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Case Studies
Client’s problem
In comparison to many other functions of the U.S. Government, International Affairs (IA) personnel are a relatively small and highly specialized community. They focus on building relationships with foreign countries, ensuring that the U.S. has access to the same airfields, ports, operating bases, and technology as other countries, and keeping our allies abreast of valuable information while protecting that same information from our enemies. Because the community is so condensed and specialized, the opportunity for career growth and advancement can often times be very limited. In 2001, the U.S. Government was facing a dual challenge: it needed to continue developing its existing International Affairs high-potential personnel but also realized that in order to continue meeting mission requirements, it needed a way to recruit great talent from the broader pool of U.S. Government personnel.
Federal government leaders realized they needed a world-class graduate study program to send both existing and potential employees. They believed that such a program would encourage and inspire top talent, attract new employees, and challenge the workforce to aspire to a new level of thinking. The problem, however, was they did not know where to begin looking for such a program, what defines a great one, or what criteria to use when evaluating one. The government needed help determining the ideal program as well as building strong relationships with the faculty and staff of the selected institution. Since the International Affairs workforce is scattered around the world, they also needed a process for identifying and selecting the ideal candidates to enroll into the program.
Wedgewood Group, having taught at multiple institutions and having performed advanced research for the Department of Defense, had the experience the government was seeking and was, thus, selected for the assignment.
Solution
Our first task was to help define the criteria for the ideal program. Since IA employees are internationally dispersed and work at the highest levels of the government, our client needed a highly prestigious program that was recognized globally. Using a combination of extensive online research, documentation reviews, and in-depth phone interviews, we whittled down a list of hundreds of programs to a core group of 35 institutions and ultimately presented the top 5 recommendations to senior leaders. We visited the top 5 programs in person to conduct deeper analysis of benefits, outcomes, and curriculum. In the end, the government went with Wedgewood Group’s recommendation and selected Tufts University’s Global Master of Arts Program.
Upon selection, Wedgewood Group helped draft the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the selected academic institution, Tufts University, and the federal government. The MOA outlined the number of IA employees attending the program, the program frequency and cost, and defined the exact curriculum each employee would receive.
Once the program and agreement were fully in place, Wedgewood Group created, produced, and maintained newsletters, videos, in person presentations, and a custom designed website to raise awareness of the program and encourage participation by IA employees
Outcome
This program allowed the IA community to create a sustainable workforce throughout much of the federal government. Since the program’s inception in 2003, 89 high-potential employees have graduated from Tufts University’s Global Master of Arts Program (GMAP) – representing nearly 20% of all GMAP graduates to date. The program allows seasoned IA professionals to advance their studies without having to leave their jobs or relocate. Students from around the world are able to do their assignments online, caucus with their professors, and assist one another through the program.
Client Testimonial
“I was promoted from a Security Cooperation Coordinator in the Middle East division to a Country Program Director for the Middle East and Central Asia after taking the program. The tools and information I learned in GMAP are applicable to my job in dealing with foreign customers and in everyday activities such as reading the news and analyzing events going on around the world.”
2007 GMAP Graduate