Launch of New Politics and Policy Program

December 12, 2024

Maze with the word "Policy" in red at the center, surrounded by arrows pointing in various directions, overlaid on a blueprint-style illustration of a government building. Represents navigation and complexity in policy-making.

Philadelphia, PA – The Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania proudly unveils its new Politics and Policy Program (PPP), a co-curricular initiative that empowers students to explore the critical intersection of business and politics through short-term independent field research.

Students begin the program by engaging in small-group training sessions with policy professionals on campus and in Washington, D.C. They then independently plan their fieldwork, source research contacts, and interview local experts, honing their research skills to produce a professional-quality policy brief on a topic of interest to them and related to their region of concentration.

“PPP provides our students with an intimate understanding of the political context in which business happens worldwide, equipping them for success as global business leaders,” explained Dr. Regina Abrami, Faculty Director of Strategic Initiatives and the Global Program.

Benefitting from up to 10 days of field research funding, PPP’s inaugural cohort of rising 2nd-year students traveled to 17 countries during the summer of 2024, including Egypt, Singapore, Burkina Faso, South Korea, Argentina, Bolivia, Saudia Arabia, and Germany.

“I began the program with no professional network in Germany or Europe and limited knowledge of central banking,” said Joselyn Salazar, a student in Lauder’s Europe (French) program. “These constraints pushed me to think very creatively about sourcing interviews, ultimately leading to conversations with local scholars, journalists, and even the Director General of Communications at the European Central Bank.”

Students who complete all program components are distinguished as “Lauder Politics and Policy Fellows” at graduation.

“PPP exemplifies the Lauder Institute’s dedication to immersing students in the complexities of global business,” said Jules van Binsbergen, Lauder Institute Director and Wharton School finance professor. “Our students graduate with unparalleled insight into the relationship between politics, policy, and business, and the skills to lead confidently on the world stage.”

PPP will welcome a new cohort of participants in spring 2025.

Contact PPP Program Manager, Jaycee Scanlon at jlscan@wharton.upenn.edu for more information about the program.