Thoughts on graduation and the MPAID program

This is graduation week at Harvard, which means all the lawns are perfectly manicured, buildings are carefully scrubbed, and Harvard Square is teeming with former graduates in town for reunions. And of course it means it is raining...

As MPAID faculty chair, I make a short speech to the families of MPAID graduates.  Here is an excerpt:

A decade ago, Harvard and the Kennedy School took a big gamble by launching a new degree program, called the MPA in International Development. The gamble was that if we put together a really rigorous and challenging program in international development--a program with no equal anywhere else--we would be able to attract 65 or so students we would be proud to have in our midst and as our graduates.

We set very ambitious goals for the program. Our aim was no less than a new career path in development. We emphasized both high-level technical training (which is typically the province of Ph.D. programs in economics) and professional, multidisciplinary training (which is the province of master's programs in international affairs or public administration).

We wanted the MPAIDs to combine both types of strengths—to have “hard minds and soft hearts.” Hard minds because development is too important a profession to leave to fuzzy thinking, and soft hearts because development is impossible to achieve without empathy for the people whose lives we are trying to improve.

We wanted to train professionals who were skeptics, but not cynics: that is, always questioning the conventional wisdom, but without the defeatist attitude that says nothing works and public action cannot achieve public ends.

One of my favorite stories is one that I first heard from E.F. Schumacher, whom some of you may know as the author of “Small is beautiful.” It concerns an economist, an architect, and a physician who are traveling together in a train. They fall into a conversation about which one of the three professions is the oldest and therefore the most honorable. The physician says, well of course medicine is the oldest profession. Look, at the very beginning God made Eve out of Adam's rib. This was an act of surgery, was it not? The architect says, hold on, before there was Adam and Eve, the earth and the planets had to be constructed. God made the earth out of chaos. This was an act of architecture. The economist turns to the other two and says: "And where do you think chaos came from?"

Well, we wanted to train professionals who could not only imagine what a better world might look like, but would also help create it—though better institutions, better programs, better policies.

For us, this gamble has paid off handsomely. We could not have hoped for graduates that better embody the ideals of the program--academic excellence, commitment to development, leadership.

In my case, the festivities are attenuated somewhat by the fact that these ceremonies also mark the completion of my duties as MPAID faculty chair.  On Thursday, I hand out diplomas. On Friday, I am a free man!

As any reader of this blog knows, I have nothing but good things to say about the MPAID program and, more importantly, about the students in the program.  But times of transition are also times for stock-taking, so I have been thinking about where we have been falling short and how we can improve the program even more.

So here is where I wish we could have done better...  [the next three paragraphs accidentally deleted]

As for the future, the MPAID program will be in very good hands, so I am not losing any sleep over it.

Comments

[MM]

I wish I'd had the opportunity to go through the Harvard program instead of foregoing two years of income and a handy spot of interest to SIPA, Columbia's cash cow, for their entirely unrigorous development degree.

[Nilesh Fernando]

Does anyone know where to find financial aid statistics for the MPA/ID program? All I could find on the website was a list of scholarships (I'm an international student).

Is funding typically good or is it non-existent?

Nilesh

[Holger Siebrecht]

Nilesh,

you can probably get these statistics from Carol Finney (http://ksgnotes1.harvard.edu/ksginfo/director.nsf/list/Carol_J_Finney)

Dani, congratulations on handing over the duty and thanks for your careful leadership of the program in the past.

[Holger Siebrecht]

Nilesh,

you can probably get these statistics from Carol Finney (http://ksgnotes1.harvard.edu/ksginfo/director.nsf/list/Carol_J_Finney)

Dani, congratulations on handing over the duty and thanks for your careful leadership of the program in the past.

[Holger Siebrecht]

Nilesh,

you can probably get these statistics from Carol Finney (http://ksgnotes1.harvard.edu/ksginfo/director.nsf/list/Carol_J_Finney)

Dani, congratulations on handing over the duty and thanks for your careful leadership of the program in the past.

[Holger Siebrecht]

Nilesh,

you can probably get these statistics from Carol Finney (http://ksgnotes1.harvard.edu/ksginfo/director.nsf/list/Carol_J_Finney)

Dani, congratulations on handing over the duty and thanks for your careful leadership of the program in the past.

[David Evans]

Professor Rodrik,

Is it possible that the 3 accidentally deleted paragraphs could be reposted. It would probably help many of us considering post-graduate development or economics degrees, not just at your program but in general.

Thank you.

[David Evans]

Professor Rodrik,

Is it possible that the 3 accidentally deleted paragraphs could be reposted. It would probably help many of us considering post-graduate development or economics degrees, not just at your program but in general.

Thank you.

[Jim]

Onwards and upwards, Dani.

[tweek]

David, Dani's probably just joking around.

[Omair]

Wait, were those accidentally deleted paragraphs ever there or not?

[ghd straighteners]

GHD straighteners was kmown as ghd flat iron, which was authorized online seller provides all kinds of hair straighteners,pink ghd,purple ghd,babyliss. By visiting ghd australia , you will find what you want and made yourself more beautiful.If you miss it ,you miss beauty.Buy a piece of ghd for yourself.Come and join us http://www.ghdoutlet-au.com/ to win the ghd iv styler.

[birkenstock]

Birkenstock was Made in Germany since 1774 . Check out our Birkenstock sandals and Birkenstock shoes including the Birkenstock gizeh,at the lowest regular outlet prices, free shipping and when you put on Birkenstocks. you will feel very comfortable.

[MBT Shoes]

Thank you for introducing me the useful information.And .....Totally boring. can you tell me where is the red and gold colors...? I predict a very low seller....I look forward your answer.thank you!

[ghdstraighteners-au]

ghd iv styler want their stylers to work perfectly and safely, providing users with flawless results every time and ghd hair straighteners are amongst the safest hair irons available to buy.

[lachou]

I like these articles , democratic countries formulate policies are both team and the interests of the people of power, but the undemocratic countries rarely for the interests of the people, http://www.jerseysky.com it is the sorrow of many democracy, I like the western and northern state policy.
http://www.cheapsaleing.com
http://www.nikeairmaxshoe.ocm

[lv store]

I like these articles , democratic countries formulate policies are both team and the interests of the people of power, but the undemocratic countries rarely for the interests of the people!

[jordan shoes]

I am happy to find this post very useful for me, as it contains lot of information. I always prefer to read the quality content and this thing I found in you post. Thanks for sharing.

[cheap jordans]

Thanks a lot for sharing. You have done a brilliant job. Your article is truly relevant to my study at this moment, and I am really happy I discovered your website. However, I would like to see more details about this topic. I'm going to keep coming back here.

[jordan shoes]

This is a wonderful site. The things mentioned are unanimous and needs to be appreciated by everyone.

[VRS]

You have done a brilliant job. Your article is truly relevant to my study at this moment, and I am really happy I discovered your website.

[cheap and high quality handbags]

Im not going to say what everyone else has already said, but I do want to comment on your knowledge of the topic. You're truly well-informed. http://www.taobao-trade.com.

[truck rental]

I think Birkenstock should start to make green shoes from old car and truck tires, those famous working shoes need to be an example for recycling.

[Sem advertising services]

Thanks for the sharing of such information we will pass it on to our readers
This is a great reading.Thanking you

[اليوتيوب]

thats one of the best article you ever present Dan thank you

[Account Deleted]

raf

Thanks.

[Account Deleted]

Many places and centers offer business and trade promotions to both buyers and supplier.What about the differences in skill intensities across industries? The job losses in the relatively unskilled-labor intensive battery industry should have little effect on the relatively skilled-labor intensive machinery
sexshop
sexyshop
sexshop online
alongador peniano

[Account Deleted]

If you need more traffic to your website check out the website in my name. It really helped me and i think it can help your website.

organic seo service