Expand+The Postgraduate Diploma in Public Management is a oneyear, part-time programme that analyses public management issues using models and concepts from the social sciences and quantitative disciplines. It is both a stand-alone qualification and the fir...

Hide-The Postgraduate Diploma in Public Management is a oneyear, part-time programme that analyses public management issues using models and concepts from the social sciences and quantitative disciplines. It is both a stand-alone qualification and the first year of the MA programme.

The programme is divided into two semesters, each of which includes three subjects. Each semester is self-contained and the programme begins in both September and January. Students can specialise in a field of particular relevance to them. The programme is delivered through a blend of distance education and intensive weekend seminars at the IPA. Students that do not wish to take all three subjects in any particular semester can choose to study one or two on a phased basis.

Over the course of the year, students receive instruction in areas vital to the management of public services, including the cost-appraisal of projects, how to promote organisational change, public sector financial management and the huge significance of EU institutions and policies for Ireland.

Expand+Semester One (September – December)
Economics
Efficiency and effectiveness in the public sector, project appraisal, taxation, cost-benefit analysis, sources of funds, regulation, risk and expected return, financial policy, capital asset pricing, po...

Hide-Semester One (September – December)
Economics
Efficiency and effectiveness in the public sector, project appraisal, taxation, cost-benefit analysis, sources of funds, regulation, risk and expected return, financial policy, capital asset pricing, portfolio theory, efficient markets and public goods.

Managing Human Resources
Individual differences, motivation theory, group dynamics, communication in organisations, politics and conflict, human resource planning and resourcing, performance appraisal, training and development, corporate culture, organisational change and job design.

Finance
Annual financial statements, discounting and compounding, investment appraisal, cost and management accounting, standard costing, ratio analysis, management of cash, stocks and debtors, business planning and budgeting, auditing, public sector financial management and company valuations.

Semester Two (January – April)

Organisation and Strategy
The nature and role of the State, pressures for change in states, models of policy-making, the limits of rationality, understanding organisations, contingency theory, markets, hierarchies, and networks.

Research Methods
Research strategy and design, sampling, designing questionnaires, depth interviews, random variables, hypothesis testing and mathematical techniques for quantitative testing.

Managing Service Delivery/Managing in Europe
Public service delivery in context, changing demands and challenges, quality management, consumerism, role of evaluation in public service management, devolved management in public service delivery and contracting. Ireland in the global context, economic and monetary union, the EU budget, structural funds, social policy, competition policy and managing in an evolving Europe.