Ülvi Gitaliyev
MPA Master of Public Administration, Class of 2026
Name: Ülvi Gitaliyev
Programme: Master of Public Administration, Class of 2027
Nationality: Azerbaijani
If you want to tackle issues that require enormous will and energy to address, but whose benefits are incalculable, then the SPP is the right place for you.
Can you tell us about your background and why you chose to study the MPA programme at SPP?
Before joining the SPP, I completed a double degree in history and political science at Berea College, Kentucky. When the time came to look at potential master’s programmes, the SPP MPA programme quickly became my top priority.
What are the highlights from Welcome and your first few weeks?
In many ways, Welcome Week felt more intensive and challenging compared to my current workload on the MPA programme. Every day, I was learning new names, seeing new buildings and exploring never-before-heard concepts with my peers and soon-to-be professors.
What have been some of your takeaways from your studies so far? How are you hoping to apply these to your career/next steps?
My biggest takeaway so far is the need to be multidimensional and thorough when analysing a problem. Can a particular solution lead to entirely new problems? How can we ensure that all potential stakeholders are included in the conversation? These are the kinds of questions I will take from the SPP into my future career.
What are you most looking forward to?
I am really excited for the second year of studies, writing my capstone and seeing my personal work grow from an abstract idea into something much more specific.
What are you hoping to achieve/what are your main objectives whilst at LSE SPP?
My main objective is to be a sponge of knowledge and learn as much as possible from my professors, classes and peers. It is very rare in one’s life to get such an opportunity where great minds from almost all fields come together to teach and learn from each other.
What is the best thing about being an SPP student?
My classmates. Every day, I hear people ask questions and raise points that continue to surprise me. I have never worked in a group project and been disappointed with the conduct or output of my teammates.
Who would you recommend the programme to?
The programme is best oriented towards people who want to solve complex, interconnected problems that span countries and industries. If you want to tackle issues that require enormous will and energy to address, but whose benefits are incalculable, then the SPP is the right place for you.
What advice would you give to anyone who is considering studying the MPP?
Whether you are a mid-career professional or coming straight out of college, the MPP programme will help you learn new skills and connect distant ideas into a coherent vision for changemakers in all fields.
What are your hopes or plans for your future after graduation?
I plan on returning to Azerbaijan and working within my government to help improve the administrative situation back home.
Can you describe your SPP experience so far in three words?
Full of adventure!
Where is your favourite place in London?
St James’s Park. I love having a weekend picnic with friends there or just watching the royal ducks going about their day.