Omar Hammoud-Gallego is an Assistant Professor in Public Policy and a member of our Centre for Institutions and Political Behaviour.
Tell us about your role within the school of Government and International Affairs
I am an Assistant Professor in Public Policy at the School of Government and International Affairs (SGIA), where I am also part of the Centre for Institutions and Political Behaviour. I teach several modules in the MSc in Public Policy program.
Tell us about your research expertise
My academic research focuses on the development and impact of migration and asylum policies in the Global South, particularly in Latin America. Additionally, I explore issues related to the legitimacy of democratic governments and political representation.
I actively engage with international organizations and civil society, collaborating with UN agencies such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), as well as NGOs like the Migrant Democracy Project. For instance, in 2022 I co-authored a report on corruption in Ghana for UNODC, based on a survey of 15,000 people across the country.
What makes the MSc Public Policy unique?
Our MSc Public Policy program is designed for students who want to understand how policy processes work, analyse data, and make evidence-based policy decisions. Our emphasis is on the policy-making process across a diverse range of countries, leveraging the expertise of many academics at the SGIA in many world regions, including East Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Our programme covers different, challenging policy areas of high relevance to policy makers around the world, including migration policy, public health, environmental policy and public administration. Moreover, Durham as a place where to study is also especially attractive as it is one of the safest and most iconic cities in the UK, with a high quality of life and a low cost of living.
What is the Capstone module?
The Capstone module is one of the modules all students will be taking as part of our MSc Public Policy. Students will be divided into groups, and matched to an organisation in the public policy sphere, such as a Government Ministry, and organization working in public health, or an interest group lobbying the government. Students will help this organisation tackle a current policy problem. So the Capstone is a great opportunity to have a look beyond the scenes in a policy organisation, and to gain hands-on experience.
What can your students expect from their first few weeks on the MSc Public Policy programme?
In the first few weeks, students will experience what it means to be part of a top-10 School of Government in the UK and a World Top-100 Politics department. They will join a diverse academic community with students from over 50 countries and a faculty that is more than 50% international, offering expertise across multiple world regions.
Durham’s collegiate system also provides numerous opportunities for social engagement beyond academic commitments. You will start with an induction programme designed to get you used to social and academic life within the university before being able to immerse yourself in your classes and expand your ideas.
What advice would you give someone thinking of studying the MSc Public Policy?
No matter your academic or professional background, if you're interested in addressing major public policy challenges, our MSc in Public Policy is the program for you. It offers a comprehensive journey from basic to advanced public policy and data analysis.
By the end of the program, you'll have the analytical skills sought after by employers in both the public and private sectors, making you highly competitive in the job market. We look forward to welcoming you to our classes.
