2020 Spring Policy Change Studio Field Work

Policy Change Studio Field Work

The Ford Dorsey Master’s in International Policy

The Ford Dorsey Master’s in International Policy (MIP) is a two-year professional degree program based at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI) at Stanford University. The program is directed by Prof. Francis Fukuyama and has about 30 students per cohort. The program features specializations in cyber policy and security; energy, natural resources, and the environment; global health; governance and development; and international security.

Policy Change Studio

Policy Change Studio is the MIP capstone program and is designed to provide students with the know-how to bring about change in the real world. Guided by the MIP problem-solving framework, MIP students work in small teams with outside organizations on real policy problems during their second year of the program. Teams travel to relevant locations to conduct field work during their spring break in late March. 

Field Work

Field work will take place during Stanford’s spring break (week of March 23, 2020). Students may also be able to travel during the preceding week depending on their final exam schedule. Students are required to spend at least 5 full days conducting field work, not including travel days. During their field work, students may meet with stakeholders, interview beneficiaries, collect data, and engage in other activities that enrich their understanding of the problem topic and help them to develop a well-tailored solution. Students will be required to develop a field work schedule and plan prior to their departure, which must be approved by the partner liaison as well as the Policy Change Studio teaching team.