SINGAPORE : The Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy has become the first institution outside Europe and North America to join the prestigious Global Public Policy Network.

And this means, Asia will soon have a bigger say in global policy making.

Policy makers often have to deal with questions like: How do governments deal with increasing poverty worldwide? What should they do to protect the environment?

The answers are often decided by top decision makers, many of whom graduated from the Global Public Policy Network.

The Network is a partnership between the London School of Economics, Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs, and the Paris Institute of Political Studies.

And now, the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, established barely three years ago, joins this premiere league.

Kishore Mahbubani, Dean, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, says: "There is now growing recognition among thoughtful policy makers and intellectuals that the 21st century will be the Asian century, and the younger people in America, Europe, are beginning to realise this clearly, and so there is a very great desire to understand Asia better."

For such understanding to occur, the four partners have established a double degree masters programme.

So, in August, nine students, including one Singaporean, will spend their second year of study at one of the other three partner institutions.

Next year, the students will receive their masters degree from two institutions.

Muhammad Khalid Nadeem Khan, Student, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, said: "I want to look at public policy from European perspective because obviously they are guiding public policy in Asia in terms of giving multilateral aid and other things. I want to look at what is their perspective of policy in Asia, and then I would like to share our views."

Ivy Ng Puay Li, Student, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, said: "I hope to be able to bring over an Asian perspective, over to the London School of Economics, because I foresee that in the future, there will be more interactions between Europe and Singapore and even the regional policy makers."

Both Muhammad Khalid Nadeem Khan and Ivy Ng will be going to London School of Economics.

Associate Professor Hui Weng Tat, Vice-dean - Academic Affairs, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, said: "Things like global climate change, for example, these are issues which not just involve one country, but involve different countries and so getting to know more people from different countries, especially when they are policy makers, will help to resolve some of these issues."

The Lee Kuan Yew School is the only public policy school in Southeast Asia.

There are currently about 300 full-time students, 10 percent are Singaporeans.

Beyond the double degrees, the Global Public Policy Network will also be conducting joint research and formulating executive programmes targeted at global policy makers.

One example of this is the training of high-ranking civil servants from China.

The four partners together with the Peking University will design and deliver the curriculum.

In October, the second Global Public Policy Network conference will also be held in Singapore, bringing together the world's key policy makers. - CNA/ch