I had a bachelor's degree in political science, but I thought that I needed further academic training in economics to enable me to have a more nuanced understanding of public policy. I chose to enroll in the Asian Public Policy Program (APPP) because the curriculum provided a good mix of both theoretical concepts and practical considerations covering issues in public policy. The training provided by the program was strict and demanding; students were challenged to formulate positions that were founded on logical arguments and supported by stringent data analysis.
 APPP is an international program. I had the wonderful opportunity to meet classmates from South, Central, and Southeast Asia. Our diverse contexts, life experiences, and varying professional settings gave a more vibrant, lived dimension to class discussions and debates. My classmates' different and sometimes opposing perspectives motivated me to critically examine my own views and biases. The academic requirements were at times difficult to complete, but the sense of camaraderie and community helped me get through it.
 I have been working in the field of international development cooperation for close to two decades now. APPP helped build the intellectual foundation that anchors the systematic and analytical way that I approach my work. The ties that it fostered also rewarded me with friends that I continue to cherish despite time and distance.
(International Women's Rights Action Watch - Asia Pacific (IWRAW Asia Pacific) 勤務)