Beyond the Classroom: Fellowships Offer MPP Students Real-World Policy Practice
The learning opportunities for the students in the Master of Public Policy (MPP) program at the School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary extend well beyond the lectures and assignments.
The educational experience provides students the opportunity to engage with public policy through direct exposure and engagement with the policy world.
Serena To, a member of the Class of 2025, is an example of seizing the opportunities that await MPP students.
Before pursuing public policy, Serena had worked around the world in jobs that were at the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital policy. Recognizing the rapid scaling of AI was outpacing the public policy required to govern it, she chose the MPP program at UCalgary to create better leadership and policy.
“The MPP program was a real turning point for me—not just the theory, but the practical skills to hit the ground running,” said Serena.
She applied for two fellowships that aligned with her interest in AI: one was with Empower by government relations and communications firm Navigator Ltd. and the other was with OpenMinds NextGen.
Through Navigator, Serena received a crash course on the inner workings of government relations, strategic communications and crisis response work. The experience provided her a deeper understanding of public affairs.
“I had a chance to collaborate with seasoned policy advisors and political strategists,” she said, highlighting the value of practical policy experience and emphasizing the importance of direct interaction with industry professionals.
Her OpenMinds NextGen Leadership Program gave Serena a global perspective of areas including energy transition and sustainability, topics closely aligned with her capstone project.
Collaborating with NextGen Leaders and tech sector experts allowed Serena to discuss her interests, challenge herself with real industry leaders, and gain practical experience in driving policy changes.
“One of the highlights of the program was the chance to work on a partner project, with energy companies and tech firms to implement a traceability system to track methane emissions across the supply chain,” she said.
MPP students (L-R) Muneer Nazir, Brianne Dangerfield, Haris Ahmad, Serena (Thi) T. and Ty Willness, who tied with York University for the Bronze Prize at the 2025 National Public Administration Case Competition
Serena also works as a research assistant for the School of Public Policy, contributing to an energy transition survey research project. She is completing a research studentship with the Information and Communications Technology Council, as part of her capstone project. She is focused on digital infrastructure and the economic impact of data centre expansion in Alberta.
She is involved in a research project at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, examining the sustainability of data center operations in APEC economies. She is optimistic these experiences will serve as stepping stones to a career as a policy analyst in AI and digital infrastructure.
She recognizes the difficulty in managing the intensity of the MPP program in combination with the internships/fellowships. She advises students to do their due diligence and choose programs that will benefit their career ambitions.
“I had the opportunity to engage directly with my fellows, industry leaders, and policymakers—that was exactly what I was looking for,” she said. “I didn’t just want to do one isolated project and be done with it. I wanted to be part of a team, part of a community.”