Judit Vall Castello was one of the first PhD fellows at the School of Governance: she joined our Marie Curie European Social Protection PhD programme in 2006, before graduating in 2010 with a dissertation on ‘Business Cycle and Policy Effects on Labour Market Transitions of Older and Disabled Workers in Spain’. We caught up with Judit after she gave a seminar at the School of Business and Economics in early October. … The European Social Protection PhD was an EU programme to cr...
In June each year, the closing ceremony marks the end of classes for our Master’s students in Public Policy and Human Development (MPP). Many leave Maastricht to write their thesis, do field research, start an internship or enjoy their summer holiday. The MPP closing ceremony is therefore the chosen occasion to celebrate the end of the academic year with friends and family and serves as an early Graduation Day. Students and faculty members reflect on the year gone by and the future lying a...
Classes have ended for our Master’s students in Public Policy and Human Development and the question of many lips during the closing ceremony of the MPP Class of 2014-2015 was: “Where did the time go?” Daphne Baardman, who served as President of the programme’s student association DEMOS, looked back on an intensive but rewarding study year in Maastricht. Dear MPPers, I maybe should not say this because it is almost too obvious, but really… where did this year go? Not long...
How is it like to be a Master’s student in our double-degree programme in Public Policy and Human Development? How do our students experience their study year in Maastricht and how do they spend their free time? Manisha Kalikadien, who served as student representative in the Education Committee, shared her testimonial at the closing ceremony of the MPP Class of 2014-2015 on 11 June 2015. Hi everyone, After spending four years in Maastricht, I can only say that this year has been one of the...
Political history was made in Nigeria exactly a month ago. Incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) lost to former military leader Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressive Congress (APC). No incumbent president has ever lost an election in Nigeria since independence from Britain in 1960. Ahead of Buhari’s inauguration on 29 May, PhD fellow Ayokunu Adedokun sets out seven points that he wants to see on Buhari’s agenda. Everyone had thought the electi...
Two graduates from our Master’s programme in Public Policy and Human Development (MPP) were honoured at Maastricht University’s 39th anniversary ceremony on Friday 16 January 2015. Here they share their background stories and hopes for the future. Best Master’s thesis 2014 Lorraine Wong (MPP 2013-2014) was awarded the Student Prize for Best Master’s thesis of 2014 at the Faculty of Humanities and Sciences. For her thesis on ‘Quality of education and economic growth’ she d...
Ninety-three fresh graduates, representing about 40 nationalities, gathered with their friends and family at St. Janskerk in Maastricht for the closing ceremony of our Master’s programme in Public Policy and Human Development on 3 June 2014. Together they looked back on an intensive year of learning and personal development and celebrated the beginning of “a new adventure,” as MPP Programme Director Lutz Krebs put it in his congratulatory speech. “You are going out there...
Navneet Bhargava is one of the 93 students who will receive our double Master’s degree in Public Policy and Human Development, issued jointly by Maastricht University and United Nations University. Navneet’s testimonial about her study year in Maastricht was a highlight of the closing ceremony of the MPP Class of 2013-2014 on 3 June 2014. Dear fellow graduates, family and faculty, I am extremely happy to be up here to share a student’s perspective in front of all of you. This is even...
Democrats in the US have been calling President Obama’s recourse to Executive Orders for pushing a key social policy change (minimum wage rise) a case of "leading by example". It so happens that across the Atlantic, leading by example comes packaged as a well-worn policy tool rather specialized for a fiddly problem in a very different policy area, namely the environment....
Open Call for Papers: European Meeting of the International Microsimulation Association 23-24 October 2014, Maastricht, the Netherlands UNU–MERIT and its School of Governance are pleased to launch an open call for papers for the upcoming European Meeting of the International Microsimulation Association. The conference is open to all areas of microsimulation including static, behavioural and spatial microsimulation methodologies, covering a wide range of policy domains. At our last event we hoste...