Press release
09.09.2021

Hertie School welcomes new students, professors and partnerships at the start of the Academic Year 2021/22

Highlights are a new Master of Data Science for Public Policy and a partnership with Brazilian República.org.

Berlin, 09 September 2021

The Hertie School has begun its 2021/22 Academic Year, welcoming 346 students from 48 countries to join its three master’s programmes – 147 in the Master of Public Policy (MPP), 127 in the Master of International Affairs (MIA) and 38 in the new Master of Data Science for Public Policy (MDS). In addition, 27 mid-career professionals began their Executive Master of Administration, and we welcomed 12 new PhD researchers and 16 students pursuing Dual Degree programmes with our partner institutions. The university has 423 second-year students already enrolled in master’s programmes.

The Hertie School continues to expand its international and interdisciplinary faculty with the addition of Lynn Kaack, Assistant Professor of Computer Science and Public Policy, and Arianna Ornaghi, Assistant Professor of Economics. Their research and teaching will further strengthen the university in the fields of data science and economics. Our faculty now number 36. In addition, 2021 Michael Endres Prize winner Antoine Vauchez joins the School as a visiting professor in political sociology and law, working closely with the Jacques Delors Centre.


The new MDS programme combines the worlds of policy and data equipping students from both technical and social science backgrounds with analytical skills and an in-depth understanding on how to solve today’s most pressing public policy challenges.

“We are pleased to start this academic year with so many students and friends from our community attending in person. Although the pandemic continues, we continue to take on new challenges, develop and drive forward our mission to educate the next generation of leaders in policy, business and civil society,” said Mark Hallerberg, Acting President of the Hertie School.

An exciting development in the coming year is the start of a five-year partnership with República.org, focused on training the next generation of leaders in Brazil’s public administration. The bilateral exchange expands our existing collaboration of immersive programming for public servants and those working with government in Brazil.

As we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic together, the Hertie School has adopted a flexible approach – in our teaching, in our on-site activities and in the way we support our students in learning, student life and well-being. Our teaching plan for Fall Semester 2021 reflects our commitment to provide an engaging and dynamic education for all our students, regardless of the restrictions and challenges posed by the pandemic. Our curricular offerings include a variety of teaching modes. Many of our courses will be taught on-site, but there will also be online and hybrid offerings.

The Hertie School in Berlin prepares exceptional students for leadership positions in government, business, and civil society. The school offers master’s programmes, executive education and doctoral programmes, distinguished by interdisciplinary and practice-oriented teaching, as well as outstanding research. Its extensive international network positions it as an ambassador of good governance, characterised by public debate and engagement. The school was founded in 2003 by the Hertie Foundation, which remains its major funder. The Hertie School is accredited by the state and the German Science Council. www.hertie-school.org