Max Bell School of Public Policy

Max Bell School of Public Policy
Name	Max Bell School of Public Policy
Established	1972
Parent	University of Calgary
City	Calgary
Province	Alberta
Country	Canada

Max Bell School of Public Policy is a public policy school within the University of Calgary located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The school delivers professional and graduate programs influenced by figures such as Max Bell, institutions like the Calgary Foundation, and policy debates evident at the Parliament of Canada, the Alberta Legislature Building, and international forums including the United Nations General Assembly. It operates alongside faculties and units such as the Haskayne School of Business, the Cumming School of Medicine, the Schulich School of Engineering, and research entities like the Institute for Public Policy Research.

History

The school was founded in 1972 with support from the Max Bell Foundation, benefactors connected to enterprises like CP Rail, Bell Canada, and regional benefactors linked to the Calgary Stampede and ATCO. Early development involved collaboration with the University of Toronto, the School of Public Policy at Queen's University, and consultancies that advised provincial bodies including Alberta Treasury Board and municipal offices such as the City of Calgary. Over decades the school adapted in response to events including the 1986 Oil Price Collapse, the NAFTA negotiations, and federal initiatives led from the Prime Minister of Canada’s office, aligning curricula with standards set by organizations like the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs.

Academic programs

The school offers a professional Master of Public Policy program designed with coursework and practicum streams influenced by curricula at Harvard Kennedy School, Blavatnik School of Government, and Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. Course modules reference case studies from the Klondike Gold Rush, regulatory frameworks exemplified by the Fisheries Act, and policy instruments used in responses to crises such as the 2008 Financial Crisis and public health episodes like the 2003 SARS outbreak. Joint and dual-degree options exist with units including the Haskayne School of Business, the Schulich School of Engineering, and the Faculty of Law, University of Calgary, while capstone projects engage partners like the Government of Alberta, the City of Calgary, and NGOs such as the Canadian Red Cross.

Research and centers

Research themes are organized around centers and labs that examine issues tied to institutions such as the Bank of Canada, the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, and regulators like the Alberta Energy Regulator. The school houses research programs addressing climate policy referencing the Paris Agreement, energy transitions associated with OPEC dynamics, and municipal policy influenced by initiatives from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Affiliated centers collaborate with think tanks including the C.D. Howe Institute, the Fraser Institute, and the Institute for Research on Public Policy, and produce policy briefs used by committees in the House of Commons of Canada and panels appointed by the Governor General of Canada.

Admissions and funding

Admission processes reflect criteria comparable to programs at Oxford University, University of Chicago, and the University of British Columbia, requiring academic records, professional references, and statements similar to those requested by the Rotman School of Management and the Terry Fox Research Institute. Funding packages draw on fellowships established by foundations such as the Max Bell Foundation, scholarships administered in partnership with the Canada Graduate Scholarships Program, and awards supported by corporate donors including Suncor Energy and philanthropic trusts like the Lassonde Family Foundation. Students may pursue internships with agencies such as Global Affairs Canada, the Alberta Health Services, and international organizations like the World Bank.

Partnerships and community engagement

The school maintains partnerships with municipal bodies such as the City of Calgary Council, provincial ministries including the Ministry of Health (Alberta), and national entities like the Privy Council Office. Collaborative projects have linked the school to international networks involving the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the Commonwealth Secretariat, and city alliances like C40 Cities. Community engagement includes public dialogues featuring participants from the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, Indigenous groups represented through contacts with Assembly of First Nations delegates, and cultural organizations such as the Glenbow Museum.

Notable faculty and alumni

Faculty and alumni have included policy practitioners and scholars associated with institutions like the Bank of Canada, the Department of Finance (Canada), and provincial offices such as the Premier of Alberta’s staff; notable names have gone on to posts in organizations including Global Affairs Canada, the World Health Organization, and the International Monetary Fund. Alumni have taken roles in elected bodies including the House of Commons of Canada and the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, in senior executive posts at corporations like Enbridge and TransAlta Corporation, and in nonprofit leadership at entities such as the United Way Centraide Canada and the David Suzuki Foundation.

Category:University of Calgary