Dual Career Training Programme to obtain a PhD in Governance and Policy Analysis (GPAC²)
Combining a PhD degree with a fulltime job? The Dual Career Training Programme to obtain a PhD in Governance and Policy Analysis (GPAC2) offers courses, seminars and workshops that support the ambitions and intensify the research and analytical skills of the fellows. The training programme invites the GPAC² fellows to join the stimulating and challenging research community of the School of Governance.
The programme meets the needs and availability of researchers with a full-time/part-time job, allowing the participants to combine their careers with obtaining a PhD. The GPAC² programme is designed to provide advanced training in theory and skills that are crucial to policy analysis and design. The research fits into one of the School's seven research themes. The key lecturers of the programme are leading scholars in the field of policy analysis and the related areas like governance, risk management, sustainable development and social protection.
The Dual Career Training Programme to obtain a PhD in Governance and Policy Analysis (GPAC²) is taught in English and consists of a common first year of training, followed by yearly workshops.
Employment as a prerequesite for applying for the GPAC² training programme
The GPAC2 training programme differs from a regular PhD programme. Although GPAC² fellows participate in the training with the objective of obtaining a PhD, they are not considered regular Phd fellows. Employment is a prerequesite to be eligible for the training programme. GPAC² participants are either self employed or employed by business or the public sector and have, therefore, their own source of income. MGSoG will not employ a GPAC² participant, or pay a salary for either participating in the programme or conducting research. GPAC² fellows will be enrolled as training participants, and not as employees of the university.
Applicants have to meet the same quality standards required for the full time programme. This means the fellows have to comply with the Regulation governing the attainment opf doctoral degrees. At the beginning of the programme you will receive more information about coursework, research and programme procedures.
GPAC² training programme
After successfully finishing the training programme and submitting a PhD proposal, fellows will have and/or receive:
- a certificate confirming participation in and completion of the training programme
- a number of articles submitted, accepted and/or published in refereed scientific journals
- a PhD thesis in printed book format
- a PhD degree, upon successful submission and defence of the dissertation
Current GPAC2 Fellow: Ramanathan Balakrishnan, India
United Nations Development Programme, Tripoli, Libya
"With my 14 years of experience in development management, I believe a doctorate in Governance and Public Policy Analysis would help me further my understanding of the cross-cutting and critical issue of national (governmental) capacity development in public service delivery, an area that is very integral to my current and future career. Besides, I believe that such a programme will also help synthesize my past practical experience within a structured and theoretical framework. Equally important is the opportunity offered by the programme to exchange ideas with researchers from varying fields in the area of governance and public policy and to be exposed to other approaches in the field.
Among the various universities, Maastricht Graduate School of Governance is my preferred choice because of its mix of good reputation, international flavor, and an interesting array of past research topics in governance and public policy. Also, the possibility of working towards a doctorate in public policy without suffering a break in my career is a distinct attraction." Read further >>
