Solving public problems requires change - of policies, institutions, or organisations. But such changes are notoriously difficult to achieve, since they create winners and losers and require questioning established practices and believes. In this course we unpack these challenges and explore various strategies to achieve successful policy, organisational, and institutional change. We will use conceptual tools from political science and public administration research to understand real-world cases (some of which you bring to class) and reflect on your personal experiences with change in light of research. The course aims at developing your analytical skills and reflection capacity, i.e. to make you smarter in the way you approach change processes in your own professional context.