Ash Institute Recognizes Innovations in Governments Worldwide

April 7, 2008
by Molly Lanzarotta

Students at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) in Singapore have something to jump up and shout about. Formerly a last resort for low-achieving students, the ITE underwent a sweeping 10-year reform plan that earned the government-sponsored school high honors from the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard Kennedy School.

The Ash Institute fosters excellence in governance and seeks to strengthen democratic institutions worldwide. It sponsors research and leadership training and has spotlighted and celebrated the accomplishments of more than 400 innovative programs from all levels of government over the past 20 years through its Innovations in American Government Awards program.

A survey of past winners of the Innovations in American Government Award reflects the fact that drawing attention to successful state, local, and national government agencies leads to the creation of similar programs elsewhere. “Our award program is helping reinforce the idea that government can solve problems and improve the quality of life for its citizens,” says Institute Director Gowher Rizvi.

The Ash Institute engages students at the Harvard Kennedy School through its Student Advisory Group which incubates leadership and facilitates networking while the students, in turn, inform the Institute’s research agenda and help catalyze communities of practice.

In recent years, the Ash Institute has taken its work online and carried its programs overseas, organizing events from Dubai to Mexico, The Netherlands to India. Participants include practitioners and academics who address issues such as government transparency, e-government, and civic engagement.

The IBM Award in Transforming Government is the Ash Institute’s newest initiative designed to recognize and reward exemplary government programs internationally. The first IBM Award recipient is the Institute of Technical Education in Singapore. Along with the award comes a cash prize of $100,000 – now that’s something for those students to shout about!

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