2nd year Bachelor of Public Administration (BPA) major specializing in the Law, Justice and Public Policy stream.

Hello, my name is Ali Adam, and I am a Second-Year student in the Bachelor of Public Administration (BPA) program in the Law, Justice and Policy Stream.

With the return to in person learning, I’ve been excited to continue navigating my way around the university and taking advantage of school resources. This also meant another year of taking exciting courses within the School of Public Policy and Administration (SPPA). This year I’d like to speak about PPAS 2195 and PPAS 2200 respectively. PPAS 2195- Professional Skills and Communications was the most unique course I’ve done so far. Though seeming like your average communications course, the course content is tailored to helping students prepare themselves for their careers. The instructors geared the weekly lessons with great tips, tricks and advice for what is necessary to be a successful professional in the 21st century. Moreover, course assignments were utilized as a means of helping students assemble an array of tools for their futures such as an effective elevator pitch, writing briefing notes, resumes and cover letters. PPAS 2200- Communities and Public Law is another intriguing course which focuses on the Canadian legal system and allows students to get a comprehensive understanding of the law and its ubiquitous presence in society. This course ties the presence of the law to policy-making and public administration in a manner which encourages students to critically think about how Canadian legislation directly impacts vulnerable communities.

For those who want to further enhance their professional skills, the Public Policy and Administration Student Association (PPASA) is an excellent student-run organization that will help you network, find job opportunities and become part of a much larger community that share and are interested in administrative and policy-based career pathways. Last year I was a junior ambassador and I’m proud to say I ran a successful election campaign to take on the role of Treasurer this year. This means that I’m now responsible for optimizing club resources to best equip our SPPA students and the York community for public sector and career success. Such experiences are critical to taking on leadership roles; being part of this organization is a great opportunity for students to develop great interpersonal communication skills and project management skills. A commitment to SPPA and PPASA is an opportunity you do not want to miss! I look forward to continuing my journey in the School of Public Policy and Administration to see what academic and professional opportunities lie ahead for me!