SDA Bocconi: a new master to develop the skills of public sector managers

At all levels, from local to global, public governance is facing increasingly complex challenges and thus public sector managers are required to have more structured and targeted skills. To meet the need to develop more specialized skills in public managers SDA Bocconi school of management is launching a new master, the Master of Public Administration (MPA).

The one-year full-time program will be taught in English and aims to develop specialized knowledge and personal qualities for professionals who want to pursue a managerial career in governmental and non-governmental organizations, international institutions, both locally and globally, as well as private businesses working with the public sector.

"The MPA is specifically designed for professionals in governments, institutions and public affairs who today have to manage increasingly complex issues. Our program provides the opportunity to confront these management and policy challenges with the right skills set and will encourage more efficient managers to 'aim higher", thanks also the global professional network they will be able to lean on," explains Stephen Osborne, Director of the MPA.

The MPA will cover all aspects of public sector management using diversified and innovative methodologies with a teaching method that mixes lectures, practical classes, group work and seminars with an emphasis on discussion and problem solving. During the year students will work on aspects such as Public budgeting, Policy analysis, Project management, Managing people and Performance management and follow seminars on topics such as Public speaking and Ethics & Citizenship.

One phase will depend upon the choice of two concentrations from: City management, International development & governance, International public & non-profit management and Cultural heritage (in collaboration with SDA Bocconi's new Master in Arts Management & Administration).

Students will also work on their project management and fundraising skills and develop a campaign to raise funds for a scholarship for the following edition of the MPA.

The first edition will begin in October 2015 and applications close on May 15. For information: www.sdabocconi.it/mpa

"In order to proactively govern the complexity of the public sector today we must overcome the strictness of the bureaucratic model and adopt approaches that are more flexible, with more business-oriented skills, that are able to react more quickly to changes in the external environment. Managers need to be able to effectively manage financial resources, make performance assessments and motivate people and manage innovation," explains Greta Nasi, Director of the Public Management & Policy Department at SDA Bocconi. "We need managers who can read their environment, understand the demands and needs of citizens, and translate this into public services."