This year marks the 10th anniversary of the partnership between the Blavatnik School of Government and the Luksic Foundation, a collaboration that drives positive change in public service by empowering public sector leaders in Chile.
At the core of the partnership is a shared commitment to ensuring that exceptional individuals from all backgrounds have equal access to educational opportunities that enable them to develop, succeed and give back to their communities.
The Luksic Foundation awards three full scholarships each year to Chilean candidates pursuing the Master of Public Policy (MPP) at the Blavatnik School. These scholarships cover not only tuition fees but also provide relocation support and a summer placement bursary, ensuring scholars can make the most of the opportunity.
Reflecting on the milestone, Ngaire Woods, founding Dean of the Blavatnik School, noted that she is "delighted to be marking the ten-year anniversary of our partnership with the Luksic Foundation", with its "inspiring vision". "I look forward to continuing to work towards our shared mission in the years to come", she added.
Isabella Luksic, CEO of the Luksic Foundation, said that the Foundation was "honoured to celebrate ten years of partnership with the Blavatnik School of Government, supporting the development of committed public service professionals who are key actors in driving societal progress."
Since 2014, 20 outstanding Chileans have benefited from the Luksic Scholarships. These future leaders gain world-class training on the MPP, which equips them with the skills, experience, and networks to address the pressing public policy challenges facing Chile and the global community.
Joaquín Walker Martínez, a Luksic Scholar in the MPP Class of 2016 who now works as the Executive Secretary of the Educational Reactivation Plan for the Ministry of Education in Chile, outlined how the MPP made him feel "part of a bigger community that encourages excellence and commitment, which has motivated me to engage more with public service.” Francisco Javier Tapia, Luksic Scholar in the MPP Class of 2017 and currently a Senior Partner at law firm FT Legal Ambiental, said that the scholarship allowed them "to have an academic, cultural, social and family experience that will be unforgettable for me and that carries a responsibility: to return everything received to my country and especially to the poorest.”
The partnership between the Blavatnik School and the Luksic Foundation has also developed beyond scholarship support. Earlier in 2024, a delegation led by Dean Woods and Professor Karthik Ramanna visited Santiago where they participated in the Luksic Foundation’s inaugural conference as well as facilitating a workshop for Chilean faculty on training public leaders of the future with the School’s innovative and immersive case method.
Looking forward, they hope to continue to build on the success of their collaboration to better equip leaders to address the most pressing policy challenges facing governments and societies today.
