”After studying politics and economics in Lund and Uppsala I moved to Kansas City in 2004 to begin the M.A. program in Political Science at University of Missouri, Kansas City. My interest in the program was initiated by the interdisciplinary research approach that characterizes the campus. UMKC prepares its students to investigate complex and pressing problems of the world today through independent research that often integrates two or more disciplines perspectives and methodologies with a focus on collaboration, problem-solving, boundary-crossing, academic excellence, discovery and innovation. These intentions and values matched my own and my interest in entrepreneurship, economic development and political organization. Looking back I feel I have taken full advantage of my interdisciplinary intentions covering classes in political science, economics, entrepreneurship and public administration. I have met and worked with professors, not only from the Political Science Department, but also from the Henry Bloch School of Management and the L.P. Cookingham Institute of Public Affairs, and professionals from places such as the Kauffman Foundation of Entrepreneurship and the Midwest Center for Non-Profit Leadership. To further deepen the understanding of entrepreneurship, non-profits and American community collaborations, the theoretical part of the M.A. program has been accompanied with practical experiences through resources such as the Dan Bishop Scholarship in Public Policy and the Kauffman Entrepreneurial Internship Program. These resources made it possible for me to take an active part in ongoing non-profit management and public/private problem-solving.
Now I prepare to concentrate my experiences into a thesis on how the United States and Sweden compare as viable sites for partnership between government and non-profit organizations. This journey will involve discussions about entrepreneurship, innovation, tolerance, culture, and economic growth, which are all key factors for any country facing the challenges of a changing environment. The thesis will argue that many of these key factors are found in the interface between public and private agents.”Fredrik Andersson
