Professional Certificate in Public Policy Analysis

My name is Haafiz Alibhai and I am currently enrolled in the Professional Certificate in Public Policy Analysis at SPPA. I am also currently a Policy Advisor with the Alcohol & Gaming Commission of Ontario. I previously graduated from York with a BSc. Specialized Honours Degree in Kinesiology and Health Science. I understand what people may be thinking: from Health Science to Public Administration? Why such a shift? Well, the reason I enrolled in a health science program is because I always wanted to help others and have a positive effect on society. Given this altruistic sentiment, I felt that there were other avenues for me to impact society in a positive manner. This led me to my first position in the public sector. That experience had a profound influence on me as I began to see the impact of my work in Ontario. My first foray into public service gave me a sense of strong purpose and commitment, and I knew that this is the industry and environment in which I would like to continue my professional life. My motivation has always been to impact society in a positive way, and one way I hope to accomplish this is by serving the citizens of Ontario to the best of my ability.

I chose to enroll in the program to provide me with a greater understanding of the historical and emerging topics government has had and will have to contend with in the future. I chose York again because it provides an interdisciplinary approach to education, and this a necessary approach to have in the policy field. Policy involves understanding issues from a wide lens perspective, and articulating solutions to these issues requires that interdisciplinary approach. I am currently enrolled in the AP/PPAS 3762: Canada’s Labour Market Policy course. This course has helped me to understand the institutional structures Canada has in place in the Labour Market. I am enjoying this course in particular because we approach labour market policy through an economic, sociological, cultural, and political perspective. I also appreciate the approach the Professor has taken in introducing concepts and explaining them from a variety of viewpoints. Furthermore, this interdisciplinary method is consistent with how policy development is approached in my own government experience.

My current role involves providing a vast amount of analytical support for highly complex policy initiatives. As a policy advisor, I have much more influence in impacting society as the policies I work on help shape the future of the industries my organization regulates. I am very fortunate to have enrolled in the Public Policy Analysis certificate program as it has begun to enhance my approach to policy development, and is a perfect complement to my own career development.

My advice to perspective students is to find what they are passionate about and pursue it. We are fortunate to live in a day and age where we are more connected than ever. Therefore, I encourage perspective students to reach out to current students as well as graduates. Reaching out is easy with various social media platforms, and can be a great transition into learning about areas you may have not been as familiar with. This is a great way to network with others and as you enter the workforce, having strong networks is invaluable. I look forward to the courses I will take to complete the program, and I am convinced they will provide me with the strong theoretical background needed to tackle relevant policy issues. - Haafiz Alibhai