Courses

Explore a thought-provoking conference talk by Paula Heron from the University of Washington, delivered at the AAPT Symposium on Physics and Public Policy. Delve into the intersection of physics education and public policy as Heron shares insights and perspectives on this crucial topic. Gain valuable knowledge about how physics education can influence and be influenced by public policy decisions, and understand the potential impact on the scientific community and society at large.

Explore a 14-minute lecture from the 'Constitution Law and Public Administration in India' course that delves into the essential components of policy education and evaluation within public administration. Master the ways policy education facilitates citizen engagement with government initiatives, while understanding how evaluation mechanisms measure policy effectiveness and drive improvements. Gain insights into the constraints affecting policymaking processes and learn about the certification opportunities available through NPTEL that can count toward course credits in Indian Universities under UGC and AICTE guidelines.

Develop data analysis skills that support public sector decision-makers by performing policy analysis through all phases of the policymaking process. You will learn how to apply data analysis techniques to the core public sector principles of efficiency, effectiveness, and equity. Through authentic case studies and data sets, you will develop analytical skills commonly used to analyze and assess policies and programs, including policy options analysis, microsimulation modeling, and research designs for program and policy evaluation. You will also learn intermediate technical skills, such as Chi-squared tests and contingency tables, comparing samples through t-tests and ANOVA, applying Tukey's honest significant difference to correct for multiple tests, understanding p-values, and visualizing simulations of statistical functions to help answer questions policymakers ask such as “What should we do?” and “Did it work?” In addition, you will practice statistical testing and create ggplot visuals for two real-world datasets using the R programming language. All coursework is completed in RStudio in Coursera without the need to install additional software. This is the third of four courses within the Data Analytics in the Public Sector with R Specialization. The series is ideal for current or early career professionals working in the public sector looking to gain skills in analyzing public data effectively. It is also ideal for current data analytics professionals or students looking to enter the public sector.

Using Public Policy for Social Change provides a comprehensive introduction to public policy and its role in addressing societal challenges, with a focus on social inequalities. You’ll explore various areas of policy work, including social welfare, public health, the environment, education, and criminal justice. Learn the fundamentals of public policy design and analysis, and how policymaking functions across all levels of government in democracies worldwide. The course offers the opportunity to delve into social issues you care about, learn from real-life policymakers and advocates, and strengthen your analytical, critical thinking, and advocacy skills to create positive social change. Using Public Policy for Social Change leads you through each step of the policymaking process and encourages you to see how your talents and passions can play a role in making the world a more equitable place.

Public policy puts laws into action. The executive branch directs the combined activities of the federal government to address a multitude of problems, from the environment to the economy. The policies of the United States affect social issues, economic growth, taxes, regulation, and foreign affairs. This course will take a broad view of public policy in America but will use specific examples, such as the 2008 economic downturn and climate change, to illustrate the wide-ranging effects of those policies. We’ll address the intersection of religion and politics, and how issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage have played out in the political arena. We’ll discuss fiscal, monetary, welfare and income policy—what they are, what tools they involve, and what political divisions they create. We’ll examine partisan divisions over regulatory policy, and the basis for those divisions. Finally, we’ll trace the evolution of America’s position as a trading nation by examining trade agreements like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). This course will also serve as an overview of American government, concentrating on overarching tendencies such as its fragmented power structure. The importance of these tendencies will be explained by showing how thoroughly each of them affects American politics.

Explore effective strategies for using physics demonstrations to engage and educate the public about science and science policy. Learn how to plan and execute impactful demonstration shows, including equipment selection, timing, handouts, and staging techniques. Discover methods to reach audiences effectively, create thematic demo shows, and maintain proper pacing. Gain insights into common mistakes to avoid and find out where to source demonstration apparatus. Understand how to network with experienced professionals and secure funding for giveaways. This 29-minute talk by David Maiullo from Rutgers University, presented at the APS April Meeting 2019 in Denver, CO, provides valuable tips for science communicators and educators looking to enhance their public outreach efforts.

Explore the critical role of data in public health with Marin County Public Health Officer Matt Willis in this 35-minute Data Brew episode. Delve into the three pillars of public health: education, access, and policy, and their application in addressing major health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic and opioid epidemic. Learn about vaccination trends, policy implementation, communication strategies with politicians and the public, data sources, and the transition to endemic status. Gain insights into mass mandates, booster shots, and effective data management in public health. Discover Willis' perspective on the most interesting analyses and his favorite bike route in this informative discussion on connected health and the power of data in improving daily health outcomes.

Explore comprehensive coverage of Indian education policies and initiatives in this 20-hour course. Delve into key programs like Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, analyze budgetary allocations, and examine developmental milestones in education. Investigate the philosophy and practices of education in India, the role of education in child development, and current issues in higher education. Gain in-depth knowledge of the National Education Policy 2020 and its implications for quality universities and colleges. Examine the landscape of distance education in India and understand the growing importance of technology in education. Through this extensive curriculum, develop a thorough understanding of the evolving educational landscape in India and the policies shaping its future.

Learn how to implement comprehensive observability solutions specifically designed for public sector organizations in this 16-minute conference talk from Conf42 O11y 2025. Explore the unique challenges facing government and public institutions when monitoring their digital infrastructure and discover practical frameworks for overcoming these obstacles. Understand modern observability principles and how they apply to public sector environments, including technical implementation strategies that account for regulatory requirements and budget constraints. Examine real-world case studies demonstrating successful observability transformations in government organizations, with detailed analysis of the outcomes and lessons learned. Follow a structured implementation roadmap tailored for public sector adoption, covering everything from initial assessment to full deployment. Discover the most effective technology stacks for public sector observability, including open-source and commercial solutions that meet security and compliance requirements. Master techniques for measuring return on investment and addressing common implementation challenges such as legacy system integration, security concerns, and resource limitations. Gain actionable insights for taking the next steps in your organization's observability journey, with practical advice for building stakeholder support and ensuring long-term success.

This course, presented by IMF Statistics Department, covers the fundamentals needed to compile and disseminate comprehensive public sector debt statistics (PSDS) that are useful for policy- and decision-makers, as well as other users. The course introduces the conceptual statistical framework for PSDS—as presented in the Public Sector Debt Statistics: Guide for Compilers and Users—in the context of the government finance statistics (GFS) framework, which is harmonized with other macroeconomic statistical frameworks. Basic concepts, definitions, and classifications are covered, along with the principal accounting rules (including valuation and consolidation) that are relevant for PSDS compilation. The course discusses the recommended the instrument and institutional coverage for compiling comprehensive, internationally comparable PSDS, and how to record contingent liabilities such as government guarantees. It also deals with the impact on PSDS of some debt-related issues such as debt assumption, debt forgiveness, on-lending, financial leases, and financial bailouts. Important PSDS compilation considerations—including what PSDS to compile and disseminate—and the IMF’s guidelines and standards on disseminating PSDS are also covered. The course also presents possible uses of PSDS, including debt sustainability analyses (DSA), and fiscal risk and vulnerability analyses.

Explore the critical infrastructure operated by local governments and public entities in this 37-minute conference talk. Delve into the technology-enabled services managed by local authorities, public utilities, and maritime ports. Examine the unique security challenges these technologies face and learn about a policy-based control that could potentially reduce government threat surface by 40%. Gain insights from Michael Hamilton of the University of Washington as he discusses recent events, DHS Critical Infrastructure, and various aspects of public sector operations including traffic management, water purification, waste treatment, communication, and emergency management. Understand the role of legislation and cybersecurity insurance in addressing these challenges, and participate in a Q&A session to further explore logical borders and other relevant topics.

Public Policy and Governance are an integration of the study of Political Science and Public Administration. Understanding the nuances of public policy and governance are important given the impact of the policies on social and economic conditions of the citizens in any given country.The government comes out with various policies from time to time and implements them through the bureaucratic framework. The Educational Policy, Health Policy, Economic Policy, Environmental Policy, Employment Policy, etc, all assume importance for the country.The paper sensitizes the students to the implications of public policies and governance from a systemic approach.

Welcome to Complexity and Public Policy Course! This course provides an overview of the complexity in public policy situations leading to so-called “wicked policy problems” which appear to have no clear solutions. These problems are widespread, ranging from the Covid-19 pandemic and climate change to economic inequality, traffic congestion, species extinction, SDG achievement, and so forth. They share the characteristics of complex adaptive systems, including nonlinear dynamic change, emergence, self-organization, and adaptation, and resist traditional public policy analytic approaches that normally fail. You will analyze such problems and gain insights into public policy analysis, formulation, monitoring, and evaluation. After gaining insights into the nature of wicked problems and how to make sense of public policy dilemmas, you will learn about complexity economics and applications of complexity tools to various public policy contexts. Furthermore, you will learn about basic models used in complex situations, policy design and evaluation methods, and an alternative approach to public service. This is an intermediate course, intended for learners with a background in social sciences, economics, or public policy. The knowledge you gain from this course will help you in mid- or senior-level policy analysis and planning careers in government or consulting to industries. The course prepares you to: 1. Interpret various policy and planning contexts to decide which analytical tools are best suited. 2. Use various sense-making tools. 3. Understand the difference between complicated and appropriate tools for each. 4. Develop basic computational models to deal with complex policy problems. 5. Understand the different kinds of uncertainty and how to work with them. To succeed in this course, you should have experience in/know about/basic understanding of basic computer software used for computations and simple modeling. You will also need certain hardware or software requirements, including if possible Netlogo software although the professor will provide all the guidance you need.

Explore the intricacies of Active Directory and Group Policy in this comprehensive Black Hat EU 2001 conference talk. Delve into the fundamental concepts and advanced techniques presented by Raymond Forbes, gaining valuable insights into managing and securing Windows network environments. Learn how to effectively implement and leverage these powerful tools to enhance organizational security, streamline administration, and optimize network performance.

In this course, you’ll examine how public health systems operate, the principles that guide them, and the strategies needed to drive meaningful change. Led by Dr. Jose Prabhu J, this course blends systems thinking with strategic frameworks to equip you for leadership in an evolving public health landscape. You’ll explore the essential functions of public health, learn to evaluate policy and program effectiveness, design behavior driven communication campaigns, and harness multi-sector collaboration to enhance health outcomes. This course is designed for public health students, healthcare professionals, policymakers, nonprofit leaders, social workers, and educators who are involved in shaping health policies, managing programs, or engaging with communities. It equips learners across sectors with practical tools and strategies to innovate and improve public health systems. Learners should have basic knowledge of public health principles like epidemiology and disease prevention and be comfortable interpreting data and evaluating health programs. Familiarity with community engagement and cross-sector collaboration is helpful, but no advanced technical skills are required. By the end of this course, you'll be ready to design and support public health strategies that drive real impact. Whether improving communication, promoting equity, or responding to crises, you’ll have the skills to lead with clarity, apply systems thinking, and create lasting change.

Explore program signing and BPF policy in this informative Linux Foundation talk by Jason Baker. Gain insights into the intricacies of these crucial security mechanisms and their implementation in Linux systems. Discover how program signing enhances software integrity and learn about the role of BPF (Berkeley Packet Filter) policy in network security and system monitoring. Delve into practical applications and best practices for leveraging these technologies to strengthen your Linux environment. Note that the audio begins at 1:48 in the recording.

The course gives an introduction to behavioral economics through various tools and techniques and gives a detailed perspective to understand decision making. It will help in understanding the various psychological processes that a consumer goes through while making a decision using topics like nudges, choice architectures, some notions of fairness and also some real life examples. The course will also contextualise how a simple nudge can change a person’s decisions, strategies, and choices. The course touches upon indicators like Heuristics and biases, growth biases and risk preferences. The course will also introduce the terms like Loss aversion, sunk costs, discounting. It will give a distinction between the thought processes of econs and humans. Lastly, the course also delves into the topic of discrimination and its types, evidences and consequenes and how policies have been introduced to reduce the various gaps.

This tutorial aims to build understanding of the links between climate policy and public finance by using examples from Asia-Pacific region. The tutorial is divided into five sections, and it takes around 30 minutes to complete all sections.

Learn to evaluate the effectiveness of policies that are at the forefront of public debates with data and evidence. Use your credential to advance your career or pursue accelerated graduate studies at MIT or another pathway university.

This course explores democracy as a form of governance and its impact on development and public policy. Learners will examine the significance of democratic institutions in shaping development agendas and outcomes. Through comparative analysis, the course investigates how democracies and non-democracies differ in their approach to public policy, resource allocation, and citizen engagement. Key questions addressed include whether democracy promotes development, how policy outcomes vary across regimes, and whether democracies should be evaluated based on results. By the end of the course, learners will gain a nuanced understanding of the complex relationship between democratic governance and development effectiveness in diverse contexts.