| CODE | PPL3091 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Public Management | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||
| EQF/MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Policy, Politics and Governance | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | Public Management provides students with the theoretical and practical foundations necessary to understand and manage the machinery of the public sector. The study-unit examines how government institutions function, how public resources are administered, and how public managers translate policy decisions into effective service delivery. The study-unit explores key themes through the perspectives of major public management theories, including Traditional Public Administration, New Public Management (NPM), and New Public Service. It examines the evolution of public administration from rule-based bureaucratic models to results-oriented and participatory approaches. Core principles such as good governance, ethical leadership, accountability, and performance management are analysed in relation to public sector reforms at both national and international levels. Emphasis is placed on the interrelationship between public management and public policy, demonstrating how effective management practices, based on sound theoretical frameworks, enhance policy implementation, strengthen institutional integrity, and contribute to public value creation. Students will engage with case studies, policy frameworks, and management models relevant to the public sector, equipping them with analytical, managerial, and decision-making skills essential for leadership in government, non-profit organisations, and policy environments Study-Unit Aims: The aim of this study-unit is to: - Develop an understanding of the principles, processes, and functions of public management within the context of governance and public policy; - Equip students with the conceptual tools to critically analyse how public institutions operate and how management practices influence policy implementation and service delivery; - Understand and apply public management theories and models to real-world policy challenges to improve effectiveness, accountability, and responsiveness in the public sector; - Promote ethical and value-driven approaches to public management and decision-making in public institutions; - Prepare students for professional roles in the public sector, non-governmental organisations, and policy-oriented environments by developing both analytical and managerial competencies. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the key concepts, theories, and evolution of public management as a discipline; - Explain the relationship between public management, governance, and the policy-making process; - Analyse the institutional frameworks grounded in traditional Public Administration, New Public Management and New Public Service, their functions, and intergovernmental dynamics that shape public sector management; - Evaluate the impact of managerial reforms, new public management approaches, and performance-based systems in the public sector; - Understand the ethical, political, and administrative contexts that influence public managers’ decision-making and accountability. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Apply management principles and tools to improve policy implementation and public service delivery; - Critically assess policy and management challenges, and propose innovative, evidence-based solutions; - Demonstrate effective problem-solving, analytical, and strategic decision-making skills relevant to public sector contexts; - Communicate policy and management ideas clearly in both written and oral forms suitable for academic and professional audiences; - Show teamwork, leadership, and ethical reasoning in managing initiatives; - Integrate theoretical knowledge with practice through case studies and applied research. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Presentation | ||||||||||||
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| LECTURER/S | Mario Grixti Anne Marie Thake |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2026/7. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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