Research Methods for Public Policy Analysis (Core) (20 CATS Credits)

This module is designed to give students an understanding of the qualitative and quantitative research methods needed for public policy analysis. Module topics include research design (this includes defining research problems, formulating research questions and reviewing literature), research strategy; methods and data collection tools. Students will be introduced with a wide range of qualitative tools such as case studies, grounded theory and action research as well as quantitative tools moving from descriptive statistics to regression analysis. The module will enhance students’ skill in evaluating published research and learn how to use different research methods in their own research and studies in order to grasp and analyze issues related to public administration and public policy; including the evaluation of policy alternatives. They will learn to formulate research questions, design surveys, systematically conduct research and operationalize variables.

Public Economic and Finance (Core) (20 CATS Credits)

This module examines the economic foundations of policy analysis and fiscal administration by introducing basic microeconomic principles and tools required to understand the role of government in the economy. It explores the rationale for government intervention, the goals of intervention (achieving allocative efficiency, redistribution and stabilization), and the prospect of government failure in making such interventions succeed. More specifically, the module provides an overview of the assumptions of perfect competition and considers a variety of situations in which the ideal of a perfect market breaks down, including the cases of public goods, externalities, market power, natural monopolies and asymmetric information. It uses actual policy problems to demonstrate applications of the theoretical framework to areas of education, health, environment, social security and others. It also provides an overview of public sector budgeting and other methods for financial management, regulation and control drawing on contemporary public finance issues. It also provides an overview of regulatory economics and reviews the recent research on implications of behavioral economics for public policy making.

Microeconomics of Competitiveness (Core) (20 CATS Credits)

The module is concerned with the determinants of competitiveness and economic development viewed from a bottom up, microeconomic perspective. While sound macroeconomic policies, stable legal and political systems, and the accumulation of factors of production affect the potential for competitiveness, wealth is created at the microeconomic level. The strategies of firms, the vitality of clusters, and quality of the business environment in which competition takes place are what ultimately determines a nation’s or region’s productivity and wealth. The content covers both developing and advanced economies. The focus is on emerging, transition and advanced countries where microeconomic agendas are critical to sustained success. Furthermore, the module addresses competitiveness at the level of nations, states or cities within nations, clusters, and groups of neighboring countries. A major theme of the module is that competitiveness and economic development is affected by policies at all these levels. The module is also concerned with government policy but also with the roles of business, universities, and other institutions in competitiveness. In modern international competition, the roles of the constituencies have shifted and expanded, and the traditional separation between them works against successful economic development. Also, the ability to mount and sustain a competitiveness strategy for a nation or region is a daunting challenge. The module explores not only theory and policy, but also the nature of the organizational structure and institutions for sustained improvements in competitiveness. In addition to both macro and micro policy choices, the module underlines the role of history, i.e. the legacy of nations (such as language, culture and general institutions), and geography, i.e. the regional circumstances (such as the level of development among neighboring nations and the intensity in regional interaction).

Social Policy (MPP with Social Policy specialization) (20 CATS Credits)

This module explains theories of public policy with a focus on social policies and current reform challenges in that. The overall aim of the module is to help the students understand the interplay between socio-economic context, social policy actors and institutions in a global, regional (MENA) and local (UAE) setting. The module highlights how social policies are analyzed and developed through this interplay. The role of global governance in shaping social policy reform processes is investigated in order to underscore the interplay dynamics. This module also introduces students to contemporary political economy of the MENA region - this includes the role of government, civil society, and private sector as well as the legacy of Islamic institutions and the oil economics. After this, it covers key social (and economic) policy sectors including health, education, public welfare, demography, labor markets & unemployment, elderly care, gender, and youth development.

GLOBAL GOVERNANCE (MPP WITH SOCIAL POLICY SPECIALIZATION) (20 CATS CREDITS)

This module will investigate diverse policy issues and the equally diverse structures of governance and diplomacy regulating them at the international, transnational, state and sub-state levels. The program will equip students to understand, explain and practice governance and diplomacy in the contemporary global era. Inter-Governmental Organizations provide important channels of communication between states and mechanisms for galvanizing international action on issues of global concern. They are also important actors in global governance The module will include a study visit for students that will reinforce classroom teaching by enabling MBRSG students to learn more about the subject of Global Governance encouraging intercultural competency and understanding, and developing knowledge of the international community, and a sense of global understanding within the field.

The module will address three key 'gaps' that are referred to in global governance discussions:

• The jurisdictional gap, between the increasing need for global governance in many areas - such as health - and the lack of an authority with the power, or jurisdiction, to take action.
• The incentive gap, between the need for international cooperation and the motivation to undertake it. The incentive gap is said to be closing as globalization provides increasing impetus for countries to cooperate. However, there are concerns that, as a Country lags further behind economically, its influence on global governance processes will diminish.
• The participation gap, which refers to the fact that international cooperation, remains primarily the affair of governments, leaving civil society groups on the fringes of policy-making. On the other hand, globalization of communication is facilitating the development of global civil society movements

Education Policy and Development (MPP with Education specialization) (20 CATS Credits)

Education is a significant area of public policy, the main aim of this module is to provide students with a holistic understanding of core debates in the area of education policy and a practical knowledge of how education policy is shaped. This module will use a comparative perspective to introduce students to education challenges in the MENA region, especially as they relate to educational access and equality of educational opportunities. It will then provide students with an overview of the process of education policy formation, analysis, and evaluation while paying special attention to the role of research in the policy making process. Finally, selected cases and research on education challenges and reforms in the MENA will be utilized to put into practice the knowledge and policy analysis skills gained earlier in the module.

COMPARATIVE HIGHER EDUCATION (MPP WITH EDUCATION SPECIALIZATION) (20 CATS CREDITS)

This module will provide students with a broad knowledge of the major factors that shape global higher education policy and practice. It will utilize a comparative perspective to explore the global trends and challenges facing higher education providers and evaluate policy responses to these challenges. The primary focus will be on policy responses to higher education challenges in the UAE drawing on global best practice. Specifically, the module will examine issues such as the globalization of higher education, privatization of universities, branch campuses, higher education quality and access, global competition, ranking systems and the knowledge economy.

Health Policy Law & Ethics Management (MPP with Health specialization) (20 CATS Credits)

This module provides an understanding of health policy, which reflects authoritative decisions and the process of decision-making, carried out at the federal, state, and local levels, which affect personal health and access to and delivery of health services in the United Arab Emirates. Students will gain knowledge of the levels within which health policy is carried out, the process for policy development and implementation, key stakeholders and interest groups involved in the health policy process, and how health policy changes over time within the United Arab Emirates and other countries such as the United States. The health policy management aspect of this module provides the student with an understanding of law, regulation, and court decisions that affect healthcare organizations, as well as ethical underpinnings and principles that healthcare organizations follow in the delivery of services. In addition, accreditation as a form of regulation will be addressed. Key ethical principles underpinning healthcare organizations will be considered, as will recent court decisions that impact healthcare organizations and management roles.

PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY LEADERSHIP & SYSTEMS THINKING (MPP WITH HEALTH SPECIALIZATION) (20 CATS CREDITS)

This module explores leadership models and theories, the core principles of public health leadership, and the application of systems thinking to public health. The students examine how to create strategies and solutions that efficiently utilize public health and healthcare resources. A system thinking process is a critical element that co-exists within leadership. The leaders of such organizations would employ systems thinking through the working of interdepartmental and interdependence responsibilities and roles. Students also discuss descriptive and prescriptive systems, focusing on the application of these processes to current public health issues and challenges at the organizational and community levels.

Sustainable Development: The Challenge (MPP with Sustainable Development specialization) (20 CATS Credits)

This module develops the study of sustainable development through a focus on governance and policy. It considers the core Global and Regional challenges of sustainable development: the problem of balancing the economic, social and environmental costs and benefits of development, both for people now and for future generations. The module investigates who applies and implements sustainable development principles, and where and how these principles are applied and implemented. The module emphasizes that sustainable development is a political process, one that raises important ethical questions. Students will analyze some of the different policies and approaches that have been formulated to implement sustainable development by governments, communities, and corporate sectors. In establishing the locus of sustainable development principles, the module will examine who the different actors are, and how sustainability is measured in different contexts including in developed and developing countries.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND REGIONAL POLICY IN PRACTICE (MPP WITH SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIZATION) (20 CATS CREDITS)

This module looks at the sustainable development policy process, and pays specific attention to the UAE and MENA regions: it considers:

• How sustainable development related policy is conceived, including the role of different types of information and evidence;
• How it is appraised against different criteria; and how it may be contested by different actors.
• The effectiveness of sustainable development related policy over a period of time. Using a variety of techniques, students will gain a broad understanding of sustainable development policy arenas, evaluating, analyzing and resolving real world sustainability problems. The module utilizes a balance of theoretical and empirically-based work with a strong emphasis on 'real-world' problems and solutions  

The Political Economy of Science Policy (MPP with Science and Technology specialization) (20 CATS Credits)

This module focuses on policy issues concerning the organization, funding and performance of research systems. These issues are at the heart of science and technology policy. They are also highly topical and international in scope. The module will encourage a greater depth of analysis and independent study by students of current theories, policies and practices in key areas of research policy. Investment in new production facilities is one of the main ways industry applies new technology. The economic, social and environmental consequences of industrial expansion depend heavily on how firms manage the technological aspects of investment projects. The concepts of Cyber security and Energy security are additionally developed within the module. Topics to be covered include: changing rationales for the public funding of research; the US research system; the European research system; the Chinese research system; systems of research assessment; science and research indicators & metrics; foresight methods and tools; science diplomacy; responsible research and innovation; and the governance of emerging technologies.

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION: MARKETS, FIRMS AND POLICIES (MPP WITH SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIZATION) (20 CATS CREDITS)

Technical change has radically altered economic development in the industrialized world and it has become ever more important to understand the sources, nature and consequences of innovation. This module provides students a broad range of innovation management, technology policy and related issues. Themed discussions will include: innovation management in science and technology, managing intellectual property rights, information and communication technology and service innovations, environmental management, and innovation in large complex systems. Governments that support research need to design policies for what science will become, not for what it once was. Companies managing international research laboratories need to foster scientific networks and effective communication. The realities and complexities of knowledge production lie behind the processes and structure of almost all scientific and technological institutions.

Dissertation (60 CATS Credits)

The Dissertation in Public Policy is designed to enable MBRSG Master’s candidates to integrate, apply and extend the knowledge and skills they have acquired throughout their program. The subject matter for the dissertation should also be based upon skills and concepts acquired during the taught part of the program. However, in order to satisfy the requirements for a Masters level dissertation, it will be necessary for the candidate to develop, enhance and apply these concepts through demonstration of independent research skills beyond the level achieved in prior coursework. To this end, candidates will conduct substantive original research on a strategic management, innovation management or service innovation issue of importance to the region. The outcome will be the development and presentation of the research results and recommendations that can inform innovation management in the UAE and beyond.