Author Archive for Columbia SIPA – Page 72

SIPA 2014 Application

Posted by Columbia SIPA 
· Wednesday, September 25th, 2013 
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It’s finally here after several edits.

If you have been keeping up with us, you have already marked on your calendar our first application deadline — for Spring 2014 entry to the MIA (Master of International Affairs) and MPA (Master of Public Administration) programs — is October 15. Please visit our admissions homepage for more information, including start dates and application requirements for all our programs.  For those who have been patiently waiting… the moment has arrived… SIPA is now accepting applications to all seven of our degree programs for the Summer and Fall 2014 terms of entry.

I encourage you to begin your application early so you have time to submit one that truly reflects your capabilities and accomplishments. Our Fall 2014  application deadline is January 6, 2014 but it’s never too early to get started on your application.

Good luck and we look forward to meeting you.

 

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A Guide To NYC Neighborhood Jargon And Abbreviations For new New Yorkers

Posted by Columbia SIPA 
· Monday, September 23rd, 2013 
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Once students matriculate at SIPA, they are introduced to a new language spoken by those at the graduate school. From the names of concentrations (USP, EPD, and ISP, among them) to specializations (IMAC, ICR) to student organizations (SIPASA, LASA), members of the SIPA community can feel as though they are swimming in an alphabet soup.

For many New York City newcomers, residents of the Big Apple also seem to speak a unique foreign language. Many neighborhoods and places have names that befuddle tourists and those that are new here. But fear not, future New Yorkers! We have identified locations, abbreviations and acronyms that you should know but may mislead. Some of these terms are universally used, others are still finding their foothold in the City’s vernacular (FiDi, we’re looking at you). But use these names, and you’ll be mistaken for a local in no time.

Word: Alphabet City

Meaning: Alphabet City is part of the East Village, and derives its name from Avenues A, B, C, and D. Alphabet City is essentially a neighborhood within a neighborhood. In the past twenty years, the area has gentrified dramatically, and today is known for its hipster culture.

What To Do There: Alphabet City is home to a number of great bars and eateries. For dinner, be sure to check out La Lucha, known for its stellar Mexican street food. Then move the party to The Sunburnt Cow and Pouring Ribbons, both popular bars among locals.

Word: BQE

Meaning: Brooklyn-Queens Expressway

Why It Matters: A major thoroughfare connecting Brooklyn and Queens. You may hear people refer to the BQE when you’re hanging out in Williamsburg, New York’s hipster haven.

 

Word: DUMBO

Meaning: Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass

What To Do There: When in DUMBO, be sure to spend some time in Brooklyn Bridge Park, one of New York City’s celebrated greenspaces. Chocolate aficionados would be remiss to skip Jacques Torres Chocolate, a shop devoted to the glory of the cocoa bean.

 

Word: FiDi

Meaning: Financial District

Why It Matters: On the other end of the island from Columbia, you’ll find Wall Street, the New York Stock Exchange, and the Federal Reserve Bank in this neighborhood. This is also where the Twin Towers once stood, and where the Freedom Tower is being built. The 9/11 Memorial in this neighborhood is unbelievably moving.

 

Word: GWB

Meaning: The George Washington Bridge

Why It Matters: The GWB is the mammoth double-decker bridge that connects Fort Lee, New Jersey to the Washington Heights neighborhood in Manhattan. The bridge is usually tangled with traffic.

 

Word: NoHo

Meaning: North of Houston Street
What To Do There: NoHo is a small sliver of downtown, wedged between the East and West Villages. For the independent film critic, Angelika Film Center is one of the city’s best theaters.

Important Note: Houston is pronounced How-ston, not like the city in Texas.

 

Word: NoLiTa

Meaning: The area North of Little Italy

What To Do There: If you’re fortunate enough to visit New York City in September, the annual Feast of San Gennaro takes place in NoLiTa. At the festival, zeppoles and cannolis abound.

 

Word: SoHo

Meaning: The neighborhood South of Houston Street

What To Do There: SoHo is one of the city’s main destinations for great shopping and even better dining. The neighborhood’s cobblestone streets are charming (just be sure you’re equipped with the right footwear!) Broadway has big name brick and mortars, including H&M, J.Crew, and Club Monaco (not to mention Uniqlo and TopShop), but weave through the side streets for lesser-known brands and boutiques. Then refuel with some delicious dosas at Hampton Chutney Company.

 

Word: TriBeCa

Meaning: A downtown neighborhood, Triangle below Canal Street

What To Do There: Let TriBeCa’s trendy restaurants, converted warehouses, and inviting parks transport you to a New York City far from Columbia’s beloved Morningside Heights. Stop by Bubby’s for hearty American comfort food (the sourdough pancakes are a hit), then spend the day on the Hudson waterfront where there are basketball and beach volleyball courts, a mini golf course, and a scenic bike path.

 

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SIPA Events for the Week of September 23

Posted by Columbia SIPA 
· Friday, September 20th, 2013 
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The semester just began and we are already have a great roster of speakers and discussions scheduled. Below is a flavor of the events happening at SIPA next week.  Some of these events are opened to the public, so you are welcome to register for those events (if you are interested in a particular topic).  See more events on the SIPA Web Calendar.

 

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2013

CGEG: Reforming Europe Out of the Crisis — Nordic and Danish Perspectives and Solutions

10:00 am to 11:00 am

International Affairs Building, Room 1501

A conversation with Villy Søvndal, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Denmark. Registration required.

Sponsor: Center on Global Economic Governance

 

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2013

Ramush Haradinaj on “Challenges to Kosova’s Democratization and European Integration”

11:00 am to 12:15 pm

International Affairs Building, Room 1219

Discussion with Ramush Haradinaj, former Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosova and Chairman for the Alliance for the Future of Kosova. Event facilitated by David L. Phillips, Director of the Program on Peace-building and Rights at Columbia University’s Institute for the Study of Human Rights.

Sponsor: Institute for the Study of Human Rights

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2013

Moral Interventionism: The Gas Question and Syria

4:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Heyman Center, 2nd Floor Common Room

A roundtable discussion addressing the issue of moral interventionism from the perspectives of political theory, international security, and the history of peacekeeping.

Sponsor: European Institute

 

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2013

China/Brazil: Two Tales of a Growth Slowdown

6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

International Affairs Building, Room 802

Talk with Octaviano Canuto, Senior Advisor on BRICS in the Development Economics Department.

Sponsor: Institute of Latin American Studies

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2013

CGT Undergraduate Film Screening: “Ten Years of Terror”

6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

International Affairs Building, Room 918

The Undergraduate Committee on Global Thought invites you to a film screening of “Ten Years of Terror” followed by a discussion with director, Brad Evans. The film explores the impact of 9/11 and reflects on the subsequent political and military responses.

Sponsor: Committee on Global Thought

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2013

Remembering Edward Said

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Lerner Hall, Roone Arledge Cinema

On the tenth anniversary of the passing of Professor Edward Said, we invite you to join us as we reflect on his legacy. We will also screen excerpts from documentaries on Edward Said.

Sponsor: Center for Palestine Studies with the Department of English and Comparative Literature, the Heyman Center for the Humanities, and the Middle East Institute

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2013

CGEG: FED Tapering and the Fortunes of Nations

4:00 pm to 5:30 pm

International Affairs Building, Room 1512

Panel discussion with Guillermo Calvo, Director, Program in Economic Policy Management and former Chief Economist, Inter-American Development Bank; Jan Svejnar, James T. Shotwell Professor of Global Political Economy; Director, Center on Global Economic Governance (CGEG), Columbia SIPA; Andrés Velasco, Professor of Professional Practice, Columbia SIPA; former Finance Minister of Chile; with introduction by Miguel Urquiola,Vice Dean of SIPA.

Sponsor: Center on Global Economic Governance

 

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2013

Effective Policies in Poverty Reduction Beyond the Millennium Development Goals

6:00 pm to 10:00 pm

International Affairs Building, Room 1501

A lecture and discussion on effective policies in poverty reduction with José Antonio Ocampo, Professor of Professional Practice and Economic and Political Development Concentration Director at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, and Esther Duflo, Professor of Poverty Alleviation and Development Economics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Sponsor: Economic and Political Development Concentration

 

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2013

Geopolitics of the Global Energy Revolution

2:00 pm to 3:30 pm

International Affairs Building, Room 1512

A presentation by Carlos Pascual, Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs at the U.S. State Department.

Sponsor: Center on Global Energy Policy

 

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2013

Comfort Women Wanted

2:00 pm to 4:00 pm

International Affairs Building, Room 918

A video screening and panel discussion with Chang-Jin Lee, visual artist; Charles Armstrong (moderator), Professor of History, Columbia University; Elazar Barkan, Professor of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University; Pablo Castillo-Diaz, Protection Analyst, Peace and Security at the UN; Margaret Stetz, Mae and Robert Carter Professor of Women’s Studies and Professor of Humanities, University of Delaware; Joyce Yu, UN Resident Coordinator. No registration required.

Sponsor: The Center for Korean Research

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2013

CGEG: French Proposals for the Future of Europe, with Laurent Fabius, Foreign Minister of France

2:30 pm to 4:00 pm

International Affairs Building, Room 1501

CGEG: Lecture with Laurent Fabius, French Foreign Minister. Registration and ID required.

Sponsor: Center on Global Economic Governance

 

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2013

Abe and the LDP Are Back. Now What?

4:15 pm to 5:45 pm

Davis Auditorium, Room 412

Ninth Annual Lecture on Japanese Politics with Gerald L. Curtis, Burgess Professor of Political Science, Columbia University. Moderated by Hugh T. Patrick, R.D. Calkins Professor of International Business Emeritus; Director, Center on Japanese Economy and Business, Columbia Business School. Followed by reception. Registration required.

Sponsor: Weatherhead East Asian Institute

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2013

Russian Politics and the Sochi Olympics

6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

The Italian Academy, 1161 Amsterdam Ave 5th Floor Conference Room

A discussion among experts focusing on the influence that this global event has on Russian politics, and vice versa.

Sponsor: Harriman Institute

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2013

New Avenues for Global Illicit Drug Policies

6:00 pm to 7:30 pm

International Affairs Building, Room 1501

Presentation and discussion on global illicit drug policies with Otto Perez Molina, President of the Republic of Guatemala, and Luis Fernando Carrera Castro, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala. Moderated by Professor José Antonio Ocampo, Director of Economic and Political Development Concentration at SIPA. Registration required. CUID only.

Sponsor: Economic and Political Development Concentration, Institute of Latin American Studies

 

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

Building Resilience in a Climate and Resource-Constrained World: Investment Strategies and Policy Innovations

3:30 pm to 4:45 pm

Alfred Lerner Hall, Satow Room (5th floor)

A presentation by James Cameron, Chairman and Founder of Climate Change Capital on how investment in sustainable energy, low-carbon, and resource-efficient infrastructure is expanding rapidly and what this means for investors, policymakers, and entrepreneurs.

Sponsor: Center on Global Energy Policy

 

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

Development Workshop: Jan Christoph von der Goltz

4:15 pm to 5:45 pm

International Affairs Building, Room 1101

As part of Columbia University’s Fall 2013 Development Workshop, Jan Christoph von der Goltz will discuss his latest paper. Topic and paper title to be announced.

Sponsor: Center for Development Economics and Policy

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

Do you want to make a profound difference on global poverty and climate change? A book talk with Sam Daley-Harris

6:00 pm to 7:30 pm

Earl Hall, Auditorium

A book talk with Sam Daley-Harris, author, activist and founder of Results Global Microfinance Campaign and Citizen Climate Lobby on the 20th anniversary edition of his book Reclaiming Our Democracy.

Sponsor: Columbia’s Advisory Committee on Socially Responsible Investing, Economic and Political Development Concentration, Management Concentration

 

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

Cuba-U.S. Relations: Possibilities for the Future

6:30 pm to 7:30 pm

International Affairs Building, Room 1501

Lecture with Dr. Josefina de la Caridad Vidal Ferreiro, Director, North America Division, Cuban Ministry of Foreign Relations. Doors open at 6:00 p..m. Registration required. Seating is limited; first come, first seated.

Sponsor: Institute of Latin American Studies

 

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013

Tadeusz Dabrowski: Twelve Poems From Black Square

4:00 pm to 6:00 pm

International Affairs Building, Room 1219

Tadeusz Dąbrowski will be reading from his book, Twelve Square. A discussion with Anna Frajlich will follow.

Sponsor: Harriman Institute

 

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a city of shining lights: an inside look at urban and social policy

Posted by Columbia SIPA 
· Thursday, September 19th, 2013 
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SIPA’s location in New York City provides an ideal opportunity for students to learn about the workings of one of the most dynamic cities in the world. The Urban and Social Policy (USP) concentration attracts a very diverse group of students from the public, private and non-profit sectors who are interested in managing city governments and non-profit organizations, and designing and analyzing policies across a variety of sectors. USP students enter SIPA with backgrounds in teaching, immigration law, non-profit program evaluation, urban transportation systems, public health, and many more areas.

USP classes are taught by faculty members with extensive academic and professional experience. Mayor David Dinkins, the former mayor of New York, offers a unique perspective in the two courses he teaches to USP students every year. Professor Ester Fuchs, the Concentration Director, served as Special Advisor to the Mayor for Governance and Strategic Planning under New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg from 2001 to 2005 in addition to her many years of teaching experience at Columbia. A number of other full-time and adjunct faculty members draw on their experience as city planners, high level officials in city government, and executive directors of non-profit organizations. They are experts in immigration, organizational management, housing policy, social movements and several other fields.

Students can choose between the Urban Policy and the Social Policy track. Both tracks equip students with strong skills in policy analysis, program management and evaluation. The Urban Policy curriculum offers focus areas in the following fields: Urban Politics and Governance; Management in Urban Public Sector or Not for Profits; Urban Social Policy; Urban Economic Development, Planning and Land Use; Sustainability and Environmental Policy; Housing Policy; Education Policy; Health Policy; Crime, Safety and Security Policy; and Employment and Labor Policy. The Social Policy track provides students with the analytical tools, management skills and knowledge needed to design, implement and evaluate the outcomes of social policies that aim to increase access to economic opportunity in marginalized populations and manage economic and social risks, such as unemployment, poverty, social exclusion, crime, recidivism, homelessness and sickness.

The concentration hosts The Global Mayor’s Forum each semester, featuring mayors from cities in the U.S. and around the globe. USP also hosts a series of roundtables, panel discussions, and brown bag events offering students the opportunity to hear from leading practitioners in the field. Additionally, USP hosts field trips for students to local museums, organizations, and historic sites.

USP graduates pursue careers in leadership levels within city, state and federal government, political campaigns, non-profits and NGOs, think tanks, philanthropic foundations, social enterprises, and academia. During their time at SIPA, many students pursue internships with the New York City government as well as with leading non-profit organizations, consulting groups, and think tanks coming up with innovative solutions to urban and social challenges. A sample of employers who hired USP graduates is available here http://new.sipa.columbia.edu/careers/employment-statistics/career-paths-by-concentration.

city

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J-Termer Experience

Posted by Columbia SIPA 
· Wednesday, September 18th, 2013 
· 1 Comment

First of all, J-Term/J-Termer is not an official name at Columbia University; however my group of 60 students who started in January of 2013 is called “J-Termers” within SIPA. The “J” stands for January, since that’s the month when we started our program. Compared to the fall term start, our group is much smaller and more exclusive.  🙂  I chose to start in the spring semester, because two main reasons. One, it worked out with work; two and the important one, I knew starting the two year program in January will allow me to do two internships over the two summers. Having more practical experience will be valuable when applying for jobs after graduating from SIPA. Also, I think especially if one wants to transition into another field, having two summer internship opportunities will be a great asset to acquire specific industry knowledge that one can bring to the table when applying for that full-time job after SIPA. And for the students who may not know exactly in what field they want to pursue a career in, the two internships will allow them to explore two different fields before making a decision. My previous professional experience is in Private and Investment Banking and I am looking to move into a more macroeconomic and risk analysis career. Therefore, having a couple summers will allow me to gain the appropriate tools to successfully make this transition.

The curriculum for J-Terms is exactly the same as for any other students starting in the fall semester; however the courses have a slightly different order, which may pose a challenge to some students. I personally don’t think this is a significant issue, especially with the assistance of the Student Affairs Office and its Deans. Since our group is small compared to the group in the fall, all concentrations were in the same group during orientation. This was especially interesting since I not only got to meet my fellow IFEP’ers (International Finance and Economic Policy folks), but also students from all the other concentrations, which will enhance the opportunities to connect with interesting people that have different backgrounds and professional goals.

Another point that may mistakenly be held against starting in January is the opportunity to be a TA (Teacher’s Assistant) or receive fellowships/scholarships. From my experience this is a misconception; since many of my classmates received summer scholarships and fellowships for the fall semester (only after a semester into their studies). Receiving such scholarships/fellowships depends on your grades, performance and initiative.

Bottom line; the students who start in January may (at most) have to be a little more flexible since some first semester courses will only be offered during the J-Termer’s second semester; however that said if you are a go-getter and don’t mind taking the initiative then the J-Term is a great way to get your degree at SIPA. So far, I am very satisfied that I am one of the J-Termers and look forward to meeting you at SIPA.

 

posted by Andreas Maerki, MPA 2014, International Finance and Economic Policy (IFEP)

 

 

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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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