Lukas Schmid

MPP Class of 2012

Lukas shares his experience of the Hertie School of Governance and the Master of Public Policy.

How would you describe the Hertie School experience?

For me the Hertie School of Governance is a journey which stands for academic excellence, global connectedness and opportunities, a non-elite, inclusive, and sophisticated ambience, intriguing challenges, and the “research finger” on the pulse of the time of domestic and international policy developments. 

If you were asked to highlight one thing that you have learnt during your time at the Hertie School so far what would it be and why?

It’s not the university per se that makes you succeed– it’s yourself. Yet the Hertie School gives you endless opportunities to do so. It is well established that modern statehood is subject to “defibration processes”. Good Governance therefore requires an interdisciplinary, international and intersectoral approach. The tools for such sustainable policymaking are taught at the Hertie School.

What are your key areas of academic interest? What opportunities have you had to explore these at the Hertie School?

Energy and Environmental Policy, Public Management, European integration: The Hertie School gave me the opportunity to work in the COCOPS-Project (Coordinating for Cohesion in the Public Sector of the Future) – one of the largest comparative public management research projects in Europe, funded under the European Commission’s 7th Framework Programme.