OVERVIEW OF EMPG
North South University, the premier private university in Bangladesh was established by the NSU Foundation with the initiative of a group of philanthropists, industrialists, bureaucrats and academics. The government of Bangladesh approved the establishment of North South University in 1992 under Private University Act (PUA) 1992. The university follows the American system-semesters, credit hours, letter grades, one examiner system etc. Its curriculum when first introduced were reviewed by relevant departments of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and the University of California at Berkeley, USA, and duly approved by UGC. The academic programs are continually updated and adapted to meet the local needs.
South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance (SIPG) of North South University will offer "Executive Masters in Policy and Governance (EMPG)" from Fall 2021 semester. The EMPG is expected to meet new entrants' academic and professional requirements and mid-level working professionals of public bureaucracy, development executives, embassy officials, managers of NGOs, and private sector officials willing to widen and enrich further their professional degrees. The program would provide a flexible and interactive learning approach suitable for working professionals from diverse academic and professional backgrounds.
OBJECTIVE OF THE PROGRAM
The EMPG is designed to offer high-quality and international standard education and training on governance and policy analysis for the young professionals of Bangladesh. This is intended to enhance the capacity for young professionals on public policy and governance. It aims to strengthen academic competence and professional skills among professionals from public bureaucracy, development executives, embassy officials, managers of NGOs, private sector officials in Bangladesh.
NSU has been successfully offering a regional program for South Asian professionals on master in public policy and governance with international collaboration since 2008. There is a ready stock of rich available material input on policy and governance which can be effectively utilized for the proposed EMPG Program targeting the young professionals of the public/ non-government and development sectors.
The EMPG aims to develop problem-solving and analytical skills of the participant students from a wide range of scholarly resources/ case studies/ learning materials on major policy and governance issues in the broader South Asian context with particular reference to Bangladesh. The program aims to make a unique balance of theory and practice. Practical approaches would include the development of a practicum by the students independently based on work-life experiences. In brief, the major aims of the EMPG are as follows:
· Analytical and practical skill development
· Improving policy analysis skills
· Conceptual and practical understanding of governance and development
The EMPG Program has 3 areas of specialization: i) Policy Analysis, ii) Human Resource Development, and iii) Program Management. Students will take 6 core courses and 6 courses from the areas of specialization.
The course curriculum of the EMPG has been designed based on an extensive review and analysis from the demand side of the program. Several stakeholders such as the government, UN agencies, bilateral development partners, and INGOs/NGOs were involved in consultation workshops, experts interviews, and baseline surveys. The teaching materials have been developed by professional experts from leading European and national universities.
The curriculum development process of EMPG has been supported by a grant from the Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project (HEQEP) under the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
New students are admitted to the program two times a year (in Spring and Fall). Applications must be submitted within the deadline announced for the semester of intake. All admission queries should be directed to the SIPG Program Office. To be eligible to apply for admission a candidate will require:
· Must have a Bachelor degree from any recognized university in Bangladesh or abroad;
· At least second class (or CGPA 2.75 on a 4 points scale) in all exams
The final admission decision is taken based on the following:
A complete application will include:
FINANCIAL INFORMATION ABOUT EMPG PROGRAM
The total cost of the program is around BDT 205,000 depending on the standing of the student at the time of admission. All fees are subject to change. Please check with the SIPG Program Office for the most recent fee structure.
Online Application Fee : 1,500 (non-refundable)
Admission Fee : Tk. 20,000 (one time and non-refundable).
Caution Money: Tk. 10,000 (refundable).
RFID: Tk. 1,000
Tuition Fee: Tk. 4,500 per credit.
Computer Lab Fee: Tk. 2,000 per semester.
Student Activity Fee: Tk. 3,000 per semester.
Library Fee: Tk. 1000 per semester.
North South University recognizes the need for supporting meritorious and needy students. The support is provided through SCHOLARSHIP/FINANCIAL AID. Continuation of financial aid or assistantship is subject to satisfactory academic performance. Please check with the SIPG Office for details.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
The completion of the EMPG degree requires 2 semesters (comprising six months each) with 12 courses. Each course is equivalent to 3 credits thereby a student is required to undergo a total of 36 credits. The qualifying grade is a minimum CGPA 2.75. To continue in the program a student must be in good academic standing by maintaining a minimum CGPA of 2.5. If in any semester the CGPA drops below 2.5 the student is put on academic probation. A student will be dismissed after being on probation for two consecutive semesters. Participants will be assigned to a given organization to develop the practicum in the last semester under the supervision of a designated faculty member.
A maximum of 6 credits (2 courses) may be waived for the potential students who have completed similar courses at their previous studies from any recognized institutions. The decision will be taken by the Institute based on the academic contents and standards of similar courses.
Prerequisite: ‘ENG500: Graduate English’ will be a prerequisite to complete EMPG degree for the students who will be revealed as weak in English. The Department will assess the level of students based on admission tests. The decision of the Department will be final in this regard. The course will be of three credits with payments and as non-credit.
Students will have to complete all the degree requirements within a maximum duration of 2 years.
FACILITIES AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS
STRUCTURE OF EMPG
MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION AND LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY
The EMPG course is designed and targeted for potential future leaders and executives. The curriculum and resource materials to be supplied are in English. Class lectures, assessments, and all communications will be based in English.
GRADING
The EMPG program follows the NSU grading policy.
