Dedicated Initiatives for MPA Students

The MPA Class trip is designed to enrich the MPA learning experience, giving an opportunity for participants to experience international organizations and the public sector at an international level. During this visit, participants have the opportunity to benchmark best practices, and deepen their understanding of the managerial challenges faced by organizations such as WIPO, UNHCR, UNIS, as well as other International Organizations, NGOs and Foundations.

The format of the MPA Class trip makes the MPA a unique program, with panel discussions, interactive events, and seminars with senior professionals and public managers who share their experiences and perspectives on future smart solutions to public challenges.

The MPA 2016-2017 class, as part of their Concentration on International Public and Non-profit Management, that is designed to provide knowledge and concrete managerial skills for professionals seeking careers in international public and non-profit organizations, visited Geneva over two days on 6-7 April 2017. This concentration covers important management topics such as interagency coordination, stakeholder management, and cross-sector partnerships, as well as how actors involved in decision-making manage successful negotiations and manage complex projects, specifically, inter-agency collaborative practices, fundraising, advocacy and communication, and management of complex projects. As part of this concentration, the MPAs visited the following UN agencies based in Geneva:

• WIPO
• UNHCR
• UNOG
• UN Library

Senior officials and experts from these organizations met with the MPA students and shared their experiences of working for the UN agencies, the mission and goals of their projects, and the processes and daily tasks they carry out as managers. It was very interesting for our MPA students to learn and understand the complexity of global agendas, international humanitarian issues that the UN focuses on, and each agency’s unique mandates and roles. Many of our MPA students felt this was a “once in a life time” experience to visit the UN premises and interact with professionals working at the UN agencies. One of the highlights was the visit to the UN Library. The librarians shared the history of the library, how it has been transforming its services to meet the demands of using more digital and online platforms, and explained the story behind the impressive art work drawn on its walls (see photo below), which the visitors found fascinating.

The MPA students were also able to network with the MPM Alumni of SDA Bocconi over an aperitivo session in the heart of Geneva. The visit provided not only insights into the UN world, but it was also a networking opportunity and an eye opening experience about international organizations for many of the MPA students.