Public Policy and Management MA

This module explores and compares a range of approaches to analysing and evaluating governance and policy in relation to questions and challenges of sustainable development. These approaches are introduced through a range of case studies relating to policy-making in contrasting governance contexts at international, national and local scale. 

This module is designed to develop knowledge and understanding of policy research, a critical appreciation of research design and data collection and analysis methods, and skills in designing and directing research to inform public policy. The module is delivered in two parts. The first part (Semester 1) includes taught sessions introducing you to the principles of quantitative and qualitative approaches, research design and the ethics and politics of policy research. In the second part (Semester 2), you can carry out primary or secondary research, drawing and critically reflecting on expertise developed in Semester 1. Supported by your supervisor and engaging with relevant academic and policy literature, you will research a policy problem/program of your choice, gather and analyse primary/secondary data, synthesise findings, reach conclusions supported by evidence, and present your findings in a research report.

By exploring a range of case studies in various policy areas and locations around the globe, this module examines what public policy is, how it operates, where it goes wrong, what consequences and impacts it has and how it might be improved. After a series of three broad-based introductory classes, the module will adopt a Policy Lab approach, engaging you (probably organised into varying break-out groups) in detailed analysis of policy options and their effects on topics to be agreed during the opening three weeks. The module will thereby test your ability to evaluate option setting processes and the effects (intentional and otherwise) public policy can have and articulate how to set criteria to assess its outcomes and analyse the extent to which initial objectives have been realized or not and with what consequences. You will use the sessions to learn how to diagnose the policy issues to be addressed and critically assess the impact of agenda-setting, policymaking processes, while synthesising relevant ideas and data.

This module will ground you in approaches to procurement, impact assessment, project management and delivery through a series of case studies drawing on international, current and recent examples from a range of policy fields. It will be delivered flexibly, allowing you to nominate topics for study and will draw upon study visits and expert guest speakers.

In this module, you will consider the factors that influence social change campaigning in the context of current campaigns around the world and historical developments of campaigning techniques and practices. You will apply a critical analysis of concepts such as power, theories of change, ethics, diversity, innovation, media representation, narrative, and framing to practical scenarios and topical campaigns. This module requires you to monitor and critically evaluate practice in the UK and / or internationally.

This module explores and assesses new forms of citizen participation across the world. Recent decades have witnessed increasing experimentation and institutionalisation of democratic participation organised and sponsored by both public authorities as part of formal decision making (e.g. citizens’ assemblies, participatory budgeting) and by activists, often in opposition to public authorities (e.g. protest camps, social forums, community organising). In both cases, these democratic innovations aim to increase and deepen citizen engagement in democratic politics. The module provides an overview of developments in democratic theory and political and social science that help to interpret these exciting democratic practices. Detailed engagement with cases from around the world, and evaluation of their outcomes in terms of impact and governance, is promoted. 

This module provides background on environmental policy and climate change. It sets out the theoretical framework to start with, and then the international context for sustainable development, energy efficiency and climate change. It explores implications for the built environment in a range of development contexts, includes analysis of key policy concerns and planning and design responses comparatively across different institutional and cultural contexts. It also reviews techniques for assessing the impacts of development and examines the role that effective environmental strategies and policies in planning and related fields can pursue to reach sustainable development.

This module examines critical concepts and ideas related to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) relevant to public policy and management. The module will present a ‘concepts-indicators’ model which will incorporate and highlight the essential theories of ethics and ethical standards in contemporary public policy contexts. You will evaluate important concepts linked to ethics and how these might apply to professional leadership in public and private sectors. Methodologically, the module is designed to encourage critical thinking and awareness of the evolution of attitudes, behaviours, and operational methodologies, thereby fostering the development and perpetuation of a diverse and inclusive organisational culture. The module will assess themes related to ethics, diversity, and equality through the lens of key legislation, policies, strategies and academic literature and research. The module will enable you to review, analyse, and evaluate both historical and recent high-profile cases where lessons have been learned, and critique the recommendations made for improving public policy around EDI.

This module is designed to equip postgraduate you with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate and influence policy within the context of just development. The focus on case studies and practical examples ensures that you can apply your learning to real-world contexts, making the policy dimension a central and prominent aspect of the module. Upon completion of this module, you will gain interdisciplinary skills to understand how global challenges, as framed by the Sustainable Development Goals, arise from a combination of social, political, economic, and ecological forces. Through case study analyses of various country contexts, you will explore how global policy challenges manifest locally and how local experiences are influenced by global forces. You will explore the role of policy in addressing global challenges while promoting social justice and sustainability. This will include evaluating the effectiveness of different policy approaches and understanding the complexities of policy implementation in diverse contexts.

In recent decades private security companies have made inroads into the provision of criminal justice services. Notable have been the management of private prisons and the employment of private contractors patrolling public space. This has been a global phenomenon with the activities of the same private security corporation often straddling the global north and south. This module examines the nature of privatisation and the factors that have led to its growth in recent decades and deals with the issues of legitimacy, efficiency and human rights which inevitably arise.

The focus of this module is on fundamentals of energy economics, global and national energy issues and energy policies to address energy transition and climate change. This module will explore a number of key themes and conceptual issues. These will include: an analysis of the global energy demand and supply, issues such as energy access, energy poverty, energy efficiency, energy investment, energy security and related challenges, energy policies for renewable energy and demand-side and supply-side energy policies. It will also provide you in depth knowledge of the principal drivers of demand and supply for energy and build an awareness of common approaches to demand, supply and their limitations. It will cover energy policies to increase innovation, investment and integration of renewable energy sources in the energy system.