This graduate seminar prepares students for the realities of policy practice. From day one, they are introduced to the kinds of tasks, deliverables, and standards of excellence expected in ministries, international organizations, and NGOs. The course takes a holistic, human-centric approach to public policy, integrating Results-Based Management (RBM) with evaluation methodologies, behavioral insights, and organizational theory to design, implement, and assess policies in complex, real-world systems. The emphasis is not on mastering technical models, but on understanding when and why to apply different methodological approaches, how to interpret their limitations, and how to integrate them with systems thinking, adaptive governance, and strategic communication.
The course is structured around three pillars:
I. RBM, Systems Thinking, and Adaptive Policy Frameworks
- Results-Based Management (RBM) as a foundational planning and learning tool.
- Theories of Change (ToC) and Logical Framework Approaches (LFA) to map causal pathways, surface assumptions, and support adaptive reflection.
- Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) as a continuous cycle that embeds collective learning into policymaking.
II. Evidence, Causality, and Behavioral & Systems Insights
- Understanding when and why to apply different causal and multi-criteria approaches, with a focus on interpreting their strengths and limits rather than technical mastery.
- Designing and using indicators that capture complexity and systemic performance.
- Behavioral insights and systems thinking to identify leverage points for change, account for cognitive biases, and improve implementation.
III. Strategic Policy Communication, Stakeholder Engagement, and Cultural Shift
- Translating complex evaluations into compelling narratives for policymakers, stakeholders, and the public.
- Storytelling, advocacy, and participatory approaches (including SMCE) to foster legitimacy, trust, and ownership.
- Navigating the interplay of technical rigor and political feasibility, and cultivating adaptive mindsets and organizational cultures that support reform.
Classroom Expectations
Active participation is required. Students are encouraged to bring real-world policy cases for discussion.- Instructor: Eirini Patsea