Ottawa, Canada’s national capital
Ottawa is a terrific place to live – offering a wide range of cultural institutions, sporting events, and great neighbourhoods along with easy access to beautiful parks and recreational activities. Whether you are looking for concerts, galleries, hockey, football, cafes, pubs, hiking, cycling, or skiing – the city can satisfy them all.
For students of public policy and administration, Ottawa is also a terrific place to study. As the national capital, it is home to an unparalleled array government departments and agencies, parliamentary institutions, think-tanks, consultancies, and media outlets. Ottawa is the location of many national and regional Indigenous organizations, as well as a base for the head offices of national and international charities, associations, foundations, nonprofits, and a vibrant network of community-based organizations.
The School of Public Policy and Administration takes advantage of its location – drawing upon these organizations and those who work in them to provide its student with extraordinary learning and professional opportunities both within and beyond the classroom. Guest speakers, study tours, workshops, practitioner panels and conferences bring our students into contact with the actual world of governing and government in Canada. Whether on matters of health, energy, environment, or Indigenous-Canada relations – our students are connected with players directly involved in the processes by which public policies are debated, decided, and implemented. Whether on matters of accountability, budgeting, evaluation, or conflict resolution – our students hear directly from public managers about the priorities they observe and the skills they need in order to be effective in their work and service.
Taking advantage of our location, students in the Master of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership have the opportunity complete a practicum with a local nonprofit as part of their degree. In addition, students in the Master of Public Policy in Sustainable Energy and the Environment or in the Master of Public Policy and Administration have the opportunity to complete up to three paid, co-operative education work terms – most of which are in Ottawa and require no relocation. This means that they can broaden their professional experience and contacts without interrupting their studies.