Balsillie School of International Affairs

What Balsillie School of International Affairs does

The Balsillie School of International Affairs (BSIA) is a non-profit academic institution headquartered at 67 Erb Street West in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, jointly created by the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University and physically located on the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) campus. It operates as a centre for advanced research and teaching in international affairs, offering doctoral and master's degree programs including a PhD in Global Governance, Master of International Public Policy (MIPP), MA in Global Governance, and Master of Development Practice, alongside executive education courses and a fellowship program (Balsillie Scholars). The school is a member of the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA) and the Association of Registrars of the Universities and Colleges of Canada (ARUCC).

BSIA's core product surface is anchored by the Technology Governance Initiative, launched in late 2023 under Director Dr. Ann Fitz-Gerald, which integrates multiple programs: the Balsillie Case Studies publication series, the Balsillie Survey (an annual Canadian technology governance survey launched in 2025), the Technology Governance Summer School (a two-week intensive program), the Technology Governance Policy Challenge (a cross-institutional student competition), and the Balsillie Scholars fellowship. Research is also published through the Balsillie Papers academic series and the Global Trends Report. The institution's revenue model blends tuition-linked degree programs, modest program fees ($250-$499 for the Summer School), Balsillie Family Foundation support, and competitive grant funding (e.g., MiFOOD supported by CIHR, SSHRC, and NFRF). Geographic reach includes primary operations in North America and selected activities in Southeast Asia, with international partnerships spanning American University, Sciences Po, University of Warwick, University of the Western Cape, Tecnológico de Monterrey, and IE University.

Name

Balsillie School of International Affairs

Legal name

Balsillie School of International Affairs

Website

https://balsillieschool.ca

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Balsillie School of International Affairs is a non-profit academic institution in Waterloo, Canada, jointly created by the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University, offering graduate degrees and research programs in global governance with a focus on technology policy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education and Policy Research

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

International & Global Research Universities (Multi-Campus/International Footprint) (EDAHABAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Research & Lab-Based Short-Term Programs (Undergraduate/Graduate) (EDAIAIAF)

Keywords

• Global governance research
• International affairs education
• Technology governance policy
• Graduate public policy
• Policy research institute

Headquarters

HQ city

Waterloo

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Balsillie School of International Affairs is a non-profit academic institution offering graduate degree programs (PhD in Global Governance, MA in Global Governance, Master of International Public Policy, Master of Development Practice) and executive courses focused on global governance, international public policy, development practice, and technology policy. Its research and outreach arm, the Technology Governance Initiative, delivers case study publications (Balsillie Case Studies), academic papers (Balsillie Papers), an annual survey (Balsillie Survey), a summer school, a policy challenge competition, and a scholars fellowship program.

Product overview

The Balsillie School of International Affairs is an academic institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs and research initiatives in global governance and international affairs. Its academic offerings include doctoral and master's degree programs (PhD in Global Governance, MIPP, MA in Global Governance, Master of Development Practice) and executive education courses. The school's flagship research initiative is the Technology Governance Initiative, launched in 2023, which encompasses multiple integrated products: Balsillie Case Studies (case study publications), Balsillie Papers (academic publication series), the Balsillie Survey (annual technology governance survey), Technology Governance Summer School (intensive educational program), Technology Governance Policy Challenge (student competition), and Balsillie Scholars (fellowship program). These products work together to advance research and education at the intersection of technology and policy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Technology Governance Initiative: A research and education initiative focused on technology policy and governance issues.
• Technology Governance Summer School
• Technology Governance Policy Challenge
• Balsillie Case Studies
• Balsillie Papers
• Balsillie Survey

Products and services

• PhD in Global Governance Doctoral degree program offering advanced research and scholarship in global governance studies, with degrees conferred by the University of Waterloo or Wilfrid Laurier University.
• Master of International Public Policy (MIPP) Professional master's degree program preparing students for careers in international public policy.
• MA in Global Governance Master of Arts degree program focusing on global governance theory and practice.
• Master of Development Practice Professional degree program focused on international development practice and policy.
• Executive Courses Short-term professional development courses for practitioners in international affairs and technology policy.
• Technology Governance Summer School Intensive two-week summer program for graduate students covering the technology-policy nexus including AI, data economies, cybersecurity, and digital trade. Standard fee $499 (2026) with discounted BSIA student rate of $250.
• Technology Governance Policy Challenge Annual policy challenge where graduate student teams develop policy briefs on technology governance issues, conducted in collaboration with international partner institutions.
• Balsillie Case Studies Case study publication platform examining technology governance issues and policy challenges.
• Balsillie Papers Academic publication series featuring research papers on global governance and international affairs.
• Balsillie Survey Annual survey report on Canada's technology governance providing policy feedback from industry, policy and research communities. First edition titled 'Securing Canada's Technology Sovereignty'.
• Balsillie Scholars Fellowship program for scholars conducting research at the intersection of technology and governance.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• American University School of International ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 April 2024Collaboration on the Technology Governance Policy Challenge; American University partners with BSIA for annual policy challenge competitions and joint events.
• University of WaterloocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBSIA is jointly created by the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University. Students can pursue degrees from University of Waterloo through BSIA programs.
• Wilfrid Laurier UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBSIA is jointly created by Wilfrid Laurier University and University of Waterloo. Students can pursue degrees from Laurier through BSIA programs.
• Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBSIA is a proud affiliated member of APSIA, an association of professional schools of international affairs.
• Association of Registrars of the Universities and Colleges of Canada (ARUCC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBSIA is a member of ARUCC, supporting academic administration and registrar services.
• International Migration Research Centre (IMRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBSIA co-hosts events with IMRC, including MiFOOD webinars and migration research events; IMRC is located at Wilfrid Laurier University.
• MiFOOD NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBSIA hosts MiFOOD (Migration and Food Security) webinar series focusing on migration and food security research; supported by CIHR, SSHRC, and NFRF.
• Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBSIA is located on the CIGI campus; CIGI hosts the annual Waterloo Innovation Summit and is a key research partner; BSIA building is part of CIGI campus.
• Munk School of Global Affairs and Public PolicyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution in the Technology Governance Policy Challenge anthology, contributing graduate student teams.
• Norman Paterson School of International AffairsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution in the Technology Governance Policy Challenge anthology, contributing graduate student teams.
• Sciences PominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partner institution in Technology Governance Policy Challenge anthology.
• University of WarwickminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partner institution in Technology Governance Policy Challenge anthology.
• University of the Western CapeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partner institution in Technology Governance Policy Challenge anthology; MiFOOD research partner.
• Tecnológico de MonterreyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partner institution in Technology Governance Policy Challenge anthology.
• IE UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partner institution in Technology Governance Policy Challenge anthology.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Harvard Kennedy School: Elite US public policy school with international and global affairs programs; comparable as a broader incumbent that operates at vastly larger scale in policy education and research.
• Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs): UK-based world-leading international affairs think tank; comparable as a broader incumbent in international governance research and policy dialogue, with a much larger global footprint than BSIA.
• Georgetown University Walsh School of Foreign Service: Premier US international affairs school with extensive graduate programs in global politics and policy; comparable as a broader incumbent operating at significantly larger scale in the same international affairs graduate education space.
• London School of Economics — International Relations: UK-based global university with established graduate programs in international relations and global governance; comparable as a broader incumbent offering overlapping curricula at a much larger scale.

Direct peers

• Sciences Po: France's premier institution for political science, international affairs, and public policy; directly comparable as an international partner institution contributing graduate student teams to BSIA's Technology Governance Policy Challenge.
• Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy: University of Toronto's graduate school for international affairs and public policy; directly comparable as a Canadian peer institution offering graduate programs in global affairs and a documented BSIA partner on the Technology Governance Policy Challenge.
• American University School of International Service: Top-ranked US international affairs graduate school; directly comparable as a peer institution with similar interdisciplinary policy focus and an established BSIA collaboration on the Technology Governance Policy Challenge since 2024.
• Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI): Waterloo-based think tank focused on international governance; highly comparable given that BSIA is physically housed on CIGI's campus and shares intellectual infrastructure, faculty, and event programming.
• Norman Paterson School of International Affairs (NPSIA): Carleton University's graduate school of international affairs; directly comparable as another Canadian APSIA-member institution with MA programs in international affairs and a BSIA Policy Challenge anthology partner.

Others

• Brookings Institution: Major US-based policy research organization with substantial international affairs programming; comparable as an adjacent ecosystem player in international policy research and publications, though structured as a think tank rather than a degree-granting school.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@BalsillieSchool/videos
• Xx.com/BalsillieSIA
• Facebookfacebook.com/balsillieschool

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Balsillie School of International Affairs