Emily St.Denny (University of Copenhagen)

Emily St.Denny is an Associate Professor in Political Science at the University of Copenhagen, specializing in health, gender, and inequality reduction policy. Her recent works include Why Isn’t Government Policy More Preventive? (OUP, 2020) and Public Policy to Reduce Inequalities in Europe (OUP, 2023). Emily is an award-winning teacher dedicated to bridging policy research and teaching across various substantive and technical areas. She is the editor, with Philippe Zittoun, of the world’s first Handbook of Teaching Public Policy (2024), which surveys a wide range of perspectives and innovative approaches for teaching public policy in diverse contexts.

Course: Teaching Public Policy: Approaches, methods and tools

This course is designed for public policy educators seeking to enhance their teaching skills in an increasingly complex and diverse field. Whether you teach theoretical frameworks, specific sectoral perspectives, or policy analysis, this course will help you refine your pedagogical approach, ensuring it is relevant to different sub-disciplines, methodologies, and national contexts.

The course covers the full spectrum of teaching public policy: from designing engaging curricula and setting clear learning objectives to using innovative teaching methods, assessing student work, and integrating ethics and diversity into the classroom. Participants will explore how to balance theory and practice, develop interactive learning techniques, and adapt their courses for students from varied backgrounds and learning environments.

With a focus on peer learning and reflective practice, this course encourages participants to share their own experiences while providing practical tools and strategies to take back to their institutions. By the end of the week, you will have developed a tailored teaching improvement plan that enhances both your students' learning experience and your effectiveness as an educator.

This course is suitable for university and college-level educators in public policy, political science, and related disciplines, regardless of theoretical or methodological perspective. It is especially valuable for educators seeking to update their teaching techniques, enhance student engagement, and navigate diverse educational contexts.