DEDP learners spotlight: Hasto Narendra and Farhan Husain's path to development

In 2024, J-PAL Southeast Asia (SEA) welcomed two new staff members from the Data, Economics, and Design of Policy (DEDP) MicroMasters community. The DEDP Micromasters program, jointly run by J-PAL, and MITx Online, offers a suite of online courses in data analysis, economics, and policy, providing a pathway to a master’s program in DEDP at MIT or at another pathway university. 

Hasto Narendra and Farhan Husain joined J-PAL SEA as a research associate and research intern, respectively. Both Hasto and Farhan come from diverse fields outside economics, yet they share a common passion: to pivot their career paths and explore meaningful work in the development sector. For each, the DEDP program has been crucial in this journey.

Building bridges: From physics and engineering to development

Hasto holds a bachelor's degree in physics and previously worked as a data analyst at Grab Indonesia before pivoting to development. His passion for addressing global challenges grew out of his volunteer work. “I was actively volunteering while working, and those experiences opened my eyes to the significant educational gaps between regions in Indonesia,” he shares. He later came across the online DEDP MicroMasters courses and saw the program as a bridge between his experience as a data analyst and his growing interest in social science. After completing the DEDP MicroMasters program, Hasto took the next big step: applying for the Master’s degree in DEDP. He was admitted to the program and completed the Master of Applied Science in DEDP from MIT in 2024.

Reflecting on his journey, Hasto credits his DEDP learning experiences as the stepping stone that shaped his career choices in the development sector. “After taking  DEDP courses, I realized that public policy research was far more engaging than just dealing with data and numbers as a data analyst,” Hasto says. He further explored his interests through an internship at Evidence for Policy Design at Harvard University (EPoD) and his current position as a research associate at J-PAL SEA. At EPoD, Hasto supported the researchers on a tax initiative project in Chennai, India. Now at J-PAL SEA, he works on evaluating labor and capital reforms in tax offices across Indonesia.

Similarly, Farhan holds an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering and pivoted to economics. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Farhan spent much of his time exploring economics and politics, discovering a passion for economic development. "I realized that economics could not only explain social issues and human behavior but also combine the exact sciences I loved in engineering school," Farhan says.

"With my educational background, I thought pursuing a career in the development sector might be challenging," Farhan shares. "For this reason, in my final year, I started looking into master’s programs and came across the DEDP MicroMasters. I was immediately drawn to the courses it offered." He completed the program and earned his DEDP credential within one year, supported by a scholarship from the Stephen Riady Foundation. With this credential, he hopes to broaden his career options and strengthen his portfolio to apply for an accelerated master’s degree at one of the DEDP pathway universities.

Overall, despite coming from different fields, Hasto and Farhan were able to pivot to social science through the DEDP MicroMasters program, which helped them secure positions at J-PAL SEA. J-PAL SEA staff Ignatius Sebastian and Kahfi B. Sya, who participated in the recruitment process, note that “the ownership of DEDP credential helped candidates stand out among other job applicants,” and that “in Hasto’s case, since the Master’s in DEDP has a nature similar to J-PAL’s work scope, combined with strong recommendations, it helped him secure a job at J-PAL SEA.”

Inside the DEDP experience: Learnings and challenges

When we spoke with Farhan and Hasto about their DEDP learning journeys, both shared memorable stories of the courses that inspired them and the unique challenges they faced as learners with physics and engineering backgrounds.

Through the DEDP program, Farhan shares, “I gained valuable insights into data analytics within a public policy setting, as well as hands-on experience with end-to-end randomized evaluation methods.” Hasto, on the other hand, says, “Beyond the practical skills in data analytics and public policy, the DEDP program gave me exposure to the broader J-PAL network, including J-PAL affiliated professors and MIT professors.”

For both, Microeconomics stood out as the most interesting course in the DEDP MicroMasters program. Coming from scientific fields, their grounding in calculus and other quantitative subjects gave them a head start. This familiarity not only helped them adapt quickly but also fueled their curiosity to understand social science through a quantitative lens. “I was struck by how the lecturer brought economic theories to life, seamlessly connecting them to real-world policy issues. The practical approach made complex topics feel accessible and sparked my excitement to delve deeper ” Farhan shares.

However, despite their comfort with quantitative courses, Hasto and Farhan noted that navigating unfamiliar economic terms in the courses and suggested readings was a significant challenge. Hasto states, “Before taking DEDP courses, it would be helpful for learners to have a basic understanding of economic terminology, calculus, and statistics.”

Calling all learners: Begin your DEDP journey

Reflecting on their experiences, Farhan and Hasto encourage others, especially those considering a career change into the economic and development sectors, to consider taking the DEDP MicroMasters courses. Like Farhan and Hasto, many may find that the DEDP program is valuable in opening doors to diverse career paths in social impact. Their key message is simple yet powerful: “Even if your background isn’t in economics or development, don’t hesitate to give it a try and take the first step!”

For those interested in joining the MITx MicroMasters in DEDP, course offerings and upcoming dates are posted on the DEDP MicroMasters website.