MCA GLOBAL COUNCIL
Shaping the Future of City Leadership
The MCA Global Council is the governing body of the Master in City Administration, bringing together leaders from cities, academia, and international institutions.
ABOUT THE COUNCIL
The MCA Global Council brings together leaders from cities, academia, and international institutions to define, oversee, and advance the MCA as a global platform.
It is responsible for ensuring that the MCA remains relevant, rigorous, and responsive to the evolving demands of city leadership worldwide.
ROLE OF THE COUNCIL
Defining. Coordinating. Advising.
Defining the Standard
Establishing the global framework for MCA programs.
Defining core competencies and learning outcomes.
Ensuring consistency across institutions.
Advisory and Guidance
Maintaining academic and institutional alignment.
Reviewing program integrity and quality.
Guiding expansion to new regions and partners.
Strategic Direction
Positioning the MCA within the global urban agenda.
Identifying emerging leadership requirements.
Ensuring long-term relevance of the program.
Global Coordination
Connecting universities, cities, and institutions.
Supporting collaboration across regions.
Building a global network of urban leadership development.
COMPOSITION
The Council reflects the multi-dimensional nature of city leadership. It includes representation from:
City leaders and former mayors
Academic institutions
International organisations
Urban policy and development experts
This ensures that the MCA is shaped both by those who study cities and those who lead them.
Council Members
Fahd Al-Rasheed
Advisor
General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, Saudi Arabia
Emilia Saiz
Secretary-General
United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG)
Nasiphi Moya
Executive Mayor
Tshwane, South Africa
Mauricio Rodas
Former Mayor
Quito, Ecuador
Edward Glaeser
Professor of Economics
Harvard University
Aromar Revi
Founding Director
Indian Institute for Human Settlements
Carlo Ratti
Professor of Urban Technologies
MIT
WHY IT MATTERS
City leadership is inherently cross-disciplinary and globally interconnected. A central coordinating body ensures that:
Standards are consistent
Programs converge around core principles
Momentum is sustained
The MCA Global Council ensures coherence across the system, credibility of the qualification, and alignment with real-world urban challenges.