On November 6, 2025, Professor Arnold M. Howitt, the Founder and Co-Director of the Program on Crisis Leadership at Harvard Kennedy School and Distinguished Visiting Professor at Tsinghua University’s Schwarzman College, delivered a lecture titled “Developing Case Studies for Teaching and Research” at the School of Public Policy and Management (SPPM), Tsinghua University. The event was hosted by the China Case Center for Public Policy and Management (CCCPPM) and moderated by XIE Mengyu, English Case Coordinator, attracting over 20 and students and faculty.

MU Ling, Assistant Dean of SPPM and Director of CCCPPM, welcomed Professor Howitt and expressed appreciation for his long-standing collaboration with the Center. She noted that over the years, the two sides have co-developed bilingual teaching cases and conducted joint field research in Wenchuan and Jiangyin, integrating findings into classroom teaching at both Harvard and Tsinghua. She added that the School looks forward to deepening this fruitful collaboration in the future.

Professor Howitt Giving the Lecture

Drawing on decades of experience in case-based teaching and research at Harvard, Professor Howitt elaborated on the distinctions and complementarities between teaching and research cases. He emphasized that effective teaching cases should stimulate students’ analytical thinking and decision-making rather than offer model answers. A compelling case, he noted, embeds analysis beneath its narrative and creates situational tension and uncertainty to encourage classroom debate and theoretical application.

Professor Howitt also introduced practical methods for case writing, including interview-based data collection and storyboarding techniques, while sharing examples from his representative works. He encouraged participants to develop cases grounded in local practice but rich in theoretical and pedagogical value, thereby advancing innovation and global dialogue in public management education.

During the Q&A session, students and faculty discussed topics such as case selection, research ethics, and neutrality. Professor Howitt responded to each question with concrete examples and encouraged students, especially those in international programs, to pursue inquiry-driven and practice-based case research.

At the Lecture

The event was open to all SPPM students and faculty, particularly international program participants and case center assistants. It formed part of the SPPM’s ongoing effort to strengthen case teaching and research, promote cross-cultural learning, and contribute to a high-quality public administration case ecosystem.