Rajinder Arora

MPP Class of 2012

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

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

I am primarily interested in market centric approach to corporate social responsibility and finding out how CSR can be leveraged as an instrument of PPP to deliver public goods. Courses such as Social Policy and Applied Economics have given me cross disciplinary know how which I can apply while trying to create a sustainable bridge between social and economic needs of nations. 

How are your studies at the Hertie School enhancing your undergraduate studies and work experience; and equipping you to effectively engage with public policy questions?

My experience of working with Indian Government before coming to the Hertie School was a push for me to understand the elements of decision-making in governments. The knowledge that I acquired at  the Hertie School has provided me with a lens to see the macro and micro issues that one needs to consider to get political and economic buy-in on the policy ideas. The skills taught at the Hertie School provide the right set of tools for students to use in their future careers in order to navigate and initiate policy creation in a globalized world.

How have you experienced and benefitted from the international character and approach of the Hertie School?

I am definitely benefiting from the Hertie School’s international character by being able to do an exchange semester in Tokyo. My summer internship with a UN agency in Geneva shows that the Hertie School supports its students in traversing transnational boundaries and playing their part.