Statement of Purpose for Erasmus Mundus Master's Program in Public Policy (MAPP)

[msamfromjava]

Hi everyone. I am a new member here and this is my first post. English is my third language and this is my first time applying for a master's program. Any suggestions for my Statement of Purpose?

I come from Cirebon, a historically prosperous agricultural region and trade hub during colonial times. Now, Cirebon has one of the highest poverty rates in its province and is often overlooked in Indonesia’s national development. This is due to post-colonial path dependence and Cirebon not leveraging its strengths. Because of this, I pursue a career in government and policymaking

I left Cirebon to pursue a bachelor’s degree in International Relations at Airlangga University, graduating with a GPA of 3.72. My thesis examined the implementation of Tokyo MoU at Surabaya’s international port to understand how international maritime safety norms are implemented locally. Furthermore, I wrote on various topics related to Indonesia ranging from bureaucratic politics and security, international cooperation in tackling COVID-19, to relations with the EU. These research experiences deepened my understanding of Indonesia’s political culture vis-a-vis policymaking which tends to emphasize public approval, albeit sometimes superficial in terms of problem solving. Additionally, I studied for a semester at the University of Warsaw through a government scholarship. There, I engaged with the Warsaw City Council, learning how meaningful public participation can lead to policies that address root causes. This inspired me to consider how similar approaches can be implemented at home.

After graduating, I worked in several national level institutions which gave me an insider's view of Indonesia's policymaking ecosystem. As an intern at the Presidential Staff Office, I assisted in analyzing the cause of agrarian conflicts across Indonesia to support inter-ministerial coordination to tackle the issue. While interning at the EU Delegation to Indonesia, I did research that informed diplomats on trade and economic issues. Later on, as a junior policy analyst at the Nusantara Capital Authority, I drafted memos on land acquisition and investment policy recommendations for the development of Indonesia’s new capital city. Currently, I am an assistant manager at Bank Indonesia, working on cross-institutional projects to leverage digital payments data for multiple use cases such as financial inclusivity, social aid targeting, and alternative credit scoring for small businesses. These roles taught me that policymaking requires technical understanding as well as political and contextual sensitivity.

After three years in national level government, I plan to return to Cirebon where I can contribute to the government in my home town. The final push came when I read the city’s policy roadmap, which revealed a recurring issue: misalignment between problems and policy responses. For example, the city’s solution for low literacy rates is building more libraries. Infrastructure alone does not solve Cirebon’s literacy problem. Misalignment between problems and solutions highlights the need for better problem-situating and policymaking informed by evidence.

This is the reason I am applying to the ISS-York track of Mundus MAPP. ISS’s focus on problem identification combined with York’s practical and comparative approach are suitable for my goals. This programme will help me improve my analytical skills and learn to formulate nuanced policies that are informed by evidence and best practices. I believe Mundus MAPP will help advance my career in public service and contribute to inclusive development in Indonesia, beginning with my home town.

Any input is highly appreciated. Thanks!

-S

 

[teechar]

1- What is the word limit for that letter?
2- Which areas/points were you asked to cover?
3- What is the submission deadline?

 

[msamfromjava]

Hi. Thanks for the response. Here is the word limit and points that I need to cover. The submission deadline is December 10.

Please upload a statement of purpose of max. 500 words highlighting your reasons for applying to Mundus MAPP and the chosen mobility track, and indicating your research interests, any relevant academic and work experience, and future career plans.

 

[teechar]

I come from Cirebon, a historically prosperous agricultural region of Indonesia and trade hub during colonial times. Now, Cirebon has one of the highest poverty rates in its province and is often overlooked in Indonesia’s national development. This is due to post-colonial path dependence and Cirebon not leveraging its strengths. Because of this, I wish to pursue a career in government and policy making

I left Cirebon to pursue completed a bachelor’s degree in International Relations at Airlangga University, graduating with a GPA of 3.72. My thesis examined the implementation of Tokyo MoU at Surabaya’s international port to understand and how international maritime safety norms are implemented locally. Furthermore, I wrote published several papers on various topics related to Indonesia ranging from including bureaucratic politics and security, international cooperation in tackling COVID-19, to and relations with the EU. These research experiences deepened my understanding of Indonesia’s political culture vis-a-vis policymaking which tends to emphasize public approval, albeit sometimes superficial in terms of problem solving. Additionally, I studied for a semester at the University of Warsaw through a government scholarship, There, where I engaged with the Warsaw City Council, learning how meaningful public participation can lead to policies that address root causes. This inspired me to consider how similar approaches can be implemented at home.

After graduating, I worked in several national level institutions which gave me an insider's view of Indonesia's policymaking ecosystem. As an intern at the Presidential Staff Office, I assisted in analyzing the cause of agrarian conflicts across Indonesia to support inter-ministerial coordination to tackle the issue. While interning at the EU Delegation to Indonesia, I did research that informed diplomats on trade and economic issues. Later on, as a junior policy analyst at the Nusantara Capital Authority, I drafted memos on land acquisition and investment policy recommendations for the development of Indonesia’s new capital city. Currently, I am an assistant manager at Bank Indonesia, working on cross-institutional projects to leverage digital payments data for multiple use cases such as financial inclusivity, social aid targeting, and alternative credit scoring for small businesses. These roles taught me that policymaking requires technical understanding as well as political and contextual sensitivity.

After three years in national level government, I plan to return to Cirebon where I can contribute to the government in my home town. The final push came when I read the city’s policy roadmap, which revealed a recurring issue: misalignment between problems and policy responses.

I stopped here because that part is unclear. Are you talking about something you've already done or about your future plans? If it's about the future, how does that fit with your wish to study abroad?