Public Management

Commences: September 2024.

The cost of the programme is €3,600 per annum (includes all matriculation and examination fees), payable in one or two instalments.

Application Deadline: September 2024.

How to Apply:
1. Go to www.ipa.ie.
2. Download the programme application form and complete it in full.
3. Email that form, along with all the items below, to undergrad@ipa.ie, with the subject heading: Application for: Name of Programme. The items below should be scanned and included as attachments in this email:
- A passport-type photograph.
- A scan of your passport, driver’s license, or birth certificate.
- The fee for the programme or confirmation, including a PO number, that fees will be pad by an employer.
- A scan of your Leaving Certificate or relevant qualification (only if you are under 21).

APPLICATIONS CANNOT BE PROCESSED UNLESS ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTATION IS INCLUDED.

The Programme
This degree is a four–year, part–time programme that provides a comprehensive examination and analysis of subjects critical to contemporary public management. A highly–regarded qualification, it offers instruction in, among other subjects, law, economics, politics and social policy. It includes two interim awards: Certificate in Public Management (Year 1) and the Diploma in Public Management (Year 2). Students take four subjects in each year.

Is this Programme for You?
Yes, if you work in the wider public service and would like a broad understanding of the subjects that determine public management. Many students work in the civil service but the programme also attracts students from the local and voluntary sectors, the healthcare sector and from state–sponsored bodies. Some were unable to pursue a third–level qualification at an earlier point in their career and now wish to do so while remaining in full–time employment.

INTERIM AWARDS:
Year One: Certificate in Public Management.
Year Two: Diploma in Public Management.

Year 1 – Certificate in Public Management:
The first year is both a stand–alone qualification – Certificate in Public Management – and the first stage in the four–year degree programme.

Economics:
This introductory–level course explains the main theories and principles of economics. No prior knowledge of economics is presumed. The course covers both micro and macroeconomics and addresses such topics as the laws of supply and demand, how market prices are reached and competition.

Law
Public servants must understand the fundamentals of the legal system. This course focuses on the fundamentals, explaining the Irish legal system and the main provisions of the Irish Constitution. Students explore, among other topics, the structure of the court system, practice and procedure in the courts and the rights that the Constitution affords citizens.

Politics, Government and Public Administration
This course is divided into two parts. The first is largely concerned with the institutions of government and the Irish political system. The Irish institutions and systems are compared to those in other countries. The second part of the course focuses on Ireland’s system of public and social administration, explaining how the civil service is organised and the management of social welfare services, healthcare, education and housing.

Principles of Management
This course provides a solid grounding in the key principles of modern management theory. It explains the origins of contemporary management science and details the most important elements of management, including leadership, HRM and change management.

Year 2 – Diploma in Public Management:
The second year is both a stand–alone qualification – Diploma in Public Management – and the second stage of the four–year degree programme.

Economics
This course builds on the fundamentals of economics explored in the Certificate year by exploring both micro and macroeconomics in greater depth. Students will learn about the economic rules and theories that relate to the operation of markets, the distribution of wealth, the allocation of resources, labour supply and inflation.

Organisation and Management
An organisation’s structure is a determining factor in its operation. This course explores current thinking on organisational structure and the role of management in the creation and maintenance of the most appropriate structure. Among the specific topics addressed are the different schools of organisation theory, the design of effective organisations and the significance of the internal culture to an organisation’s work.

European Studies
Ireland’s membership of the EU is plainly of huge importance to public management. This course explains the key facts of EU membership, addressing the history of the EU, the power and responsibilities of its institutions, the decision-making process, key EU policies, and different perspectives on the EU’s development and reform.

Social Policy
This course explores key areas of social service provision in Ireland, including health, education, housing and social welfare, as well as the development of the welfare state in Ireland and internationally. It also reviews the role of the voluntary sector, equality policy, and ‘life cycle’ policies, including policies addressing children, older people and those with a disability. The module covers trends in social services and compares the approach in Ireland with that in other countries.

Year 3:
Economics
This year’s course focuses on public sector economics, a field that is critical to public servants at various grades. The topics addressed include economic growth, forecasting and planning, the finances of central and local government and the principles of taxation.

Financial Management
This course provides students with a clear understanding of standard accounting techniques and the proper management of an organisation’s finances. Designed for those with no background in accounting, it addresses, among other things, double–entry book-keeping, the measurement of profits and the regulations governing financial statements and disclosure.

Administrative Law
Administrative law is a public law subject that deals with the lawful exercise of power by government and state agencies. It seeks, in short, to establish the manner in which public bodies can affect the lives of citizens. Students will examine the laws regarding the civil service, the separation of powers, judicial review and legal compliance.

Human Resource Management
This course covers several specific topics in the HRM field, including manpower planning, performance management, managing change, health and safety issues, employment legislation and strategic management.

Year 4
Economics
The study of economics in the final year of the degree turns to economic policy and policy analysis. The course explores such topics as industrial and regional economic policy, economic integration, globalisation and issues around financing and control.

Strategic Management
Strategic management is the study of how organisations meet their objectives and effectively respond to change. This course focuses on strategic management in the Irish public sector, but it covers concepts common to both the public and private sectors.

Public Policy–Making
This module examines different ways of understanding policy-making processes, the different influences, and the actors involved. It reviews discrete ‘stages’ within the policymaking process, such as framing and agenda setting, policy formulation, and implementation, as well as themes such as public service reform. Significant attention is paid to the different influences and constraints that exist on policy making and the implementation of policy, such as the role played by ideology, globalization, and international relations.

Employee Relations and Law
This course addresses the key topic of employee relations, examining how such relations can determine an organisation’s success or otherwise. It considers the main provisions of employment law, participation and partnership in the workforce, health and safety legislation and managerial strategies for healthy employee relations.

Each year of the degree is assessed by means of assignments and final examinations.

All Correspondence and enquiries should be address to:
Undergraduate Office,
Whitaker School of Government and Management,
Institute of Public Administration,
57-61 Lansdowne Road,
Dublin D04 TC62, Ireland
Telephone: +353 (01) 240 3600
Email: undergrad@ipa.ie
www.ipa.ie

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