New School of Public Policy and Democratic Innovation set to open at TMU

Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) has approved the formation of a new School of Public Policy and Democratic Innovation, paving the way for more influence and leadership in shaping public policy to solve today’s complex socioeconomic and environmental challenges. 

Housed in the Faculty of Arts, this new school will draw on TMU’s strengths, including research excellence, policy expertise and community and industry collaboration, to deepen TMU’s public policy impact. The school will mobilize research from across disciplines to confront pressing issues through policy research, analysis and advocacy. Innovative public policy is needed to address pressing issues, from climate change and workers’ rights to health-care and education reform.

“This initiative represents a significant advancement of the university’s priorities to address urgent social problems and forge progressive change,” said Dean of Arts Pamela Sugiman. 

“The process of policy creation is mysterious to many, which can lead to disengagement and decreased participation among citizens,” Sugiman said. “The School of Public Policy and Democratic Innovation will open up this process by fusing the work of faculty, researchers, students and community partners to develop rigorous and practical solutions that will have critical outcomes in support of the public good.”

Creating a home for TMU’s public policy experts

In 2020, the Public Policy Task Force was formed by the Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation to identify ways of increasing the university’s capacity to shape public policy dialogue and inform policymaking. Comprised of policy leaders from across the university, the task force conducted scans of internal efforts and those at other universities, invited experts to speak to the group, and consulted widely across the TMU community. 

In the  (PDF file) Final Report of the Ryerson Public Policy Task Force (September 2021), the task force laid out several key findings and recommendations for increasing the impact and visibility of the university’s public policy expertise, which has led to the creation of the new school.

“A new school of public policy can help prepare our students to confront the big challenges that society faces and can help our researchers have even more impact on government policy, public dialogue and the communities we serve,” said Matthew Mendelsohn, who co-chaired the Public Policy Task Force with Naomi Adelson, associate vice-president, research and innovation.

“A school of public policy is the best way to advance the university’s mission to support students and mobilize resources for collaborative, interdisciplinary research activities that can help communities address the real issues they face,” said Mendelsohn.

Under the leadership of Interim Director Carolyn Johns and advisor Anver Saloojee, both professors in the Department of Politics and Public Administration, the School of Public Policy and Democratic Innovation addresses the task force’s recommendations to build on TMU’s recognized strengths and brand, support knowledge translation activities that target governments, stakeholders and the public. It will also establish TMU as a global centre of expertise in community-based research through investment in partnership-building with community and government organizations. 

Collaborative research, public policy innovation and public engagement

The School of Public Policy and Democratic Innovation will foster transdisciplinary public policy innovation, drawing on the university's expertise in politics and public administration, business, science, engineering, health, economics and law, among other fields, to advance innovative problem-solving and promote informed debate.

The school will also increase public engagement through lectures and conferences to promote civic discourse, collaboration with policy makers and community-based organizations and producing policy recommendations and briefs. 

Using technology to promote public participation in policy creation

Integrating technological applications will allow the school to respond to the evolving public policy landscape and further democratize the policy process. Through the use of online platforms and open data to promote public engagement, students and researchers will be able to invite online dialogue and debate of policy proposals and objectives.  

Adopting policy innovations and technologies to guide policy analysis and development will provide expanded avenues for inclusive civic participation, more accessible public programs and bring new understanding and insight to public policy approaches.

Opportunities for leadership and influence in public policy 

The school will launch with the existing PhD in Policy Studies, which will serve as the anchor program. A transdisciplinary emphasis will also offer immense value to students and prepare the next generation for today’s public service.

It will also continue to prioritize inter-disciplinary programming and enriched student experiences by bringing TMU’s expert public policy researchers and related institutes and centres together. 

Influential centres such as the Yellowhead Institute, the Centre for Urban Research and Land Development, as well as the CERC in Migration and Integration and the Dais (the newly merged Leadership Lab and Brookfield Institute), and others, will continue to contribute to public policy dialogue and implementation. Their research, education and advocacy span disciplines, some of which are often excluded from public policy conversations, such as science, commerce and community services.

“TMU’s researchers and students are already having significant and transformative impacts in public policy. The new School of Public Policy and Democratic Innovation will further build the university community’s depth of experience and knowledge in this field, increasing opportunities for collaboration and amplifying TMU’s impact on public discourse,” said Steven N. Liss, TMU’s vice-president, research and innovation.

The Ritsuko Sugiman Postdoctoral Fellowship in Critical Policy Studies has also been recently announced. The inaugural fellowship will cultivate research related to public policy, equity and representation, decolonization and anti-oppression in Canada. It will provide an exciting opportunity for an emerging scholar to develop a research program at the interface of community-engaged scholarship and public policy.

An opportunity for the university, its researchers and students

TMU is set to play a leading role in shaping public discourse and influencing policy making decisions, mobilizing expertise and broad policy perspectives to help governments and civil society confront today’s complex challenges.

By expanding the university’s institutional capacity to scale and drive impact in the evolving field of public policy, the School of Public Policy and Democratic Innovation will prepare students for careers shaping evidence-based policy solutions and further a vital mission of TMU to serve local and global communities. 

Recognized as a place for policy engagement, the Faculty of Arts at TMU was chosen to host the 6th International Conference on Public Policy (external link)  (ICPP6) in June 2023. The conference, organized by the International Public Policy Association (IPPA), will convene prominent researchers from around the world to public policy on an international scale from June 27 to 29 at TMU’s downtown campus.

Learn more about the 6th International Conference on Public Policy.