The School of Public Policy at CEU held a brief ceremony on April 8 to award Certificates of Completion to the members of the graduating Class of 2015. All 26 students have completed 14 Skills For Impact (SFI) modules during their two-year MPA program. The SFI curriculum focuses on five core competencies that are vital for successful public policy leaders in the 21st century: managing for performance; engaging internal and external stakeholders; mastering communication and advocacy; shaping complex environments; and leading with passion.
In his remarks, Founding Dean Wolfgang H. Reinicke noted that the certificate ceremony was an important milestone in the evolution of SPP. He commended the SPP students on what they had learned, and urged them to become “drivers of change” after they graduate.
Reinicke noted that many faculty, staff, and students had made vital contributions to the success of SFI. He mentioned in particular the contributions of Visiting Lecturer and SFI Faculty Lead Tobias Leipprand and Adjunct Professor of Practice and SFI Program Director Oliver Triebel. Leipprand, who has been involved with SFI from the very beginning, commented on how both visionary and daring it was of the School of Public Policy to offer its students a comprehensive and integrated skills program. He stressed that “SFI skills together in combination with academic expertise equip SPP students with the necessary skills to make a difference in the world.”
“I have just three things to say,” said Triebel. “I’m proud, happy, and grateful. Don’t undersell yourself. And, congratulations!” Triebel went on to describe SFI as “not an experiment, but an innovation.” He urged the graduating students “to make SFI part of your strength going forward… The stuff we’ve done here is state of the art,” he said, noting that leading universities around the world were introducing similar curriculums to prepare their students for the challenges they will face after they graduate.