relevant, and the people I worked with, innovative and inspired. Overall, my co-op with CIDA was a rewarding experience that re-affirmed my desire to pursue a career in public policy.
Mark Bryan, MPP 2010 Cohort:
I worked in Gatineau (National Capital Region) as a researcher/analyst with Environment Canada, in the Current Analysis and Economic Research Division of the Economic Analysis Directorate (EAD) in the Strategic Policy Branch.
My job responsibilities were to conduct economic and policy research on domestic and international environmental policy issues, to prepare written summaries and analyses of my research for use by senior management. The EAD plays a key role in the analysis of government policy and the contextual economic assessment of various tools and instruments government can use to achieve its objectives (e.g., regulations, taxes, trading, performance standards, and incentives). Work performed there is crucial to ensuring that the upper management of Environment Canada is well informed about the economic implications of issues that are (or may soon be) of concern, about how current government actions and policies sit with respect to its environmental goals.
I worked on projects involving the regulation of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and performed a sector competitiveness analysis of the likely effects of various regulatory options. I also assisted in the creation of policy memos, and researching provincial GHG mitigation efforts and targets from a federal perspective.
There was a steep learning curve, which is exactly what I had wanted. The work was high level, real and important; my colleagues were all friendly, tremendously helpful and knowledgeable, and all very much interested in the work that they and the department is doing. It was a very positive work environment, and I enjoyed turning up to work every day.
Kim Munro, MPP 2009 Cohort:
My co-op was in Victoria this summer, working for BC Parks in the
Ministry of Environment, a position funded by the Pacific Institute
for Climate Solutions (PICS) based at the University of Victoria.
The parks and protected areas (PPA) system of British Columbia is
facing a number of fundamental challenges, and BC Parks
outlined several strategic outcomes in parks governance they are
interested in exploring. I was responsible for a research project
that primarily consisted of finding best practices in parks
governance globally, and choosing parks systems that were able
to best achieve the objectives. One of the objectives was to look
at how BC Parks can best position itself to capitalize on carbon
based economies. I had the opportunity to conduct a number of
semi-structured interviews with prominent individuals in the parks
community who helped to guide my research. I was also
fortunate enough to benefit from the wealth of experience and
expertise from the staff at BC Parks itself. At the end of the
summer, I presented to the people at PICS on the portion of my
research that pertained to climate change. I turned in a large case
study based research project to BC Parks, which included worldwide
best practices on the spectrum of objectives that had been
outlined. In the end, I felt I expanded my skill set, used course
information and techniques that were taught in the first year of the
MPP program, made some interesting contacts, and had a great
summer in Victoria and with BC Parks.
Ian Anderson, MPP 2009 Cohort:
I did my co-op placement at Theatre for a Change (TfaC) in Lilongwe, Malawi. Malawi is
a small, land-locked country in the heart of Southern Africa with one of the highest rates
of HIV prevalence (12%) in the world. Like many countries in the region, Malawi is
impoverished, consistently ranking among the lowest countries on the United Nations
Development Program’s Human Development Index.
TfaC works with primary school teachers and sex workers, two of the highest HIV
-prevalent occupations in Malawi. Because HIV is still so stigmatized, there is a lot of
hesitation to find out more information. Due to this lack of awareness, people continue
to engage in high risk activities.
TfaC targets trainees at Teacher Training Colleges (TTCs) across Malawi and sex workers
in Lilongwe. The staff use participatory learning techniques to increase knowledge,
modify attitudes, and change behaviour to reduce the risk of HIV infection. It was a very
engaging and enjoyable work environment; we did a lot of theatre activities in the office
and always had a focus ball at meetings.
My position was in the Monitoring and Evaluation department, alongside Claire Walsh, a
graduate of the MPP program who has been working in Southern Africa since 2007. We
worked to ensure that the programs achieve maximum impact amongst participants.
While my co-op was specifically with Monitoring and Evaluation, I was privileged to
explore many different areas of the organisation, which in turn has increased my
awareness of a range of issues surrounding "development" in Malawi.
Through my placement, I grew professionally, academically, and personally. The job required that I use technical, social, science, theatre, and leadership skills in ways that I had never used them. The issues that we faced at TfaC continually challenged me, forcing me to rethink preconceived notions and learn from my colleagues. I had to step back and examine issues I had studied in an academic context, such as development, economics or poverty, and understand how they play out in the real world.
In the end, the co-op enhanced my leadership skills, improved my ability to analyze problems and find realistic solutions, and provided me with experience in conducting cross-cultural work. Malawians were wonderful, kind and gracious. It was a joy to work with them and my other international colleagues. I know that this experience will shape the rest of my studies at SFU and direct my future career goals.
Alanna Gillis, MPP 2009 Cohort:
As a Policy Analyst Intern at the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) I was surprised at the extent of responsibility I was given. I was able to apply the skills and knowledge from the MPP program to my work at the Commission. I learned about energy policy and the regulatory framework in B.C. and Canada as a whole. Some of the opportunities and projects I had this summer are revising an internal procurement policy, reviewing participant assistance / cost award applications from a public hearing, attending a public hearing, developing a public relations framework, and drafting an intervener application guide, amongst others. It was through the various projects
completed this summer that I realized the importance of public participation and representation in the regulatory process. Struggling with these critical policy issues led to my selection of a capstone topic and further refined my career goals. I also gained new insight into my personal and professional strengths and weaknesses and desire to contribute to a greater cause.
The opportunity to work for such a professional and important organization confirmed that choosing the MPP program is one of the best decisions I have made to date. This summer opened my eyes to the desirability of a candidate with a balanced education and skill set. Employers are looking for individuals who have a unique combination of excellent communication and writing skills, quantitative skills, a solid background in economics, and the ability to undertake multi-criteria policy analysis. The MPP program has enabled me to improve and develop new skills in all of these areas. I know I will be well prepared to return to the Commission on a full-time basis in May 2011.