Project properties
Title Measuring policy integration
Group Public Administration and Policy
Project type thesis
Credits 33-39
Supervisor(s) Dr. Jeroen Candel; Dr. Robbert Biesbroek
Examiner(s) Prof. Dr. Katrien Termeer (PAP)
Contact info jeroen.candel@wur.nl, robbert.biesbroek@wur.nl
Begin date 2017/02/01
End date
Description ‘Policy integration’ has become the philosopher’s stone to policymakers. As many of today’s most pressing societal problems, including climate change, food security, terrorism, and environmental degradation, crosscut the boundaries of traditional governmental domains and levels, policymakers are in search for policy approaches that are more ‘holistic’. At the same time, achieving successful coordination has proven challenging. It therefore remains to be seen whether policy integration aspirations result in actual changes of governance.

In this MSc thesis project, students develop and apply a methodological approach to comparatively study policy integration processes over time and/or across governance systems. Students are free in which societal problems they want to focus on; governments’ recent efforts to implement the Sustainable Development Goals may be an interesting point of departure. Preference is given to the use of quantitative research methods.
Used skills Quantitative research methods
Requirements We look for one or more highly ambitious student(s), who is/are capable of working autonomously, has/have affinity with both public policy and research methodology, and has/have experience with using quantitative research methods. Students are expected to further develop the above in a stand-alone research proposal.