HR9799 - Future Public Services

You will engage in a collaborative learning environment with student peers and invited policymaker and practitioner guests, synthesising learning from both academic and practice literature. Teaching will involve intensive face-to-face workshops with online sessions and self-directed online components. Teaching is centred on theory-based collaborative exploration of leading innovations in policy and practice, with content delivered both by specialist academics and invited practitioners and policymakers from PPM’s networks in government, public and non-profit organisations. You will have the opportunity to engage in critical dialogue with student peers to reflect critically on your own professional practice, and build networks with PPM’s professional colleagues.

You will gain a broad understanding of public service reform through exposure to a wide range of cases, before specialising in an area closest to your own professional practice. You will be supported to undertake an applied, theory-driven exploration of one leading innovation in partnership with a practice-based or policy organisation. This multifaceted approach will develop not only your specialist knowledge and analytical skills, but also encourages you to grow your imagination, build professional networks, and develop your critical engagement with your own work.

A robust digital learning platform supports your studies by offering access to recorded sessions, interactive quizzes, and discussion forums for peer-to-peer exchange within your cohort. Optional office hours and guided independent study sessions provide personalized support from experienced tutors, ensuring that every learning need is met.

Your learning will be guided by experienced module tutors and supported by dedicated programme leaders and academic mentors, ensuring expert advice is always available. You will be supported in both collaborative and independent study, with resources such as recorded lectures, curated reading materials, and peer discussion groups that help reinforce key concepts.

Your engagement on campus will be hosted by the Public Policy and Management (PPM) research group, a hub of 35+ academics, fellows and professionals engaged in innovative, future-focussed public service reform. PPM’s membership, professional networks and research partners will provide an enriching, collaborative learning environment which blends academic theory with practice-based insight.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
• [MLO 1] Demonstrate your knowledge of and critical understanding of the key concepts, models and theories in relation to the topics and themes covered in the module [PLO 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6]
• [MLO 2] Identify the opportunities and challenges relating to the changing nature leadership/management practices and their application across organisational contexts. [PLO 2, 3, 5, 6]

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

• [MLO 3] Present a case analysis drawing on relevant theory and to present a critical evaluation of current practice and implications for future practice [PLO 2, 5, 6]
• [MLO 4] Demonstrate critical self-reflection based on critical incidents that demonstrate competence and awareness of personal leadership impact [PLO 1, 3, 5]

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

• [MLO 5] Demonstrate an appreciation of ethical dimensions of your own and others’ leadership practice in your critical reflection [PLO 1, 5, 6]

This module is assessed through a reflective report of 2500 words. This assessment is designed to address all of the Module Learning Outcomes (MLOs) identified.
• Knowledge & Understanding: Demonstrate critical insights into leadership and management practices.
• Intellectual / Professional Skills & Abilities: Apply relevant frameworks to analyse current leadership practices and implications for future practices.
• Personal Values Attributes: Reflect on and integrate your appreciation of ethical dimensions of your own and others leadership practice in your critical reflection.
Formative feedback will be offered throughout the block teaching sessions and in the virtual sessions convened to support your learning and development.

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Public services face unprecedented challenges, from rising demand, chronic underinvestment, declining public trust and global challenges like climate change and economic uncertainty. The ability of our public services to cope with these challenges and other demands of tomorrow will be determined by policy and managerial decisions made today. This module will prepare students as future leaders and innovators in government, public sector and non-profit organisations.

Students will be exposed to the cutting-edge of public service innovation, undertaking a collaborative and theory-based exploration of leading innovations in human-centred and relational public services, place-based and whole-system working, strategic transitions to sustainability and wellbeing, digital transformation and responsible AI. Content will be delivered by leading academics from the Public Policy and Management research group, alongside policymakers and practitioners playing leading roles in these innovations. You will have the opportunity to explore one area of innovation in depth, developing your analytical skills in a collaborative context with a project partner.