The team behind an immersive two-day teaching module, which aims to prepare future policymakers for a crisis-prone world, has won the Vice-Chancellor’s Innovative Teaching and Assessment Award, part of a celebration of excellence across the University.
The North Korea Crisis Simulation, part of the teaching on the Masters of Public Policy (MPP) course, puts students in the shoes of policymakers from six different nation states as they engage in complex policy negotiations around the demilitarised zone in North Korea.
Led by Thomas Simpson, Associate Professor of Philosophy and Public Policy, and Co-Director of the MPP, the simulation was developed alongside the team from The Case Centre on Public Leadership, including Sarah McAra, Oenonie Kubie and Vibhuti Gour, where case studies inspired by real-life situations are rigorously designed to develop the skills required by those in public service roles around the world.
Students noted the ‘astounding’ preparation that went into creating the module, which includes two weeks of extensive briefing sessions with experts, and described the simulation as ‘world class’.
One former student remarked, “if people ask me whether [the] Oxford MPP is good, I would tell them [the] North Korea simulation alone is worth spending one year here.”
Thomas Simpson said:
“I’m so pleased that the innovation and hard work of every member of this team has been recognised. It’s emblematic of the care and attention to detail that goes into delivering the very best teaching for our students every day across the Blavatnik School.
“Our teaching focuses on equipping MPP students for real world policy issues, and this simulation does exactly that.”
Experts delivering the teaching alongside Thomas Simpson include Pilar Elizalde, Departmental Lecturer in Law and Public Policy and Aaron Maniam, Fellow of Practice who also brought in the practical expertise of senior UK civil servants such as Jonathan Black.
A stellar team of professional staff supported the delivery of the teaching, including Daniel Cioccoloni, Huei-Chun Su, Alan Tipping, Fred Davis, Paul Austin, and Jennifer Barton.
