Draft Doha Conference Schedule

April 3, 2017

Attendees Arrive in Doha

April 4, 2017

8:00amOpening Plenary—President of the Doha Institute, NASPAA President, Qatari Minister of Administrative Development and Labor

Public AffairsProgram Management Block

Well managed programs give rise to quality outcomes in learning and in student achievement of competencies. This session block will cover:

8:45-10:00am Public AffairsProgram Management Part 1

Public AffairsProgram & Curricula Design w/ stakeholder engagement.

10:15-11:30am Public Affairs Program Management Part 2a

Best practices in program management, what are programs around the world doing?

11:30-12:15pm Public AffairsProgram Management Part 2b

Challenges being faced by schools in the region—What are they up against and how have other schools tackled similar issues.

12:30 pm Lunch

Concurrent sessions

1:45-3:00pm

Contextual Learning Session

There are many components of quality in Public Affairs Education. Attention to the most effective teaching and learning techniques is an important component in ensuring student achievement of competencies. Hands‐on, contextual learning matters around the world. The more we simulate the demands of the profession of public service for our students—through simulations, case studies, and internships, the more competent our students become. And the more competent the students are, the higher the quality of education becomes. NASPAA began a conversation on this topic in Beijing in 2015, continued it in 2016 in Columbus at NASPAA’s Annual Conference, and will conclude at this conference. This session will provide a perspective on the importance of contextual learning from participants around the world.

Qatarization, NIQATAT(Saudization), Emiratization, Kuwaitization—Training the Local Workforce

Several GCC countries are moving to decrease their dependence on foreign labor and empower their local citizens to take an active role in their own government and private sectors. As these countries move to a more local workforce, how can Schools of Public Affairs in the region be leaders in the education and training of the local workforce and encourage public spiritedness in citizens?How can they ensure the quality of the training received?

Concurrent sessions

3:15:-4:30

New Session 3: Additional Topic—TBD by Conference Planning Committee

New Session 4: Accountability in Higher Education and Importance of Information

World Bank/CMI’s benchmarking exercise aimed at improving universities’ governance and quality

4:45-5:15pm Regional Schools Meet—discuss idea of“institutionalizing their collaboration in the future in the form of a public affairs association or a regional section of NASPAA or another association”

7:00pm Dinner together

April 5, 2017

9:00-11:30pm Concurrent sessions

NASPAA Standards: A Guideline to Quality in Public Affairs EducationSession

This session will discuss NASPAA’s Standards for accreditation. Accreditation is the formal process through which NASPAA supports program improvement and student learning outcomes by requiring programs to demonstrate their contributions to advancing the knowledge, research, and practice of public service.

This session will provide basic information for programs regarding the process and timeline of accreditation (for those who may be interested in pursuing accreditation) as well as discuss the overall NASPAA 2009 Standards and how they reflect quality in public service education through things like: peer review, student learning outcomes/ competencies, and an emphasis on public service values and mission driven objectives.

Sustainable Development Goals and the Middle East

The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) highlight major challenges the international community faces. Public Affairs programs will be on the front lines in training students to tacklethese challenges and the SDGs can provide an useful insight into what programs could/should be covering in a quality curriculum.

This session will look at how public affairs programs can ensure their students are receiving the competencies and skills needed to tackle these complex issues. This session will cover topics such as:

What role do our schools have in impacting the achievement of the UN’s Sustainability Goals?
What role/ unique opportunities do schools located in the Middle East specifically have to make an impact?
What kind of research is needed by academics and how can this group contribute to that research?

11:30-11:45—Discussion of deliverables—Regional section/Association? JPAE Consortium on SDG’s?

12:00pm Lunch w/ Closing Speech

1:30pm Optional Afternoon Outing

Draft Doha Conference Schedule

Student Track

April 3, 2017

Attendees Arrive in Doha

4pm tea? 5pm Welcome Reception?—Briefing for Student Simulation Exhibition

April 4, 2017

9:00-5pm—Simulation Exhibition (4 90 min time blocks w/ Discussions and Lunch)