Critical gaps in public policy programs in Canada: Identifying subject areas for graduate training in rural policy

ABSTRACT

Since rural Canada contributes about one-third of the national economy and significantly to culture, we argue it deserves greater attention in public policy, beginning with policy education. A scan of 22 Canadian Masters of Public Policy (MPP) and Master of Public Administration (MPA) programs reveals a marked absence of policy training focused on rural issues and communities. By comparing the subject areas offered in these programs and the learning outcomes presented at the 2015 International Comparative Rural Policy Studies (ICRPS) summer institute, we identify subject areas essential for training in rural policy. The comparison establishes an important congruence in the learning offered in the MPP/MPA programs and the summer institute, and yet critical differences. The analysis recognizes that training in analytical tools and socio-political contexts is foundational for policy design and implementation. However, acquiring competency in rural policy reinforces the need for graduate coursework centred on rural policy sectors.

KEYWORDS:

• Competencies
• learning outcomes
• public policy
• rural policy

Acknowledgments

We wish to thank the reviewers for their comments and suggestions leading to the improvements to the manuscript. We appreciate the faculty and students attending the 2015 ICRPS Summer Institute in Ireland who participated in this research.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the Rural Policy Learning Commons (SSHRC Partnership Grant – 895-2013-1003); Manitoba Agriculture; and Rural Development Institute and Brandon University.

Notes on contributors

Gary McNeely

Gary McNeely is the Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition Coordinator at Brandon University. His current research focuses on essential skills development and qualification recognition, as well as competency-based education as it pertains to training and professional development opportunities for rural policy analysts.

William Ashton

William Ashton is the Director of the Rural Development Institute and faculty member in the Department of Rural and Community Development at Brandon University. He is also Project Director for Rural Policy Learning Commons, an international partnership project with 32 founding partners. His current research interests include rural migration and immigration, rural community and regional economic development, agricultural innovation, and rural infrastructure.