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Prompted by Government Economics Network (GEN) and /Treasury demand
The initial focus was on policy wonks, also business
Is effectively 'applied economics' (though that term could be confusing as it's sometimes used to mean 'econometrics')
For content and language Adrian recommends looking at the brochure: http://www.victoria.ac.nz/vbs/study-careers/publications/MPE.pdf
Entry
A background in economics, a BComm with a bit of microeconomics, a bit of macroeconomics
If people are just short of the requirements he'd like them to get in touch
Programme attributes
Course-based Master's
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Most go on to do the PG Dip or Master's
Entry requirements are easier for the Cert and Dip
The use the term 'staircasing' but are not sure if students understand it
They let people do individual courses as a Certificate of Proficency
Benefits
Practical/applied (the term 'applied' could be confusing as it's sometimes used to mean 'econometrics')
Less about the mathematics, more about the practical - students need reassurance they'll be able to handle the maths (cf. Honours, which is 100% theory and applied maths)
1/3 theory 1/3 taught applications, 1/3 hands on applications
Develops your career(cf. Honours, which is 100% theory and applied maths)
Adds economics to your toolkit
Courses are very unusual (even unique) in New Zealand
Flexibility - Adrian does his best to accommodate student needs, describes the programme as 'demand driven'
Hands on includes things like time in the computer lab, or using Excel to build economic tools - practical but campus-based - don't have placements yet but aiming to get good connections with industry
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Can start in any trimester though it's usually 1 and 2
Top staff
Peer networks
Students
25% international, 75% domestic
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From law, big engineering firms, lots from Statistics and MPI and other government departments
Many are employer-funded
Common questions
Entry requirements (especially from international students) - Will I get in?
People stories
Adrian has a student in mind for a story which shows how demand driven they are