Willy Brandt School of Public Policy at the University of Erfurt

What does the future of international aid look like? 🌍

In the latest blog post, MPP student Víctor Aurioles Díaz
reflects on his experience attending "The Politics and Policies of Aid," a joint course by the Brandt School and Central European University, which combined online learning with an intensive seminar week in Vienna.

Together with an international group of students, faculty, and guest speakers explored some of the most pressing debates in development policy today, from global inequalities and geopolitical rivalries to the future of international cooperation.

On July 16, OpenAI revealed something alarming.

A few of its most advanced AI models autonomously hacked the databases of another tech firm, Hugging Face.

Policymakers and tech leaders often talk about AI models as if they were well-socialised bureaucrats who internalise the norms of their institutions and require no constant supervision. However, the Hugging Face hack demonstrates that this way of thinking is misguided.

In the latest blog, Hasnain Bokhari, head of Digital Policy and Artificial Intelligence at the Brandt School, argues that AI governance frameworks need to focus on infrastructure-level controls.

Read more at the link in the first comment.

What comes to mind when you hear the word corruption? 🤔

Usually, we think of bribery, stolen public funds, or politicians filling their pockets. 💰

The Pegasus scandal in El Salvador tells a different story. Between 2020 and 2021, at least 37 journalists and human rights defenders were targeted with military-grade spyware.

In the latest blog, MPP students Rebeca Olascoaga and Juan Hernández argue that corruption is not always about money. Sometimes it is about using state resources to shield those in power from accountability.

👇 Read more at the link in the first comment.

We always knew climate change would bring tough policy debates, but who guessed that air conditioning would become the ultimate political battleground?

This June, Europe endured a historic heatwave. In France and Germany, infrastructure designed for cold winters is turning homes into ovens. In Berlin, police are even using water cannons to spray cooling mist over crowds.

Naturally, the far-right has stepped in with a strategic solution: promise a massive, nationwide AC rollout for everyone. It makes them look pragmatic and humane, while quietly freezing out the fact that their platform does essentially nothing to cut emissions.

This “hot” topic has triggered a massive culture debate:
❌ The Far-Right: "Environmentalists want you to sweat!"
❌ The Reality: AC is just an emergency band-aid that strains power grids and makes cities hotter in the long run.

The real challenge for the EU isn't just about plugging in more AC units; it's about completely rebuilding cities designed for winter to survive a summer they were never built for.

Read the full analysis by Ellysson Xavier to see how the climate crisis is being hijacked for political ammunition in our latest Bulletin Blog! Link in the first comment.

How is AI reshaping the Brandt School? 🤖📚

Artificial Intelligence is actively transforming how we learn, research, and prepare for the future of public governance.

In the latest episode of the Brandt School Bulletin Podcast, our host Ha Nguyen (Evelyn), MPP Student, sits down with Dr. Hasnain Bokhari, Head of the Department of Digital Policy and Artificial Intelligence, to explore a groundbreaking project right here on campus: The Brandt School 𝐀𝐈 𝐓𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐫!

Key takeaways from our discussion include:
🔹 What makes a specialized academic AI Tutor different from generic chatbots?
🔹 Addressing ethical concerns, data security, and responsible AI in higher education.
🔹 How AI will reshape the roles of lecturers and students in project-based learning.
🔹 The future skills policymakers need to thrive in an AI-driven world.

🎧 Listen to the full episode now and share your own opinions with us. Link in the first comment!

⏰ Time's almost up!

If you are a visa-exempt applicant and want to join an international, practice-oriented program that prepares you to tackle the world's most pressing policy challenges, apply now and secure your spot for the Brandt School's 2026 intake!

🗓 MPP applications close July 15, 11:59 PM (Berlin time).

🔗 Find more information via the link in our bio.

The idea that policy innovation flows mainly from the Global North to the Global South is one of the biggest myths in global governance.

The new open access book by Achim Kemmerling, Hasnain Bokhari, and Luicy Pedroza challenges that assumption.

By examining case studies on Latin America, Africa, and Asia, the volume demonstrates how the Global North frequently adopts solutions from the Global South but rarely acknowledges them.

You are cordially invited to a book launch celebrating this new publication. Join online or in person:
📅Monday, June 1st, 2026
🕟Time: 4:15 pm CEST
📍Venue: Universität Erfurt, Weltbeziehungen Building, C19.00.04 and online (via Webex, please scan QR Code on the attached image)