CONESTOGA COLLEGE
City of Kitchener annual policy contest challenges Public Service students

Professor Patricia Uribe said students have the chance to implement their classroom learning during the competition.

"The annual policy contest provides Public Service students with the opportunity to put into action what they have learned in class. Their innovative and solution-focused recommendations will help the City of Kitchener," Uribe said.

The students' knowledge and skill on display at the December contest was impressive.

"Public Service students demonstrated their knowledge of municipal administration and strategic planning skills to provide well-researched solutions to the city," Uribe said.

Along with presenting to the mayor, the panelists who heard the student presentations included Public Service faculty, the city's chief administrative officer and program administrator for arts and creative industries.

The challenge focused on how the municipality could attract larger audiences to music-related events.

The winning team included Bhairavi Bandekar, Priscilla Darkey, Mewish Khan and Mengting Xia.

Bandekar said the team was elated to be chosen as the contest winner and thanked the mayor and city staff for the invaluable experience.

"We were grateful that the folks at the City of Kitchener granted us their time by setting our task and judging the contest. The endeavor was particularly difficult for all of us because of its inherent challenge of a truncated turnaround period, but that was exactly what made it interesting."

Conestoga's Public Service program provides students with the skills, knowledge and practical experience critical to a career in public service. Students learn about the inner workings of government at the municipal, provincial and federal levels. The program also addresses issues such as public ethics, policy formulation, government and public-sector structures, leadership and management. Through the program, students develop the skills in critical thinking, analytical communications and problem-solving necessary to work in any level of government or in the non-profit sector.

The graduate certificate program is offered by the School of Interdisciplinary Studies.