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UBC SPPGA

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The School of Public Policy and Global Affairs integrates scholarship, teaching, research and policy engagement to contribute towards positive change.

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Former leader of Thailand’s Move Forward Party, Pita Limjaroenrat, brings his expertise in governance, democratization, and political leadership to the role of Adjunct Professor with SPPGA and Co-Director of IAR’s Centre for Southeast Asia Research.

“As the world changes, Canada and ASEAN have much to offer each other, and much to shape together. Policy is only as strong as the people who carry it forward. During my years away from politics, I hope to bridge our regions and help prepare the next generation of leaders to turn shared potential into shared progress.” by @ubcsppga

As concerns about polarization grow across democracies worldwide, UBC professor Max Cameron (SPPGA; Political Science) believes Canadians still have an opportunity to choose a different path.

SPPGA spoke with Prof. Cameron about his new book, Divided We Fall, which explores the forces driving political division, the lessons Canada can learn from the United States, and the role citizens can play in strengthening democracy. by @ubcsppga

SPPGA is pleased to announce the launch of a new Taiwan Studies Program housed within the Institute of Asian Research and supported in part by Taiwan’s Ministry of Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vancouver (TECO).

With a mandate to deepen understanding and strengthen connections between Canada and Taiwan, the opening event featured a keynote address, panel discussion with audience Q&A, and a signing ceremony with Director General of TECO Angel Liu and SPPGA Director Allison Macfarlane. by @ubcsppga

“The true charm of studying Chinese society and politics seems to lie in the fact that it is an enduring mystery... like a distant shore that, as a scholar, you can never quite reach.”

SPPGA welcomes Associate Professor Qiang Fu to our core faculty, a scholar dedicated to advancing the understanding of China. by @ubcsppga

As Vancouver’s municipal election approaches on October 17, SPPGA brought municipal candidates together for a candid conversation about the issues shaping their campaigns and the policies and priorities they hope to advance.

Moderated by Prof. Max Cameron (SPPGA, Political Science), the session gave students an opportunity to hear directly from candidates, ask questions, and engage with the challenges facing local governments.

Candidates spoke on a range of issues, from the opioid crisis and environmental action to the broader policy choices shaping Vancouver’s future. by @ubcsppga

A few snapshots from the Institute of Asian Research Open House 2026 🎉

It was wonderful to bring together our community for an evening of connection and conversation, including the announcement of the inaugural recipients of the Dr. Paul Evans Research Prize in Canada–Asia Relations Policy. Congratulations to Ananya and Xian!

Thank you to everyone who joined us. We look forward to the new collaborations and ideas that will grow from this community.

📸: @siming.photo by @ubcsppga

Meet SPPGA’s newest Practitioner Fellows: Anita Pan, Omneya Ghamry, and Joshua Cader.

Bringing expertise across foreign policy, humanitarian advocacy, agricultural trade analysis, and more, they will collaborate with our faculty and students throughout the coming year. We’re excited to welcome their perspectives and see the impact of their work within the SPPGA community. by @ubcsppga

The MPPGA Class of 2028 has arrived!

This cohort has come to Vancouver from near and far, with our international students representing 19 different countries. Together, they will spend the next two years building the necessary skills to navigate some of the world’s most pressing policy challenges. A warm welcome to the newest members of our community 👋

📸: @siming.photo by @ubcsppga

SPPGA’s Prof. Kristen Hopewell participated in the World Economic Forum “Summer Davos,” as part of a panel on global trade deals and a session on understanding geoeconomics realities. Convened in Dalian, China, the event brought together over 1,500 leaders from business, government, and academia.

📸 “Annual Meeting of the New Champions” by @worldeconomicforum CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 by @ubcsppga

New research by Professors Philippe Le Billon and Rashid Sumaila, published today in PNAS, outlines how industrial-scale illegal fishing continues to undermine ocean sustainability, coastal livelihoods, and global seafood markets despite decades of regulation and recent advances in surveillance technology. by @ubcsppga

Applications are now open for the PPGA 591C Lind Initiative Seminar!

This 3-credit course will examine democracy, disruption, and the U.S. political order alongside leading intellectuals. Students will examine the current political moment while developing skills in facilitating discussions, including structuring productive conversations and substantially engaging with different viewpoints.

Watch MPPGA Student, Bhaanvee Anthraper reflect on her experience in last year’s seminar. “Everybody wants to be there, and you can tell by quality of discussions and the importance of the dialogues we’re having.” by @ubcsppga

POV: Summer vibes at the SPPGA.

There’s so much beauty to explore around campus during the summer, whether it’s enjoying a meditative pause in the Nitobe Memorial Garden, strolling between 100-foot-tall Douglas fir trees behind the C.K. Choi Building, or just taking in the abundance of local flora and fauna.

UBC is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) people. by @ubcsppga