Info for Capstone Clients
Information for Capstone Clients
SIPA Capstone workshops apply the practical skills and analytical knowledge learned at SIPA to a real-world issue. Students from the Masters of International Affairs and Masters of Public Administration degree programs are organized into small consulting teams (generally about six students per team) and assigned a substantive, policy oriented project with an external client.
The collaboration between SIPA students and the organizations benefits both parties. The organizations benefit from the expertise of SIPA students, who have a wide variety of professional and educational backgrounds and who are in the final semester of a demanding, two-year professional degree program at one of the leading schools of international and public affairs in the world. All student teams are advised by a SIPA faculty member with relevant expertise. The students benefit from the opportunity to put learning into practice.
Through SIPA's general Capstone Program, student teams from the following concentrations work on a wide range of projects with external clients. Student teams in the Development and Governance concentration – formerly the Economic and Political Development concentration – work with clients in the global development and humanitarian spaces through the Capstone Workshop in Sustainable Development Practice.
Climate, Energy, and Environment
Human Rights, Gender, and Equity
International Finance and International Economic Policy
International Security and Diplomacy
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Clients include public agencies (from the local to national level), international NGOs and multi-national organizations, and major firms in the private sector—recent examples include Citi Private Bank, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Mercy Corps, New York City Mayor’s Office, the United Nations and the World Bank Group. Student teams, working under the supervision of a faculty expert, answer a carefully defined problem posed by the client. Each team produces an actionable report and an oral briefing of their findings at the close of the workshop that is designed to translate into real change on the ground.
View the full directory of Capstone Workshops.
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We seek to partner with organizations that can offer a project that is timely, but not urgent, which can be completed within a five-month period, that is of value both to the organization itself and to the learning experience of students.
Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss project ideas with Suzanne Hollmann, Senior Assistant Dean in Academic Affairs, before submission of a proposal. Applicants will be notified by the end of September about whether their proposal has been selected for further development. Applications received after July 31 will be considered on a rolling admissions basis. Priority will be given to applicants who have submitted before the July deadline.
During the summer, we will match the organization with an expert faculty advisor who will work with the client organization to further refine the project scope and deliverables. In October, students submit a formal application to the Capstone program, rank ordering their top choices. Students are selected by the faculty advisor and are matched with projects based on their demonstrated skill sets and interests. The actual workshop is conducted from mid-November to and is completed in early May.
Returning Client and Faculty Preliminary Timeline for Spring 2026 Capstone Projects
July 31 Preferred date to receive project proposals for the Spring 2026 cycle of projects. Project proposals selected for the spring portfolio are matched with a faculty advisor in the July-August period. September 15 First draft of the project agreement (the “Terms of Reference” or TOR) should be completed between faculty advisor and client September 30 Final TOR due to SIPA October 6 Capstone project descriptions are posted on SIPA's website for students to view October 20 Deadline for students to apply to Capstone workshop November 10 Capstone team student assignments are announced November 14 Introductory session by faculty advisor for student team to discuss the details of the project and assign winter reading/research Week of November 17 At a time convenient for client, team meets/conferences with client December 8 Capstone team will produce a high level preliminary work plan for the project January 20 First day of classes for the spring semester Week of January 20 Suggested: Client meets/conferences with Capstone team to reconvene for spring term Week of March 9 Suggested: Midterm briefing to client on project’s progress March 16- 20 Spring break—teams that are traveling internationally will travel during this week—no classes for all other workshops Week of April 6 Suggested: Written draft report or initial findings submitted to client Week of April 20 Suggested: Client briefing of project findings Before May 4 Final report and briefing due to client May 4 Last day of classes Early May SIPA Capstone Closing Reception End of June Preferred date for clients to confirm interest in returning for next project cycle -
Supported by a Columbia faculty advisor, each student team starts work by mid-November on a draft work plan. Based on their desk and field research, each team prepares a report and actionable recommendations for review by the client in late April. Students work on average 8-12 hours per week on their project.
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- Define goals and deliverables. Clients work with the faculty advisor in the late summer/early fall to define the project goals and deliverables.
- Participate in meetings. Over the course of the project, clients are asked to participate in three standard meetings—these are: an initial “kick-off” meeting, mid-term presentation, and final presentation. Beyond these meetings, the client should be available for periodic calls over the course of the semester with the team for status updates (generally twice a month throughout the project).
- Provide appropriate support. When there are costs associated with the project, such as international travel, clients are asked to provide financial or in-kind support for the project, which is determined during the completion of the project agreement in the fall.
Applicants for consideration for the upcoming cycle will be notified before the end of September as to whether their proposal has been selected for further development.
