Name: Vicente Stiepovich
Programme: Master of Public Policy (MPP), Class of 2023
Nationality: Chilean
Congratulations on your recent graduation! How does it feel to be a MPP graduate?
It feels like when you are about to start a completely new chapter in your life.
Completing the MPP after many months of preparation in your country, applying, moving out to the UK and studying hard is not the end of a journey but the beginning of new projects and paths.
What have been your key takeaways from your studies and how are you applying these in your future plans?
The first takeaway is realising that almost everyone can impact public policies and public initiatives with the correct toolkit and skills. The MPP at the LSE provides those tools to work in different contexts and public matters.
Second, impacting public aspects are beyond governments. The SPP allows exploring different courses and tailoring the experience to personal interests, from politicians, bureaucrats, civil servants, NGO managers and people creating public impact from the private sector. Impacting public policies requires different profiles and talents from different fields and sectors.
In my future plans, I would like to apply this broader vision of impacting public policies to contribute not only from governments but also from non-profit and social enterprises to social and economic development. I will try to empower more people, organisations and sectors to contribute to solving public problems.
Can you tell us a bit about your background and your motivation for your studies?
I was trained in Business and Management, and I was part for more than 7 years in a NGO focused on overcoming poverty in slums in Latin America. I worked on fundraising strategies and I led the delivery and design of social programmes.
Having worked directly with the most marginalized people of the continent, I am convinced that new and better public policies are needed for development.
During many years, I have seen repeatedly how public policies lack connection with the real needs of the people, and even worse, fail to support their intended audience. My experience motivated me to pursue a Master of Public Policy to acquire a greater understanding of the design and evaluation of public policies.
I wanted to learn about the implementation of social programmes and different organisations' administration. I decided to take this program to be better prepared to rethink existing public and social policies with the aim of proposing real solutions for the poorest people in Chile.
Why did you choose to study the MPP programme at LSE School of Public Policy?
Because of its unique approach, specifically the combination of a solid basis of evidence and world-class faculty with extensive practical experience. The program provides skills and competencies based not only on contemporary theories and analysis but also on the interaction with different experiences from highly talented classmates from different nationalities, practical work during the terms and the professors' real-life examples and experiences.
Were there any standout modules from your studies?
Public Policy Application with Professor Nicholas Barr is one of the best courses and professors I've ever had.
Another remarkable experience for me was having the opportunity to learn a happiness approach to public policies, with Professor Lord Richard Layard. His theories and experience promoting wellbeing as a key factor of public policies made me re-think how to face different challenges. I also learned new ways to evaluate and compare public investments.
Finally, attending New Institutions for Public Policy, a course taught by the Marshall Institute, gave me the concrete tools I needed to combine my background and interest with new tendencies on how to tackle public problems.
Can you tell us any more about your MPP Public Policy Applications project?
I worked on a project to evaluate a proposal for a new "National Champion" in the UK, related to the energy system. Our sponsor was a specialised Consultancy Service for Public Matters in London, and we had the opportunity to develop and present concrete options for implementing this new public company.
The project was exciting because I learned a lot from a sector that I hadn't explored before, we went deep into the analysis and evaluation of public policies in the UK context, getting real-world experience of how consultancy services for public projects work in the country.
It was a great experience to present our ideas to a client who potentially will use them to recommend and define middle-term policies in the UK energy sector.
How did you make the most of being a part of the LSE community during your studies?
Having colleagues and friends from different backgrounds, cultures and talents.
Building a network with students from various programmes and fields of study.
Connecting with world-class faculty and possibly attending top events on campus.
What are your highlights from your time with your classmates?
Debating in seminars and learning about the points of view of people from different countries and contexts.
Participating in social events, such as global dinners or informal beers, connected us beyond studies and work. I made great friends during my time at the LSE.
Who would you recommend the programme to?
To anyone interested in getting skills and training to impact public policies or projects. The MPP program gives concrete tools to work from different approaches, so it is a great opportunity for people from various backgrounds.
Do you have any practical advice or tips for our new MPP students?
The time flies during the program, come here and take advantage of all classes, seminars and activities with peers. Try to be "present" and get the best of every moment of the year.
Vicente is happy to connect with prospective and current students via Linkedin