Public Policy and Opinion - Master's Year 2

I found a job within the Government Information Service (SIG), which seemed the next logical step following on from the 2nd year of a Master's Degree in PPO, where much of the teaching was focused on statistics, survey methodology that incorporated a quantitative approach and, more broadly, opinion-related topics. Through an internship at a polling agency, I discovered that the Prime Minister’s Office was one of the agency’s largest clients and that many of its former employees went on to work there. Working at the SIG involved choosing the topics to be surveyed, designing surveys, and of course analyzing the results and drawing up a report once the survey had been conducted.

I worked within the Analysis division, where I was an Opinion Researcher within a team of 4 people. The Analysis division also had a team in charge of monitoring media and social media (MRS).

There is a very strong link between what I learned during the Social Sciences Master’s Degree at Dauphine, and in the 2nd year of the PPO Master's Degree, and the work I do in my current role. Everything to do with polling, how opinions change over time, the different kinds of perceptions predominating within certain demographic segments, the different sources of information members of the public use to stay informed... I had learned about all this as part of my Master’s Degree.

I currently work at Sauléa, specializing in employment, professional development and career orientation. We work on both training and career orientation – in conjunction with Chartered Financial Analysts (CFAs) and vocational schools – and youth employment. We support young people throughout their studies, right up to the point at which they join the world of work. We carry out a lot of interviews with young people at CFA level, and make on-site observations, as well as processing quantitative data. We also study an older demographic. What’s interesting is the wide variety of work that we are charged with. We respond to calls to tender for public contracts, analyze data, and draw up reports. We recently conducted an evaluation of a social and professional integration scheme aimed at young people. As part of this, we visited community-based non-profit organizations to interview young people.

Part of my time is spent working on the Personal Training Account (the CPF) project at the Caisse des Dépôts, which manages the information system that deals with CPF accounts. I ensure that data is uploaded correctly, which will feed in to the forthcoming Agora platform, which is being implemented to manage all public funds allocated to professional training.

Currently Director of the Mayor’s Office in a town in Eure-et-Loir, in the Chartres region, my policy-related duties are very diverse, and are based on a relationship of trust and loyalty with the local official. The objective is primarily to guide policy strategy by advising and supporting the elected officials with regards to the different issues affecting the town. I encounter a wider range of issues, from urbanization to culture, not to mention schools and budgets. I had already learned about public policy from my studies in the 2nd year of the Public Policy Master's Degree, in the areas of urban and cultural issues in particular. My work primarily involves drawing up a wide range of documents on a regular basis, such as political/sensitive correspondence, executive summaries, speeches, etc.

The 2nd year of the PPO Master's Degree, and the research thesis in particular, gave me the time to reflect, and to gain some perspective on the questions I had been thinking about. I studied the new kinds of political movements that emerged during the 2017 elections: la France Insoumise (French political party) and LReM, movements that seemed to be new, but that proved to be not so new after all!

I completed the internship from the 2nd year of my Master's Degree at the CSR and Regions directorate within the Paris Airports Group. This internship involved working on a public consultation related to the plan to build Terminal 4 at Roissy Airport. My role was to observe interactions in order to gauge public opinion around this project, which was of great importance for the region. I conducted a large amount of analysis of written and oral contributions from the various stakeholders participating in the consultation. This was the perfect fit with my background in terms of having completed the 2nd year of the Master's Degree in PPO, as I had already acquired a certain set of skills in this area, and I was able to pinpoint and analyze what people were saying in relation to the position they held, their previous commitments, and the direction they were taking. The ability to take a step back and use critical thinking skills, which are characteristic of the 2nd year of the Master's Degree in PPO, helped me enormously in this role.

Aside from opinion polls, I was also called upon to contribute to the company’s work on its CSR commitments and economic impact within the Grand Roissy le Bourget region.

What I liked about the 2nd Year of the Master’s Degree in PPO was that it had two tracks to choose from, and it was flexible. Everyone could benefit from these two options, even if they were all on slightly different paths. With the “Pro” track, I was able to select the maximum number of options, in addition to the optional course. I was very keen to do internships because, right from the start of my studies, there was much I was curious to learn about.

I did my 1st internship from April to August at the Directorate of School Affairs within Paris City Council, working on evaluating the regional education plan. I was initially due to participate in designing and implementing the regional education plan, but in the end I was charged with drawing up a request for proposals and identifying service providers that could carry out this evaluation. That is what I worked on, but it proved to be quite complex (because it was a political issue and the responsibilities weren’t clear, so it was difficult to assess, and because a regional education plan is inherently virtually impossible to evaluate). On the other hand, I learned a lot about the workings of a department within the Paris City Council, and the reality (or at least a reality) of evaluating public policy, as well as the importance of political issues... The topical nature of the issue also meant I got to work on a number of things that I had not expected to gain experience in.

After two years of B/L preparatory classes (in Humanities and Social Sciences), I began my studies at Université Paris Dauphine – PSL, with the 3rd year of a Bachelor's Degree in Social Sciences, with the aim of gaining a professional qualification in Sociology and Political Sciences. The logical next step was the 1st year of a Master's Degree in Public Policy, then the 2nd year of a Master's Degree in Public Policy and Opinion. The 2nd year of the Master's Degree in Public Policy and Opinion furnished me with a wealth of valuable knowledge, and matched my expectations perfectly.

The first semester is actually structured around developing a solid knowledge of all kinds of public policy, and developing survey analysis skills, both qualitative and quantitative. With numerous solo and group projects, the common thread running through this learning experience is the need for critical thinking skills, the ability to understand and analyze an issue, and writing skills, which are all skills that are as sought-after in the public sector as in the private sector. As I was particularly interested in statistical methodologies, during the second semester I chose to do a 5 month internship at the National Institute for Demographic Studies (INED), where I wrote my thesis on the professional trajectories of men and women. The learning environment, the atmosphere in class, and the teaching faculty, all contributed to making this a very fulfilling year of study.

After my final year internship, I worked on a wide range of subject areas while developing my skills in statistical analysis. Firstly, I worked on the subject of the unionization of younger employees, at the Institute for Economic and Social Research (IRES); then at the Ministry of Justice my work focused on public officials (notary publics, court bailiffs, etc.). I currently work at the Ministry of Solidarity and Health, where I am a Statistical Researcher. My work focuses on pensions, and I am responsible for a large-scale statistical research study.

After 3 years of B/L preparatory classes (in Humanities and Social Sciences), I was drawn towards the Public Action program at Université Paris Dauphine – PSL (the 3rd year of a Bachelor's Degree in Social Sciences, the 1st year of a Master's Degree in Public Policy, then the 2nd year of a Master's Degree in Public Policy and Opinion), which combined my two main interests: Social Sciences and Public Policy.

I was particularly interested in the PPO Master’s Degree, which offers both a comprehensive approach to the humanities, with training in both quantitative and qualitative methods, and a practical approach to applying these methods through the evaluation of public policy.

This training enabled me to secure an internship working on the National Shelter Cost Survey, within the Housing Bureau at the DGCS. Following on from this internship, I took up a position as Project Manager in Social Observation at the DGCS.

The skills I acquired during my studies and internships enabled me to work effectively on surveys and information systems, both in terms of developing data collection and monitoring processes, and defining indicators in order to utilize the data. This ability to work on all aspects relating to data management enabled me to secure internships and jobs that have provided me with invaluable experience, and it is a real asset that continues to prove its worth in any professional situation.

After taking a gap year and completing an internship at the Ministry of Social Affairs, I began the 2nd year of a Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Opinion at Paris Dauphine - PSL. I chose this training program for several reasons. Firstly, it offers in-depth theoretical courses on Public Policy (social, cultural, urban, etc.), which are delivered by first-rate teachers from both academic and professional backgrounds. This is combined with a more hands-on approach, whereby students evaluate public policy and gain proficiency in statistical software, for example.

It also gave me the opportunity to do an internship, which is now an indispensable prerequisite when it comes to ensuring a successful transition to the job market. I worked within the Public Policy Monitoring and Evaluation Committee at the National Assembly (the lower house of the French parliament) for 6 months, where I was able to directly apply the knowledge and skills I had learned during my training to my work on research projects, briefings and analysis.

I am currently in the process of being recruited by a consulting firm specializing in the public sector, and there is no doubt that completing the 2nd year of a Master's Degree in Public Policy and Opinion really helped me to stand out during the selection process!

After completing a Bachelor's Degree in Management, the 1st year of a Master's Degree at Paris Dauphine - PSL and a gap year, during which I did some volunteering, I was seeking a course that would offer both in-depth content on Public Policy and more practical training on the methodological tools used within Social Sciences. The content offered by the 2nd year of the Master's Degree in Public Policy and Opinion perfectly fulfilled both of these expectations.

During my studies, I particularly appreciated the opportunity to expand my knowledge based on my interests and career plan, thanks to the range of options and the numerous individual and group projects that punctuated the first semester. The warm and friendly atmosphere of the class and the fact that professors made themselves readily available was a big plus, which meant that this intellectually intensive year was very enjoyable.

After completing my final year internship at the Paris City Council, which focused on developing local recycling solutions for bio-waste, I was offered a permanent position at the Phare Agency, a consulting firm specializing in social innovation and evaluating public policy.

After completing a Bachelor's Degree in Law and Political Science at the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, I did the 1st year of a Master's Degree in APRS (Public Action and Social Regulations) at Dauphine, where I was then naturally drawn to the 2nd year of a Master's Degree in Public Policy and Opinion.

Following an intensive and exciting 2nd year of the Master's Degree, I did an internship at the GfK ISL Research Institute, within the Major Research department. This very hands-on experience in public research gave me a solid understanding of this area, and gave me the opportunity to develop my data processing skills.

In September, I began a new role as EVE (Survey of Visitors from Abroad) Research Monitoring Manager at the Directorate General for Enterprise at the Ministry of Economy and Finance. I am very pleased to have secured this role which, as well as developing my research monitoring skills, will enable me to gain experience in methodology and policy communications.

The main value of the 2nd year of the Master's Degree in PPO for me (in addition to the friendly atmosphere of the class) is the balance between qualitative and quantitative methods within the curriculum. In a world that is traditionally quantitative, I could appreciate the advantage of this dual approach, which gives you both a conceptual and a methodological perspective.

After completing the 2nd year of a Master's Degree at EHESS, the 2nd year of a Master's Degree in Public Policy and Opinion enabled me to expand my knowledge on public policy and how it is implemented, while gaining a professional qualification in research. The different courses equipped me with indispensable knowledge to bring to my work within research institutes and observatories – evaluating public policy, for example, and gaining proficiency in different statistical software programs. Above all, the teaching helps you develop critical thinking skills, which are indispensable when it comes to working in research, and to any action-oriented research process.

During my internship, where I worked as an Assistant Research Officer at the National Institute for Youth and Popular Education (INJEP), I was able to successfully balance research requirements with the constraints relating to the requirements set out by the individual or team that had commissioned the research.

The 2nd year of the Master's Degree in PPO gave me the opportunity to explore new areas within research and evaluation, as well as gain additional expertise. Without closing the door entirely to action-oriented research, I wished to embark on the adventure of undertaking a doctoral degree at Dauphine, in which I was fortunate to receive the encouragement and support of the faculty team.

After completing a double Bachelor's Degree in History and Political Science at Paris I and the 1st year of a Master's Degree in APRS (Public Action and Social Regulations), I wished to expand my knowledge in Sociology and Political Science. Following an initial internship within a research institute, I was also seeking a training program that would lead me to a professional qualification in the area of research and surveys.

The 2nd year of the Master's Degree in Public Policy and Opinion completely fulfilled my expectations. You gain knowledge of theory and methodology in the fields of Sociology and Political Science, and a sound understanding of sector-specific policies, as well as learning about analyzing public action and opinion. I was passionate about the subjects. I really enjoyed the combination of professional and research tracks, which seemed to fit perfectly with the expectations of the professional world, no matter the career path you choose.

I completed my final year internship within a team that carried out qualitative and quantitative research to evaluate Paris City Council departments. This gave me the opportunity to make use of the practical knowledge I had gained, as well as the writing and evaluation skills I had acquired during the Master’s Degree program. At the end of this 6 month internship, I was recruited by the polling agency CSA, as a Junior Researcher. The wealth of knowledge gained during the 2nd Year of the Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Opinion enabled me to explore a wide variety of sectors and resulted in numerous job opportunities!

Unsure about whether to choose the “Pro” or “Research” track, I opted for a sort of compromise between the two. I completed an internship at INED, while writing a research thesis in parallel, which was based on the survey the agency had brought me in to work on.

Initially, the first semester of courses at Dauphine enabled me to consolidate a range of knowledge, from reading and summarizing articles to group work, as well as an introduction to stat software, English and Social Sciences. The relatively small size of the Master’s Degree program meant that the teachers were quite readily available, which helped me as I was seeking to clarify my orientation plan. The contacts you make with alumni from the Master’s Degree program are also beneficial, and the idea to apply to INED actually came from one of them.

The second semester was intensive, as I had to juggle my internship assignment, research thesis and doctoral application project. In terms of the doctoral application project, you need to move quite quickly with regards to choosing your Thesis Director and subject, and seeking funding. I applied for doctoral funding from IRISSO (Dauphine) and INED, and the latter accepted my project.