Public policy for the real world
The School’s flagship teaching program is a one-year Master of Public Policy, combining courses in the theory of public policy with courses covering the complexities of the real-world policymaking process.
The Four Pillars of the Max Bell School of Public Policy
McGill’s Max Bell School of Public Policy is committed to the research, teaching, public outreach, and practical advocacy of sound public policy, with each of these four dimensions grounded in a solid understanding of the overall policy process, not merely as it is described in theory but as it exists in the real world, with all its imperfections and limitations.
- Practical Policy Teaching
- Applied Policy Research
- Effective Policy Outreach
- Credible Policy Engagement
Practical Policy Teaching
The Max Bell School of Public Policy’s flagship teaching program will be a one-year Masters in Public Policy. The School will also offer a suite of “executive” teaching programs aimed at specific niches within governments, the NGO sector, and the private sector. Details about the application process and the program are available here.
Applied Policy Research
The School will represent a hub for McGill’s many policy-minded researchers, making linkages with individuals and their research centers. Some connections will be through teaching programs, some through research collaborations, and others through the various events created to engage with the public.
Effective Policy Outreach
This pillar will involve the communication of complex and contentious policy ideas with the general public, whose support is ultimately required for the implementation of policies. These efforts will recognize that people with different perspectives usually require and benefit from different styles of communication.
Credible Policy Engagement
This pillar is aimed at bridging the disconnect between existing policymakers and policy-minded academics. More and deeper interaction between the two groups is essential to building such a bridge, with the valuable flow of information and perspectives in both directions.
April 26, 2019 | McGill Faculty Club
Video recap available
Applications for the Policy & Data Science Summer Program 2019 are now closed!
The PODS Program is a partnership between the Centre for Social and Cultural Data Science and the Max Bell School training students to tackle Canada’s policy problems.
Study on news consumer habits published in Policy Options
The study, conducted by Max Bell Professor Taylor Owen and MISC Assistant Professor Andrew Potter, finds that social media users tend to prefer opinion over objectivity.
Speech by Carolyn Wilkins, Senior Deputy Governor at the Bank of Canada
The Max Bell School welcomed Ms. Wilkins to shed light on the policy issues surrounding monetary policy frameworks and how they have increased in complexity in a post-crisis world.
