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According to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics, Harvard University's Kennedy School conferred the largest number of master's degrees in public administration (MPA) in 2007-2008 of all Title IV institutions with MPA programs. And, this year, MPA program enrollment numbers are up at the Cambridge, Mass.-based university.

Robin Engel, director of MPA programs at Harvard University's Kennedy School

"Recent trends show an increase in the overall number of applications to the Kennedy School," said Robin Engel, director of MPA programs. "While we are witnessing the change across all of our programs, the most significant increase in applications is occurring with young professionals. We sense that they are responding to the inspiring call to public service at a time when the world is facing such intense challenges that require the knowledge and skill sets that are taught at the Kennedy School.

"In these challenging times," Engel added, "prospective students have a renewed appreciation for the value of an MPA and MPP [Master of Public Policy] degree, and what it can do to increase an individual's capacity to make a difference in the world." (For more on MPA demand, see "2010: a good time to earn that MPA?".)

Enrollees in the Harvard Kennedy School's MPA and MPP degree programs bring a wealth of experience, said Judy Kugel, associate dean of students. "Kennedy School students have from fewer than five to more than 30 years of work experience prior to attending," she said.

The programs attract professionals from a variety of organizations, including public, nonprofit and private sector operations, Kugel told Govpro.com. "They enroll in one of the Kennedy School's two-year master's programs to acquire tools to advance in their early careers, or in the one-year, mid-career master's program to refine and learn new skills at a later stage in their careers and/or to reflect on their career goals," Kugel said.

"It is the mission of Harvard Kennedy School to train the next generation of public leaders through all of our degree programs. Our graduates are among those whose critical work in a variety of sectors contributes to the solving of public problems here in the United States and around the world."

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• 2010: a good time to earn that MPA?