Today’s public practitioners must demonstrate clear understanding of the often complex tensions involved in contemporary public policy. They must also be able to offer confident leadership in formulating and implementing appropriate strategies to address them. For more than 40 years the Institute of Local Government Studies has been providing a range of programmes to meet these needs.
This programme, which aims to build knowledge, skills and confidence for careers in the public service, is an updated version of our market-leading MSc in Public Service Management. It is aimed at both experienced practitioners from the public and voluntary sectors and those wishing to embark on a career in public service. Participants choose between streams in Local Government; Criminal Justice; Social Care and Wellbeing; and Public Management in general.
The programme provides an opportunity for you to develop your understanding of democratic governance and the challenges of improving performance and co-ordinating public services and governmental processes. You will reflect on the changing demands affecting public organisations locally, regionally, nationally and internationally, building your knowledge base, leadership skills and self-confidence.
Who is the programme for?
Our Public Management programme is aimed at both experienced practitioners from the public and voluntary sectors and those wishing to embark on a career in public service.
The programme can be studied part-time over two / three years or full-time in one year. Modules are scheduled particularly to suit part-time study in units of two of three consecutive days at our dedicated postgraduate teaching accommodation at the University of Birmingham.
Programme content
MSc participants study four core modules, plus any two specialist option modules and a dissertation. Diploma participants follow the same module/sector stream choices as their MSc colleagues but are exempt from the dissertation element. Certificate participants choose one of the four core modules, plus any two other modules of their choice. View the course structure.
Specialist pathways
Learning, teaching and assessment
Our approach to teaching and learning is participant-centred in two ways. First, the programme explores and makes links between the ideas, models and skills for public service and participants' own work experiences and organisational contexts. As a result, participants' contributions, in the form of discussion and exploration of case studies are particularly important and assist in the creation of an educational environment in which a significant component of the learning derives through interactions between programme participants.
Second, we recognise that different individuals learn best in different ways. Some will prefer lecture inputs for the frameworks, theoretical perspectives and challenge to thinking that these can provide. Others will tend to favour the more practical sessions and/or the time spent in syndicates with colleagues exchanging experiences and perspectives on issues under consideration or in addressing specific tasks, case studies and problem-solving.
Typically modules are assessed through a variety of essay-type and project-based assignments. From the outset, we provide participants with clear guidance on assessment work and individualised tutorial support is available throughout the programme to help each participant make the most of their studies with us. Participants studying at Masters level will be expected to write a dissertation – this may be linked to activities at their workplace.
Careers
Typical paths include career progression within the public sector with the participant’s aspirations being more saleable with a supporting qualification. Transferability of skills also supports participants to change organisations or pathways within public and related sectors.
The qualifications will also support postgraduates seeking an entirely new career within the public sector, such as management.