DISTANCE LEARNING MASTER’S FOR ELECTION PROFESSIONALS: SANT’ANNA SCOOL OF ADVANCED STUDIES ANNOUNCES NEW ONLINE master IN ELECTORAL POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION, MORE THAN 100 APPLICANTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD
The Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies announced a new online master program offering advanced learning in electoral policy and administration for aspiring election professionals, responding to a global demand for qualified electoral experts. Online lessons of Master in Electoral Policy and Administration (Mepa) will start in October 2016; through the eLearning website students have the opportunity to learn online and study when and where they prefer with 24 hour access.
Andrea de Guttry, director of the Institute Dirpolis (Law, Politics, Dvelopment), has coordinated the ambitious project designed by Sant’Anna School in cooperation with United Nations Institute for Training and Research (Unitar) and International IDEA, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, two organizations which play a key role in democracy building sector.
The MEPA Master is one year program, taught entirely in English. It provides advanced learning on electoral processes to those individuals interested in pursuing a career as mid/upper level professional in the field of electoral policy, to work as elections administrators all over the world. The unique, student-centered learning environment attracted students all over the world; in particular, the majority of the students come from countries where democracy is at risk and irregular elections represent often a real menace. More than 100 international candidates applied to the Master MEPA; online applications can be submitted at any time and the selection process is carried out every eight weeks. Lessons plans are also characterized by a lot of flexibility: students can start their course in autumn, winter, and spring.
Aspiring election professionals can attend courses and earn their master’s degree from anywhere, with an Internet connection. Lectures can be viewed online any time to fit with workers and professionals schedule, especially when they live in developing countries. The Master in Electoral Policy and Administration is tailored to meet the student’s needs: on the online interactive platform theory and practice go together to facilitate the learning process. The teaching international staff is composed of world-leading academics and experts, boasting the most reputed Faculty.
“Elections and voting behavior - says Andrea de Guttry, director of the Master program - represent the main tool to determine the choice of a government to decide on the most important social issues.
In today’s world, 140 of about 200 countries in the world held multy-party elections and, the elections represent a bridge between authoritarian regimes and democratic governments. It is therefore essential that electoral procedures are administered by qualified and specialized professionals. In many countries - Andrea de Guttry continues - there is an objective shortage of adequately trained and experienced people able to manage professionally the elections according to the international standards. Our Master aims to fill this gap ".
For more information, visit http://www.mepa.dirpolis.sssup.it/ or write to mepa@sssup.it.
