The UBC Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs (MPPGA) students, as a part of their capstone Global Policy Project (PPGA 590B), have been working with clients on topics related to housing crisis, climate policy and reconciliation. PPGA 590B is being led by Andrea Reimer, Adjunct Professor of Practice, UBC School of Public Policy and Global Affairs.
The Global Policy Project is a 6-credit course that provides the opportunity for MPPGA students to engage with policy makers and civil society organizations on a real-world policy challenge, both in Canada and around the world. Client organizations present a specific policy problem facing their organization to students, provide context to help students further define the issue and support the students as they work address it.
With the support of a SPPGA faculty member, students work in teams to apply their creative thinking and analytical skills to their policy challenge. You can also learn about this year’s 590A projects here, along with the full catalogue of past Global Policy Projects.
Learn more about this year’s 590B projects below.
Inspirations for the City of Vancouver: Engagement, Climate Policy & Reconciliation
Client: Planning, Urban Design, and Sustainability Department, City of Vancouver
Students: Kazi Mohua, Sason Ross, Shanel Feller, Soheil Nasseri, and Yeonjin Lee
Faculty Lead: Andrea Reimer
Project Description: Providing inspirations for the City of Vancouver on how to develop meaningful and impactful engagement practices with local First Nations and Urban Indigenous peoples to advance reconciliation with its climate policy. The project explores literatures and actual applications in several jurisdictions and provides actionable toolbox.
From the students:
“We learned about the complexity of reconciliation in both theory and practice when it comes to creating climate policy. It has been an enlightening opportunity to learn better ways to pursue reconciliation from our interviews that went beyond our learnings from the literature.”
– Student Team
Working with Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw
Client: Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation)
Students: Arthur Bledsoe, Chloei Andres, Joshua Codd, Nadine Van Dalen, and Prithy Ahmed
Faculty Lead: Andrea Reimer
From the students:
“Speaking to and learning from Squamish Nation staff and leadership has been energizing; witnessing such commitment to their community through their work has made taking part in this research project so meaningful.”
– Student Member
The Youth Housing Crisis: Barriers Youth Face in Accessing Housing in Urban Centres
Client: UN-Habitat – Human Rights and Social Inclusion Unit
Students: Annie Law, Dariel Filwood, Jamal Khamis, Priya Rai, and Samira Hosseina
Faculty Lead: Tara Cookson
Project Description: UN-Habitat has identified that the specific experiences, needs and barriers of youth ages 18-29 transitioning into the housing market are insufficiently covered by policy debates and urban planning design. Analyzing the diverse barriers that youth face when accessing safe, adequate and affordable housing across global urban centers, the findings of this project will be used to inform policy pathways for addressing youth housing needs.
From the students:
“Navigating the youth housing crisis, while being at the centre of it, has reinforced the worries we have while transitioning to permanent housing. Our team has quickly seen how relatable the problems and barriers youth face are across the world, and how these barriers can apply to multiple diverse regions.”
– Student Team
Students will complete their Global Policy Project (GP2) with the delivery of a policy report (or equivalent deliverable) to their client, as well a presentation of their findings and policy recommendations at the annual MPPGA Symposium held at UBC in April, 2022.
