Arnolds Eizensmits (MPP 2023) has worked on EU policymaking, both in a private sector role and for a Member of the European Parliament. He opted for a year’s study at the Blavatnik School of Government to deepen his knowledge and catalyse improvements to policy.
‘I feel like not enough students in Europe know that there is a chance to study at an incredible public policy school in Oxford, on a scholarship.’ Arnolds Eizensmits is from Latvia and was very proud to be selected for the Master of Public Policy (MPP) course funded by a Blavatnik School of Government Public Service Scholarship as the first-ever student from his country. He hopes many more from the Baltic States will follow in his footsteps.
Before joining the MPP, Arnolds worked in different roles in Brussels, firstly in a private sector role and then as a Policy Advisor and Head of Office for a Member of the European Parliament. But he jumped at the chance to ‘take his expertise to the next level’ with a year of learning at the Blavatnik School.
‘To be honest, I thought I was done with studying, but the one thing that really stood out to me is that this course actively welcomed those with professional experience. This isn’t your classic academic degree – it’s focused on building the skills that people will need to take with them into the public policy roles of the future.’
The multi-disciplinary focus of the course has ‘covered all bases, from politics and economics to law and philosophy’. Calum Miller, Senior Fellow of Practice in Public Management and his supervisor, has been invaluable in helping him navigate through it, with ‘useful personalised feedback throughout the year’. He thoroughly enjoyed Calum’s ‘Ready to Run’ seminar series, which focuses on analysing electoral campaigning and equipping students with the skills they need to stand for office.
A more ‘surprising element’ was Professor Jonathan Wolff’s explorations of values and philosophy. ‘It’s something that could be overlooked, as the link to policy might not be immediately obvious, but it’s such a crucial aspect of how politics is played out, with voters’ and politicians’ values shaping so much of the political arena’.
Another course that really captured his interest covered negotiation techniques with Professor Emily Jones. In her seminars, theoretical perspectives were fused with real-life practical cases.
‘We did this really interesting simulation on solving an international oil spill crisis. There was extensive role play as students represented different stakeholders, to see things from their point of view. One of the aspects that was particularly striking – which also applies to real-life negotiations – is that with the same objective reality, you can arrive at very different outcomes.’
Such scenarios necessitated understanding of where different points of view might be coming from; these seminars lent themselves to ‘learning both with and from other students’. This was a ‘hugely enriching opportunity, seeing how very intelligent people from different cultures, experiences and ages can think about issues in very different ways’. He describes the MPP community as ‘quite unique’.
More of what Arnolds calls ‘beyond-the-classroom teaching’ took place in the wider Oxford arena. During his time here, he has taken the opportunity to dive into the range of incredible events available, even though sometimes ‘it feels like there’s almost too much going on!’ One event that really stood out took place at the Blavatnik School – the opportunity to hear Dean Ngaire Woods in conversation with former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.
After a year spent listening to and learning from thought-leaders, practitioners and academics, Arnolds is planning to go back to Brussels to continue working in policymaking at the EU. He is excited to deploy his new knowledge and skills – for one, a ‘renewed spirit of international co-operation’, to bring together the 27 Member States which, in spite of many different languages and cultures, ‘have so much in common’.
‘The Master of Public Policy course has made me reflect deeply on how to bring together different interests in a way that benefits everyone. That’s what I want to keep doing.’
Arnolds believes that the course will enable him to take his policy contributions to the next level across a wide range of issues, from trade and energy policy to digital regulation and security. In particular, he hopes to forge an effective policy path towards climate neutrality and developing a sustainable growth model that leaves no one behind.
Arnolds is a Blavatnik School of Government Public Service scholar.
May 2024