Behaviourally Informed Government: Adding Behavioural Insights to the Modern Public Servant’s Toolkit
The BC Behavioural Insights Group (BC BIG) and UBC Decision Insights for Business & Society (UBC-DIBS) are co-hosting a webinar exploring the opportunities and challenges of applying behavioural science in the work of government.
Join us February 12, 12-1pm PST, as Carl Jensen, Acting Lead of BC BIG, moderates a conversation between alumni of UBC’s Advanced Professional Certificate in Behavioural Insights:
- Local government: Marika Smith, Lead for Solid Waste Reduction, City of Victoria
- Provincial government: Kerstin Behrens-Bolt, Manager of Knowledge Management, Training, and Quality Assurance, Ministry of Citizens’ Services, BC Public Service
- Federal government: Brent Novikoff, Analyst, Impact Canada, Government of Canada
Our guests will discuss the opportunities and challenges of applying behavioural science in their roles and at different levels of government. Kirstin Appelt, Research Director of UBC-DIBS, will also provide a brief overview of UBC’s BI programs.
Register for this free online event.
What is Behavioural Insights?
BI combines an understanding of how we all make decisions plus rigorous research methods to tackle a variety of problems from sustainability to compliance to employee engagement and beyond. By developing your BI skills and knowledge, you can make evidence-based policy and product decisions to increase your strategic impact.
What BI Programs does UBC offer?
Learn how to add a BI lens to how you approach problems by enrolling in UBC’s Fundamentals of Behavioural Insights course.
- This three-week, live online course provides an introduction to behavioural insights, experimentation, and ethics.
- This course is next offered Apr. 20-May 10 on Thursday evenings 5-7pm Pacific. This will be the last offering before the deadline for applications for the 2026-2027 cohort in the Advanced Professional Certificate in Behavioural Insights.
Learn how to develop and test appropriate BI solutions for different challenges by applying for UBC’s Advanced Professional Certificate in Behavioural Insights.
- The certificate is rigorous BI Practitioner training that combines live online coursework and a capstone project to help you develop your BI knowledge and skills.
- The program runs September-May each year. The early-bird deadline for the 2026-2027 cohort is April 30.
- Please note that Fundamentals of Behavioural Insights is required prerequisite for the Advanced Professional Certificate; you must complete Fundamentals to successfully complete your certificate application.
Learn more about scholarships and other funding opportunities at the webinar.
What do alumni and partners say?
“I would recommend the Advanced Professional Certificate in Behavioural Insights to anybody looking to advance their experience and education in BI. I chose this program as it is the only BI certificate being offered in Canada. The virtual nature of the certificate allowed me to continue working full time during the program. Since completing the certificate, it has given me the skills and experience to lead the BC Behavioural Insights Group on a number of occasions.”
Carl Jensen
Class of 2021
Acting Lead, BC Behavioural Insights Group
“Graduates of UBC’s Advanced Professional Certificate in Behavioural Insights (BI) will obtain knowledge in each step of the core BI research process, while at the same time conducting a BI project that runs in tandem with the certificate’s curriculum. This blending of theoretical education and real-world practical application, ensures graduates leave the program with the skills of a BI practitioner. The program is extremely well designed, led by passionate instructors and smoothly delivered virtually. The Fundamentals of Behavioural Insights prerequisite course is great standalone introduction to BI and serves as an ideal way to discover for yourself if the full certificate program is right for you. I would highly recommend this program.”
Brent Novikoff
Class of 2024
Analyst, Impact Canada, Government of Canada
“I have thoroughly enjoyed being a capstone project client for the Advanced Professional Certificate in Behavioural Insights program. Parking systems are highly dependent upon the actions of individual users – being able to test and, most importantly, monitor BI solutions in the field has helped me make these systems better for all.”
Chris Darwent
Capstone Project Sponsor
Senior Parking Engineer, City of Vancouver