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Policy Labs for Professionals

Policy challenges today are complex, cross-sectoral and constantly evolving. Addressing them requires more than technical expertise: it requires the ability to translate evidence into action, navigate competing interests and design solutions grounded in real-world contexts.

Georgetown SFS Asia Pacific’s Policy Labs are open to working professionals from the public, private and civil society sectors. Joining a Policy Lab gives you the opportunity to deepen your capacity to engage with policy challenges in a rigorous, applied and collaborative setting.

Through a combination of structured learning, field-based engagement and peer exchange, you will work on real policy questions, moving beyond theory to practice.

Quick facts: Policy Labs

Time commitment

Duration

14 weeks, 1.5 hrs per week + additional field visits

Instructional mode

  • In-person classes
  • Includes field-based components

Application

  • Applications accepted on a rolling basis

Schedule

Fall

September – December 2026

Spring

January – May 2027

Contact

Fees

  • Please contact us for the latest pricing and availability information

Who would benefit from the program

Policy Labs are open to qualified professionals, including:

  • Government officials and civil servants
  • Policy practitioners and advisors
  • Development professionals and NGO leaders
  • Private sector professionals working on public policy, sustainability or regulatory issues
  • Individuals seeking applied, practice-oriented policy experience in the Asia Pacific

Why join a policy lab

As a participant, you will:

  • Learn from Georgetown’s world-class faculty
  • Engage directly with real policy challenges
  • Learn alongside a diverse cohort of practitioners and policymakers
  • Apply frameworks and tools immediately to your work
  • Build networks across sectors and institutions in the Asia Pacific

Explore our policy labs

Georgetown SFS Asia Pacific offers Policy Labs across a range of themes, including governance and development, urban policy, natural resources and conflict resolution. Browse the full list of available labs to find the one that best matches your interests and professional goals.

Explore policy labs

Time commitment

Policy labs run for 14 weeks, combining structured instruction with applied policy work. Each lab includes approximately 38 hours of instruction, delivered through in-person sessions with field-based components throughout.

How to apply

Applications are open to qualified professionals with demonstrated interest or experience in policy, governance or related fields. To apply, you will need to:

  • Submit your application via the online portal 
  • Provide your professional background and areas of interest
  • Indicate your preferred lab or program