CPP and IPPA Bring International Winter School on Public Policy to Doha for the First Time

The College of Public Policy (CPP) partnered with the International Public Policy Association (IPPA) to hold the International Winter School on Public Policy - Doha Edition 2025, hosting 35 PhD students and early career researchers from 17 countries for a unique educational program focusing on public policy research and design.

The program featured expert-led lectures, interactive courses, roundtable discussions, and hands-on workshops, all designed to enhance participants’ understanding of public policy theories, concepts, frameworks, and methodologies. Courses included “Policy Coordination for Sustainable Transition,” which provided students with conceptual lenses and methodological insights for the study and practice of policy coordination for sustainable transitions across sectors and levels of government. Another course, “Effective Policy Design,” introduced participants to the fundamentals of policy design and practice, in addition to a course on “The Role of Typologies in Public Policy,” which explored how typologies shape policy design, analysis, and decision-making in public policy.

Speaking after the conclusion of the winter school, Dr. Leslie A. Pal, Dean, CPP, commented: “It was an honor to host the International Winter School on Public Policy - Doha Edition 2025. Our partnership with the IPPA reflects our college’s rapid evolution into one of the leading public policy schools in the region and the world. Our participants engaged with some of the most prolific academics in the field of public policy and garnered key insights to support their research and professional development.”  

Dr. Esmat Zaidan, Associate Dean, CPP, and a key organizer of Doha Edition 2025, emphasized the significance of the event, stating: “By bridging academia with real-world policymaking, CPP continues to foster meaningful engagement with key stakeholders, further strengthening its role as a hub for public policy innovation in Qatar, the region, and beyond. We were honored to have participants from policymakers across different ministries in Qatar. Their participation brought invaluable insights into the unique policy landscape of Qatar, enriching discussions and reinforcing the essential link between academic research and practical policy implementation."  

Besides CPP faculty, the International Winter School on Public Policy - Doha Edition 2025 was delivered by Giliberto Capano (University of Bologna, Italy), Charlotte Halpern (Sciences Po, Centre for European Studies, France) and M Ramesh (Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore). The CPP looks forward to working with these and other public policy academics and professionals in the near future.