Public Sector:
Profiles on students who have gone on to pursue work in the public sector.
Dr. Mohammad Hanif
Program Analyst - Health Services Branch of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
By: Deni Ogunrinde - October 2016
Mohammad Hanif recently completed a Master’s degree in Public Administration (MPA) at Queen’s University, prior to that, he obtained a doctorate in Chemistry, also from Queen’s University. Although an unlikely paring, both degrees have given him strong professional skills that he can make use of in a career as a policy analyst. After completing his undergraduate and Master of Science degrees in Applied Chemistry and Chemical Technology at the University of Dhaka in Bangladesh, and working for 3 subsequent years in public service in Bangladesh, Mohammad knew he wanted to both, further his academic career in the form of a PhD - outside of Bangladesh - and also continue to work in public service. Fortunately, Mohammad has been successful thus far in achieving both of these goals.
During the course of his PhD, Mohammad applied to both, Carleton University for their Master of Public Policy and Administration (MPPA) program, and Queen’s University for their MPA program, but ultimately, preferred the Queen’s option. Having family in Kingston, and the Queen’s MPA being only a 10 month program (the Carleton MPPA being 2 years), this program allowed him to be with family and reach his career goals simultaneously. In total, the program includes 12 half-course credits – 8 core credits and 4 elective credits. The elective courses range from foreign, health, and energy policy, to courses in public finance and international development. There is also the opportunity to take courses from other departments which adds to the customizability of the degree, in addition to international exchange opportunities in Ghana and China.
After completing the MPA, Mohammad hoped to make use of his scientific background by working in the Ministry of the Environment or the Ministry of Energy, saying, “there are many policy analysts in these fields that do not have a science background, so I believed I could be a valuable asset for these ministries in particular.” However, he found himself drawn to health policy over the course of his MPA. As he informed me, health is a large sector for all countries, and Canada is no exception. Of all the ministries in Canada, the Ministry of Health is the largest, and in Ontario, health spending comprises approximately 42% of the budget. This is not unexpected as, according the Statistics Canada, 1 in 7 people in Ontario are seniors, and that number is only expected to rise to 1 in 4 by 2036. The aging population is an immense a challenge for the ministry, province, and country, but as Mohammad has informed me, this also provides many job opportunities.
Mohammad recently wrapped up a four month Policy co-op contract with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care from which he was able to secure an extended and full-time contract position. He works more specifically in a Health Services Branch with the Policy and Program Design unit. Mohammad’s work involves researching and analyzing programs and policies - including cross-jurisdictional analysis to identify the trends and best practices of a particular policy
- and responding to health services inquiries. His work also requires
him to construct briefing notes and present oral presentations on his research. What Mohammad enjoys the most about his position is that he has the opportunity to learn and contribute back to society in an area where there is an abundance of challenges.
From his PhD, Mohammad said he developed “transferable skills that can be used in any area”, going on to say that “research and analytical skills are necessary for policy analysis.” In addition, what comes with a research project - in the scope of an MSc or PhD - is the development of project management skills, time management, organizational skills, and an ability to prioritize. With the ups and downs of research, you also develop the ability to handle negative data in spite of working on a hypothesis for an extended period of time, and collectively, each of these skills is not only valuable in policy analysis, but also in almost any professional context. Consequently, Mohammad is a strong proponent of a master’s education. “An undergraduate degree is very condensed, but a master’s gives you some maturity and other skills that you can make use of in your professional life... if it is financially feasible I’d encourage anyone to do a master’s, either in your undergraduate area of study, or in a different area.”
Mohammad believes that being a science student provides you with great analytical skills. If an individual with a science background completes a master’s degree in public policy, then both technical skills from the science background and the skills necessary for policy implementation, can be developed. This combination is one that Mohammad disclosed as being a valuable asset for work in both the public and private sectors. In marketing yourself to employers you’ll be able to attest to the fact that you comprehend the ‘ins and outs’ of a specialized field, and once hired, use your specialized background in conducting negotiations with stakeholders.
From speaking with Mohammad, I’ve gathered that students with a science background, who are interested in policy, can have a lot to offer. As long as that background can be paired with the appropriate professional education, and relevant electives, a science student can set themselves up quite well for a career in public policy, and hopefully with their preferred ministry of choice.