Arthur Kroeger College Rebrands as Home of Public Affairs and Political Management
Arthur Kroeger College (AKC) is entering a new chapter at Carleton University, bringing together two programs focused on complementary areas of public affairs: policy and politics.
Established in 1999, AKC was created to provide an interdisciplinary community for students studying public affairs and policy. Its flagship Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management (BPAPM) combines interdisciplinary public affairs education with a focus on policy formation, assessment and management.
Previously, AKC was also home to the Bachelor of Global and International Studies and the Master of Migration and Diaspora Studies. Both programs have since moved to the College of Global Studies, leaving BPAPM and the Master of Political Management (MPM) as AKC’s two core programs. Alumni who have experienced these programs can show why that combination matters.
The specialization within the BPAPM degree is a key factor that sets it apart from other majors at Carleton. Rahul Walia, an alumnus, explained how the program helped him find his current job as an Advisor at the Office of the Prime Minister of Canada.
“My specialization in Strategic Public Opinion helped me better understand how policy and communications influence public decision-making, and those lessons continue to shape how I approach my work today. Looking back, I’m grateful for the strong foundation the program gave me and the skills I’ve carried into my career.”
Education is only one part of the BPAPM experience; the connections students build and the experiences they gain throughout the program can also contribute to their success. Rhys Sandner, another BPAPM alumnus, emphasized the lasting value of both the skills and relationships he developed during his studies.
“The core BPAPM program and its specializations offered me the opportunity to study the skills I now use every day in my career. Perhaps even more importantly, the network I built during the program continues to pay dividends.”
As someone who has taken both the Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management and the Master of Political Management, Kyla Ronellenfitsch, the Founder of Relay Strategies, found that the two programs prepared her exceptionally well for a career in politics and public opinion research.
“BPAPM gave me a multidisciplinary foundation and the academic rigour to understand public affairs from many different angles, while MPM taught me how politics actually works and helped me build relationships that still support me professionally today.”
As Carleton approaches this new chapter, Ronellenfitsch is confident that AKC will continue to be an important part of Carleton and the premier training ground for Canada’s public affairs leaders.
Sarah Todd, the director of AKC, shared her excitement about being part of this reinvigorating moment and the collaboration between the two programs. “The reorganizing of AKC as home to MPM and PAPM is a return to the College’s early roots. Once again, it is a place rooted in the richness of our local community and the nation’s capital with a focus on public policy and politics.” She explained.
Todd reflected that while the years with Bachelor of Global and International Studies and Master of Migration and Diaspora Studies were exciting opportunities to expand view outwards to the world, the new College brings together a program that focuses on policy makers with a program that focuses on political management.