Public Policy Challenges of the 21st Century Course in Kuala Lumpur

Understanding Contemporary Challenges and Building Evidence-Informed Policy Responses

Public policy plays a central role in how governments and institutions respond to complex societal challenges. Economic inequality, climate change, public health, migration, technological change, education, employment, and security increasingly interact across national and international boundaries, requiring policy professionals to consider both immediate priorities and longer-term consequences.

The Public Policy Challenges of the 21st Century course provides participants with a structured understanding of contemporary policy challenges and the processes through which public policies are developed, implemented, and evaluated. The programme examines policy responses at local, national, and international levels while strengthening participants’ ability to analyse evidence, assess policy impacts, and understand the roles of different stakeholders.

Across five days, participants explore global public policy, policy analysis and evaluation, implementation, stakeholder engagement, and policy advocacy. Practical activities and case studies help participants apply analytical frameworks, assess alternative policy approaches, and develop evidence-informed advocacy strategies while considering different stakeholder perspectives.

You'll Learn How To

• Understand major public policy challenges facing governments and societies.
• Examine how economic, social, environmental, and technological issues interact.
• Understand the role of public policy in addressing national and global challenges.
• Analyse the relationship between national priorities and international cooperation.
• Apply structured frameworks to public policy analysis.
• Use qualitative and quantitative evidence in policy evaluation.
• Understand cost-benefit analysis and economic evaluation.
• Apply SWOT and PESTEL to relevant policy contexts.
• Develop evidence-informed policy recommendations.
• Understand policy-making and implementation at different levels of government.
• Identify the roles of government, civil society, and private-sector stakeholders.
• Recognise barriers affecting successful policy implementation.
• Understand the influence of public opinion and advocacy on policy processes.
• Explore collaborative governance and multi-stakeholder partnerships.
• Develop structured policy advocacy strategies.
• Monitor and evaluate advocacy initiatives.