Bishoy L. Zaki (Ghent University, Belgium)

Bishoy L. Zaki is a professor of public policy and administration at Ghent University, Belgium. He has widely published and edited several special issues on policy learning in leading peer-reviewed journals. Bishoy currently serves as the co-chair of the permanent study group on policy design and evaluation at the European Group for Public Administration (EGPA) and is an associate editor at the International Review of Public Policy (IRPP).

Course: Policy Learning: From concepts and theories to empirical research and publication

Policy learning is a powerful approach to policy analysis. It offers various tools for empirical research that can be applied to different policy sectors and policy processes at the local, national and international level, in democracies as well as authoritarian settings. Our course introduces learners to the theories, concepts, and frameworks of policy learning. Then it illustrates the mechanisms connecting policy learning to policy change. It also connects policy learning to the major theories of the policy process, such as the Advocacy Coalitions Framework, the Narrative Policy Framework, and the Multiple Streams Framework. Special sessions will also be dedicated understanding and researching policy learning within and across crises and learning from international experiences. Finally, we will discuss the normative implications of policy learning, whether in the direction of policy success or policy failure.

During this interactive course, you will have the opportunity to present your ongoing research and receive feedback tailored to your work in progress. This includes advice on how to design and implement your empirical research, identify and measure learning. Additionally, we will also share our experiences, and good practices on how to pitch your research articles, structure revisions, respond to reviewers, and manoeuvre the peer review processes towards publication.