NUS Lee Kuan Yew School Public Policy Programme Review: What Learners are Saying
Policymaking is never just about laws or statistics. It is about people. Behind every regulation is a mother, a teacher, a child, a worker. That’s why the NUS Lee Kuan Yew School Public Policy programme has become a magnet for professionals who don’t just want to study public systems. They want to change them for the better.
Participants who enrol in the programme come from diverse backgrounds, from the Senate of the Philippines to international tech giants, from public sector leadership to emerging market reformers. But they all have a shared goal: to lead with clarity and conscience.
Four such learners who chose to take that step offer their insights and takeaways.
Abdulaziz Albalwi: “It was the range, the depth and the people.”
When Abdulaziz Albalwi joined the NUS Lee Kuan Yew School public policy programme, he was already immersed in the field of governance. However, he was looking for something more—something that could deepen his understanding and broaden his outlook. He found exactly that.
“The best part of this programme was the comprehensive range of topics covered,” he says. “It provided an in-depth understanding of public policy design and implementation.”
For Albalwi, it wasn’t just the academic structure that stood out. It was the people. The cohort brought together public professionals from every corner of the world, each with their own insights, struggles and stories. “The diversity of the students enriched the learning experience,” he adds. “It brought varied perspectives and fostered a vibrant, dynamic environment.”
Albalwi quickly realised that policy isn’t just shaped by legislation. It’s shaped by dialogue. Every discussion in the virtual classroom pushed him to reconsider what good policy looks like in different cultural and economic contexts. The learning was rigorous, but it was also deeply human. And for Albalwi, that made all the difference.
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Victor Dugan: “Everything flowed. Every topic connected to the next.”
Victor Dugan came to the NUS Lee Kuan Yew School public policy programme with a strong background in strategy and systems thinking. But what he appreciated most was the way the course was designed, not as a series of stand-alone lectures, but rather as a coherent narrative. “The cohesiveness of the topics made the Public Policy with AI programme an enriching and well-rounded journey. Each subject connected seamlessly with the next, reinforcing key concepts throughout.”
That cohesion mattered. Because policy isn’t linear. It loops back and intersects. Today, where artificial intelligence is changing how decisions are made and services are delivered, that complexity only deepens.
Dugan valued how each module built on the previous one. Discussions on behavioural insights naturally led to conversations on ethics. Stakeholder mapping found its application in AI-driven service delivery. By the time the course touched on implementation, he wasn’t just memorising theories. He was also applying them in his mind to real-world challenges.
What made it even more valuable, according to Dugan, was the space to engage and ask questions. He didn’t feel like a passive learner. He felt like a strategist in training, equipped with both the conceptual tools and the moral compass to navigate the evolving world of governance. “It was more than knowledge—it was clarity,” he says, adding, “And that clarity stayed with me long after the course ended.”
Putli Suharni C Samanodi-Candao: “It stays with me. I keep going back to it”
As a director at the senate of the Philippines, Putli Suharni C Samanodi-Candao lives in the heart of policymaking. Her daily work involves complex legislation, national priorities and political nuance. Enrolling in the NUS Lee Kuan Yew School public policy programme was about sustaining excellence and sharing it with others. “The programme is excellent,” she says. “The best part is the rich content, from which I’ve learned a lot.”
For Samanodi-Candao, the richness of the material wasn’t just about volume. It was about relevance. The readings spoke directly to the challenges she saw in her work. The case studies mirrored the struggles of emerging economies. The tools were practical, not just theoretical.
Yet, she admits it wasn’t always easy.
“While it could feel overwhelming for a busy professional like me,” she explains, “the generous materials are a valuable resource for both my work and teaching.”
Samanodi-Candao doesn’t just create policy; she also mentors the next generation of policy thinkers. And now, she has a deeper well to draw from. She revisits the material often, whether to prepare a legislative briefing or a lecture for young scholars. “I plan to revisit and review them again,” she says. “Thank you for the excellent content.” The learning hasn’t stopped. It’s simply become part of her everyday leadership.
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Kostas Rossoglou: “It gave me regional grounding in a global role.”
For Kostas Rossoglou, working as director of public policy & government affairs at Shopify means navigating policies across continents. However, leading globally requires thinking locally. And that’s where the NUS Lee Kuan Yew School public policy programme proved transformative. “Learning from Asia-based case studies gave me valuable regional context,” Rossoglou shares. “It enriched my understanding of public policy, especially in applying AI-driven solutions to local governance challenges.”
In many policy environments, especially those dealing with tech regulation and innovation, leaders must make rapid decisions that account for both global trends and regional realities. Rossoglou appreciated how the programme balanced both.
Singapore’s governance model became a living case study—one that demonstrated how to scale technology with inclusion, how to design regulation that invites innovation rather than stifles it. The discussions around artificial intelligence weren’t theoretical. They were grounded in infrastructure, user experience, and public trust. “The course gave me frameworks I could apply immediately,” he says. “It showed me how to localise policy thinking without compromising on global responsibility.”
For someone in his role, that’s invaluable. It’s not enough to know what works. Instead, you need to know where it works, why, and how to adapt it.
Rossoglou left the programme not just with knowledge, but with cultural and strategic fluency. And in today’s interconnected world, that’s what sets true policy leaders apart.
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At the heart of these four stories lies the belief that public policy can change lives, and that leaders must be ready to guide that change with wisdom, empathy, and courage. All these four learners enrolled in the NUS Lee Kuan Yew School public policy programme seeking something different, but all emerged with something deeper: perspective, clarity, resilience and purpose. Their journeys remind us that real impact begins with thoughtful learning and shared insight.
Do you wish to lead with clarity, courage and compassion? Do these stories resonate with you? Then apply to the NUS Lee Kuan Yew School Public Policy with AI programme through Emeritus today—and be the voice that redefines public leadership.
Write to us at content@emeritus.org
