Archive for Student Life

Reader request: All about EPD’s curriculum and career networks

Posted by Columbia SIPA 
· Friday, May 1st, 2020 

Thanks to Shruti Manian MPA ’20 for this blog post in response to a reader request. (Yes, we do read your submitted ideas! You can submit a post request here!) This is for Agastia C., who asked for tips on coping with the rigorous curriculum in the Economic and Political Development concentration, as well as about industry networks for students.

Economic and Political Development (EPD) is one of SIPA’s largest concentrations. Students are required to choose and complete two courses (6 credits) in any one of EPD’s four Professional Focus Areas. Since the four Professional Focus Areas are Economic Development, Political Development, Social Development and Sustainable Development, EPD attracts students with a wide array of experiences and backgrounds. EPD students are interested in careers in international multi-lateral organizations, consulting, government institutions, NGOs and even the private sector to name a few.

EPD does an excellent job of ensuring that it caters to students’ varied interests and allows us the opportunity to explore and engage with fields or organizations we may be interested in.

Every week the concentration organizes anywhere between 1-4 events (usually leaning closer to 4) that are open to all students. Speakers are usually leaders in their fields and organizations and are able to give students in-depth insight into specific and significant projects and help us better grasp trends in the space. Often speakers are SIPA alum and are able to give very focused advice on how we can maximize our time at SIPA and what courses they believe will be particularly pivotal to succeed in certain sectors. Some of our speakers this semester have been from UNESCO, the Grameen Foundation, Women Deliver and many more.

Another incredible professional opportunity is the yearly EPD Career Panel. The Career Panel is organized in conjunction with the Office of Career Services and allows students to hear from a diverse panel that reflects the student body’s interests and expertise. This year, the EPD Panel had representatives from the World Economic Forum, the Global Impact Investing Network and the Economist Group to name a few. The Career Panel gives us a chance to hear about the day to day work of professionals in fields we are interested in and ask them questions and build a network. The Concentration also organizes an internship panel so first year students can gain insight into the internship experiences second year students had.

Lastly, EPD faculty members are always happy to help connect students to their vast and impressive networks both in and out of SIPA. Faculty members will often help students reach out to SIPA alums who work in organizations we may be interested in or often are even willing to use their own personal networks to help us out.

The professional opportunities available to EPD students are numerous and impressive. As long as students are willing to take initiative and are curious to learn, there is always an event, a faculty member or an alum around the corner waiting to lend a helping hand.

Categories : Academics, Student Life
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Schooling myself at SIPA

Posted by Zulpha Styer 
· Monday, April 20th, 2020 

Every Wednesday during the semester, I would make the four-block stroll from SIPA to PS 36 Margaret Douglas, a primary school in Morningside Heights. If the children were in the playground, I could hear their unbridled laughter and shouts from almost a block away, and it would always make me smile. My 45-minute sessions with my mentee, who was in kindergarten in my first year and then Year One in my second year, quickly became the highlight of my week and my time in New York City. 

I first learned of the opportunity to volunteer in my first weeks at SIPA, through a standard university-wide email asking for students to sign up. I was excited by the chance to continue benefiting from volunteering and start building connections to my new local community. Read Ahead had a vision I was keen to contribute to: ‘students have the opportunity to unlock their full potential through mentoring relationships based on a love of reading.’

Columbia University has partnered with Read Ahead for almost 22 years and has two schools in the area specifically set up to better accommodate the university calendar. The partnership makes volunteering as a university student easier because the Read Ahead Coordinators are familiar with semester breaks and you get to see friends who are also mentoring and meet new ones. Once I was accepted into the program, there was a tailored volunteer training at Columbia before I first wandered into the brightly decorated corridors of PS 36 to meet the child I’d been paired with.

At first, she was very shy and I would get only monosyllabic answers to any questions. So I spent the first few weeks reading different books and seeing if anything piqued her interest. We eventually found a book that she became obsessed with, and at last count, we had read it together at least 50 times (sometimes multiple times a week) and she had memorized most of the words to ‘Clay Mates’ by Dev Petty. Every week we read, drew, colored and played games together. I was often the victim of a very unfair game of Uno or Headbandz but she repaid my silent suffering a thousand times over with great portraits and artwork, like the two pictured in this blog.

I also enjoyed being able to visit a school and see the US education system up-close. My mother is a teacher and principal, and I worked in education funding before coming to SIPA, so I’ve always felt connected to schools even after leaving school myself. It was my first experience with US school cafeteria food because we met during lunch so the children ate, and that’s how I first saw chicken and waffles (with maple syrup!). 

As an Australian and South African, my accent leans more towards British-Commonwealth English with distinctly round vowels so I often have to “correct” my pronunciation of words, like “fast” or “park” so that my mentee doesn’t accidentally adopt my strange hybrid accent too. If I forgot to change my pronunciation or word choice, sometimes she would just stare at me blankly, as if I were indeed speaking a foreign language. 

With schools closed, the program is temporarily suspended while the world adjusts to COVID-19. I was delighted to receive an email from the Read Ahead staff this week inviting me to send my mentee a written message along with photos and a video message. So I sent her the YouTube read-aloud version of Clay Mates (watching it made me very nostalgic) and introduced her to my cats, hoping she won’t be too mad at me for not visiting her for so many weeks already.

I wish I could have spent more time as a Read Ahead Mentor, perhaps just long enough for us to read all of the Harry Potter books together. And though we’re now 9,951 miles away from each other, I hope our love of reading will continue.

Categories : Columbia University, Meet Seeples, Student Life

Five Things to Know About New York If You’ve Never Been Here

Posted by Nabila Mohd Hassan 
· Wednesday, April 1st, 2020 

Note from Admissions: When Nabila, who is from Kuala Lumpur, told me that her first time in New York City was also her first day as a SIPA student, I was stunned. She wrote this about NYC in the fall semester. I was saving it for today, April Fools’. As someone born in New York, Nabila’s thoughts on this city made me laugh. She captures what I love about NYC with honesty.

Now that COVID-19 is impacting our city and community so hard, reading her words make me want to laugh and cry! I’m worried for my city – I think we all are – and this post lets me take a moment to appreciate the people who make up the heart of this city.

I hope this brings a little lightness to your day like it did for me, and that it lets you appreciate the people who are going out to keep everything running, as well as the people staying in to make it safer for everyone.

— Emily Tao, Admissions

Before starting school at SIPA, the only time I had been to New York was a 12-hour day trip from Washington, D.C. where I arrived way too early — so early that no tourist sites were open (pro tip: the Empire State building opens at 8am). I spent about half my time in Central Park (don’t laugh but that park is b-e-a-utiful). My knowledge of New York was based solely on television shows and movies — though I doubt that the Marvel Cinematic Universe is the best benchmark of the city since it just kept getting destroyed. Looking at you Avengers!

I took the leap to come to New York because, well, it’s New York, and because SIPA is my dream school. I thought I knew everything I needed to know about SIPA and the city, so I didn’t bother joining any virtual sessions or doing any due diligence. Once I got here, I realized I was grossly unprepared to live in this city and that initial shock took some time to adjust myself to.

To help you not be me, here are five things you need to know about New York if you’ve never been here*:
*Actual New Yorkers may fight me on this 🙂 

#1 No, it’s not like Friends, Sex and the City or Gossip Girl
Sadly, your friends will most likely not be your neighbor (maybe, but really – no). If you’re lucky, they might live a 15-minute walk from you which is basically the same thing as being neighbors. Why?

Rent. People have very different budgets and that budget will take people all over the city. Life can be glamorous — hanging out in Lehman Library, sharing snacks from all over the world is glamorous — just not the way that TV does glamour. Having lunch on the steps at the Met? Definitely not. Everyone has very busy schedules and graduate students, I would argue, have 30-hour days. I have friends who juggle internships, part-time jobs, full 18-credit semesters and a thriving social life. Yes, they’re superhuman. Scheduling time to catch-up is a real thing and is really no different elsewhere, with the biggest difference being time taken thanks to public transport. Which brings me to…

#2 Everyone has a love/hate relationship with the subway 
When I first got here, I hated the subway because it’s confusing and always delayed and just so unpredictable.

“Why are some stations not connected for uptown/downtown? Why are there so many people here? I need to leave this station and walk to another ‘connecting’ station? Where can I find train time info? Where is that smell coming from? The B/C is delayed AGAIN? 15 minutes later and still no train. So much for being on time…”

Do I exaggerate? I think not. Ask anyone who lives here. ANYONE. After a year in the City, I still hate the subway but I hate it a lot less. I hate a lot less to the point that maybe I actually do quite like the subway? After visiting some other cities in the U.S. (Bay Area, I’m looking at you) the subway is definitely an old, rusty, sometimes smelly, game changer, and I would rather have it than not have it at all. Pro tip though, trust an actual New Yorker over Google Maps any day because they know the best way to game the system.

#3 The Empire State Building is really not that tall
If you’ve lived or visited any major city in Asia, be prepared to be underwhelmed by the skyscrapers here. Yes, New York has a lot of tall buildings, and yes they are clustered very closely together but compared to many major cities in Asia, the buildings don’t feel exceptionally tall. For reference, here’s a condensed (and selected) list of tallest buildings (excludes the UAE…) :

Shanghai Tower: 2,073 feet
Ping An Finance Center: 1.965 feet
One World Trade Center: 1,776 feet
Taipei 101: 1,667 feet
Petronas Twin Towers: 1,483 feet
Empire State Building: 1,454 feet

That said, the New York skyline is breathtaking an unbeatable and you will very likely travel far distances to get a glimpse of it. Don’t believe me? Google ‘best places to view the NYC skyline’ and I’m sure hundreds of results will show up, one of which is this link. What makes the skyline special is just the sheer number of buildings and the surrounding rivers that somehow reflect the sun at just the perfect angle.

#4 There is a never-ending list of things to do
New York is busy. Busy in the best way that word can be used to describe anything. There is always, and I mean always, something to do here. And what’s even better is that there is something for everyone. Literally. If you have a niche interest, do a quick search and you’ll find like-minded folks.

Interested in the arts, theater and culture? Broadway, museums, art shows. Interested in festivals? There are plenty in Central Park and Brooklyn in the summer. Sports? Yep, never-ending options. Parties? Indoors and outdoors. Glamping? Try Governor’s Island.

You’ll never hear any Seeple complain that they’re bored or have too much time in this city. Even SIPA has an endless list of events – from panels and networking sessions to student organisation socials and brunch. There is no such thing as being bored. Personally, I’m a huge foodie so I often travel outside of the SIPA bubble (the trek is real), to explore and find new places to eat. My all-time favorite place though is Central Park, there really is nowhere else quite like it.

That said, this also means that New York can get very crowded, depending on where and when. This might be the only city in the world where there are endless tourists regardless of season, rain or shine, winter or summer. Pro tip: Avoid Times Square because it is truly the worst place and is tourist central. Do it once, but don’t do it again. In fact, if you plan on having visitors, wait to go with them so you only need to go once.

#5 Re-adjust your understanding of time and distance 
When I first moved here, a friend from home gave me the helpful advice that 30 minutes is close after I complained that it took me 20-25 minutes on the C train to Midtown. You heard it here first. THIRTY MINUTES IS CLOSE. I thought she was mad. But now I get it. It took me a while but eventually I understood what she meant. 30 minutes is close and totally manageable in this city because you need to travel that distance to get anywhere, to see anything and to actually explore and enjoy the city. So the next time someone says they live all the way downtown, don’t freak out. Instead, embrace the opportunity to explore a new area and plan your trip so you can go with friends or watch some Netflix on your commute. I promise, that 30+ minute trip will be worth it!

BONUS!!! #6 That grad school life in New York City 
There is nowhere else you should do grad school but New York. Trust me on this. I visited other schools since I’ve been here and really, I couldn’t imagine not being in this city and what it has to offer especially as a grad student. Because New York is such a hub, we have an abundant amount of job prospects and opportunities. In the City (and beyond SIPA), there are plenty of panels, talks, coffee chats, meets up and networking sessions all year round. There are also plenty of opportunities to work part-time (could lead to that dream job! Or maybe supplement income!) and also meet people from different backgrounds. And this ranges from public to private sector opportunities because NYC has the UN but it also has Wall Street so really, NYC is as diverse as it can be. Whatever you’re looking for, this city has it all because New York is always THE stop on people’s list to visit/host an event/find opportunities. Also, there’s that saying that you should live in NYC at least once when you’re in your 20s, so you know you have to do it!

Lastly, you might get to New York and feel completely underwhelmed like me but rest assured that it only gets better from there on out. Don’t trust me, check out the 101 things to love about New York City here.

New York, I love you 3000.

Categories : SIPA, Student Life
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Experiential Learning at SIPA

Posted by Stuart Caudill 
· Monday, March 30th, 2020 

The objective of the Master of International Affairs (MIA) program at SIPA is to ensure “students acquire the substantive knowledge, practical skills, and real-world experience to address the big issues of international affairs.” But how does that work in practice? What kinds of experiential learning opportunities does SIPA provide to truly immerse students in international affairs?

First off, I’ll dispense with the most well-known factor. New York City is incredibly diverse and is home to numerous organizations that play vital roles in international affairs and public policy. SIPA students have countless opportunities to interact with these organizations via internships, guest speakers, conferences, site visits, and career panels. Not to mention that at SIPA you’ll be surrounded by classmates from over 100 countries and will gain immeasurably from those diverse perspectives in the classroom.

Beyond that, here are 4 less well-known experiential learning opportunities at SIPA:

  1. Global Immersion Courses

Just this year, SIPA inaugurated a new series of Global Immersion Courses that will enhance the MIA curriculum by providing students the opportunity to explore vital global policy issues firsthand. The first course in this program was titled Beyond the ‘Refugee Crisis’: Refugees in Turkey and Global Public Policy. Students in the course spent 10 days in Turkey taking classes on refugee policy and meeting with policymakers, journalists, multilateral organizations, and refugees. Upon returning to NYC, the course met four additional times during the Spring 2020 semester to further study the issues the students experienced firsthand in Turkey.

SIPA plans to offer additional courses in this innovative format covering additional issues and regions of interest to students. You can read more about SIPA students’ experience in this course here.

  1. Treks

Treks are student-organized trips to various countries that generally occur during the winter or spring breaks. These trips often include a mix of sightseeing as well as meetings with policymakers and business leaders. Past treks have included Korea, China, Taiwan, Israel, Japan, Singapore, Palestine, and Peru. There are even some domestic treks to explore certain industries or policy issues, such as the energy trek to Houston and San Francisco.

Treks have provided SIPA students with enormously valuable firsthand experience with pressing global issues. Amira Dhalla (MPA ’20) had this to say about her experience:

“Attending PalTrek was life-changing and moving. I am beyond thankful to the deeply connected and committed group of students from SIPA who opened their ears and hearts to those in Palestine while engaging and learning among eight days of nonstop events. While in the West Bank we discussed pressing human rights issues, practiced heartfelt allyship for communities, experienced a wondrous culture, and witnessed relentless resilience. All of which would never have been possible within the constraints of a classroom.”

  1. Capstone Workshops

The capstone workshop is a key part of the core curriculum for the MIA, MIA, and MPA-ESP. These workshops provide students the opportunity to immerse themselves in a consulting project for an external client. Some workshops provide opportunities for domestic or international travel to meet with clients or conduct research. Clients have included US and foreign government agencies, New York City government offices, the United Nations, the World Bank, think tanks, non-profits, and private sector companies. This semester, for example, SIPA students are researching sovereign liabilities for JP Morgan, advising NYC Cyber Command on responding to cyber incidents, and evaluating cash transfer programming for Mercy Corps. Check out more about capstone workshops here.

  1. Language Circles

If you’re looking for a way to practice your language skills outside of the classroom, many of Columbia’s language programs offer informal language circles to practice conversation. These voluntary, informal meetings are meant to facilitate speaking practice for students at all levels of the language. The Middle East Institute, for example, hosts a weekly Arabic language circle, and the French department offers weekly sessions of their Café Conversation program. Even if you aren’t taking formal language courses while at SIPA, these discussions can be a great way to connect with the community and immerse yourself in the language.

Categories : Academics, SIPA, Student Life
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SIPA in the Time of COVID-19

Posted by Aaron Bhatt 
· Friday, March 20th, 2020 

As many of you have heard, Columbia University switched to online classes and limited most university functions, other than the most necessary ones. Social distancing policies ask us to self-quarantine, limit going out to getting necessities, and keep at least a six-foot distance from others to protect not just us, but also the most vulnerable individuals among us. During this time, we would like to share how our current students have been dealing with the situation, including online classes, group projects, Capstone projects, and everyday life. 

Online Classes

Our classes are now held on Zoom and there is definitely a learning curve with it. There were some funny moments where students forgot to mute their microphones or an awkward pause between asking questions, but overall my professors have made it seem as easy a transition as possible. I much prefer in person classes at SIPA where there’s personal interaction with my professors, friends, and peers.  However, as a second-year who wants to graduate on time, I appreciate the efforts made to finish up my classes.

~MPA 2020

For me, my online class experience has been a little turbulent — professors who are from nations that are especially hard hit by coronavirus such as Italy and France have had to cancel some lectures as they care for professional or personal needs in their home countries. Others have had to restructure their grading or assessment base as their curriculum revolved around in-person assessments. It has been difficult but the professors are all really learning alongside us how to adjust to this new normal with diligence and humour. 

~George-Ann, MIA 2020

Capstone Projects

Capstone projects that included travel for research or meetings with clients have certainly been disrupted, but SIPA students have been adapting in this area just as they have in others. Students are conducting interviews over the phone or video conferencing solutions, and capstones continue to meet with their faculty advisors using Zoom. While the situation is not ideal, students are driving ahead with their research and remain committed to providing innovative research and solutions to their capstone clients. 

~Stuart, MIA 2020

Extracurriculars

While SIPA students can’t meet in person and student activities have been put on hold, the SIPA student body has stayed very active! Students shared petitions in solidarity with undergraduates and other vulnerable students to present to the Administration. Our student leaders also spoke with our SIPA Administrators to ensure student concerns were taken into consideration when decisions were made that impacted student life during this time. I’m sad that our active SIPA student leaders won’t be able to hold the amazing events bringing esteemed international leaders, activists, and scholars to this university, but I’m also honored to be a part of a community that keeps on keeping, even in difficult times. 

~MPA 2020

Columbia Community

During this time of uncertainty, the SIPA and broader Columbia community have really come together. Students based in New York are offering places to stay, fellow students are organizing virtual meet ups and conversation with friends as they practise social distancing. Things have been changing rapidly but the communication has been as good as it can be. 

The administration, cognizant of everyone’s different economic and other mobility constraints, have allowed those who can’t leave to stay on campus and are keeping meal options available. They are also offering financial support by way of keeping student workers’ wages stable until the end of the semester and other supports. 

In these times, the Columbia Community has really shown the spirit of resilience and one of justice in ensuring that the most vulnerable members of our community are taken care of. 

~George-Ann, MIA 2020

Categories : SIPA, Student Life
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"The most global public policy school, where an international community of students and faculty address world challenges."

—Merit E. Janow, Dean, SIPA, Professor of Practice, International and Economic Law and International Affairs

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