Potsdam Center for Policy and Management (PCPM) Master of Public Management (MPM) Public Policy and Administration Stream Global Public Policy Stream GeoGovernance Stream at the University of Potsdam The Potsdam Center for Policy and Management (PCPM) The University of Potsdam, a young and dynamic uni- Against this background, the “Potsdam Center for Policy versity founded in 1991, has earned itself a reputation and Management“ (PCPM) sets out to promote advanced as one of the leading competence centers for gover- study and research as well as academic training projects nance and the public sector. A survey by the German for mid-career professionals and executives who work at Association for Political Science has rated the University the interface between politics and administration. of Potsdam one of the three most influential German uni- versities and research institutions in the area of policy The objectives of the PCPM are: research and administrative sciences. The Center for Higher Education Development ranks the Masters and • The professional coordination and management of PhD programs offered here among the very best in interdisciplinary programs and projects in the three key Europe. areas of Education and Training, Research and Con- sultancy These programs include: • The provision of expertise for curricula, research and • The undergraduate degree program in Politics and advanced policy advice based on comparative analy- Management (BA Politik und Verwaltung) sis of public management and governance and the 2 • The postgraduate Master in Public Policy and Manage- principles of “good governance“ ment (MA Verwaltungswissenschaft) • The EAPAA-accredited international postgraduate • The development of an international network of aca- program in Public Policy and Management for public demics, experts and practitioners committed to public sector professionals taught in English: the Master affairs of Public Management (MPM) with three specializa- tion streams The “PCPM Research and Teaching“ division includes • The German-French Master of European Gover- research, undergraduate and postgraduate programs as nance and Administration (MEGA) well as a doctoral program. Postgraduate and externally funded programs are coordinated and operated by the Reflecting its growing strengths, the University has de- “PCPM Executive Education“ division at the University- fined “Public Policy and Management“ as one of its owned non-profit UP Transfer GmbH. Focus Areas originally initiated by several pro- fessors at the University’s Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences, whose participation in va- rious national and international research and consultancy projects has provided the impetus for its development. www.mpm-potsdam.de Master of Public Management Governments and public institutions all over the world Designed to meet the demand for well trained ma- are being increasingly challenged to provide high-quality nagerial staff, the curriculum content of the post- services and to respond swiftly and more closely to citi- graduate Master of Public Management (MPM) program, zens’ needs. The complexity of organizational and policy offered since 1999, is divided into three specialization change requires professionals to have a new understan- streams: ding of public service issues and a broad range of skills. Particularly in developing and transition countries, public • The specialization in Public Policy and Administration administration requires decision-makers with interdiscip- (PPA) is designed to equip public sector professionals linary skills who are capable of solving problems in with the analytical and practical skills required to meet management and communication, thereby helping to society‘s need for improved efficiency and effective- drive public administration reform. ness in public management. Broader than the conventional curriculum for public • With a similar orientation, the Global Public Policy (GPP) administration studies and law, the interdisciplinary pro- specialization provides the framework to meet the gram incorporates the study of global public policy, public challenges of managing public policies that transcend administration, public management, geogovernance, national borders. international political economy, and business management 3 skills. The program takes a multidisciplinary approach • The specialization in GeoGovernance (GG) provides a and draws on the expertise of faculty members from the science-based additional qualification for professio- disciplines of Political Science, Public Administration, So- nals working at the interface of administrative and ciology, Public Management, Business Administration, environmental policy. Students will be able to under- Economics, Public Finance and Law. Students are stand the complex interactions between natural encouraged to reflect on public management issues change processes and critical social and political- through a wide range of perspectives. administrative processes, and develop leadership skills that will equip them for a rapidly changing, globalized environment. Specialization Streams Public Policy and Administration (PPA) As public administration is modernizing world-wide, the significant repercussions in others. Public policy issues demand for qualified executive and managerial staff is (e.g. protection of refugees and of the environment) are increasing. The complexity of organizational and policy becoming increasingly “transnationalized” and require change requires professionals to have a new understan- joint management by governments, the private sector, ding of public service issues along with a broad range of and the citizens concerned. At the same time, globaliza- skills. Particularly in developing and transition countries, tion had a considerable impact on the ability of national public administration requires decision-makers with inter- governments to deal with what were previously purely disciplinary skills who are capable of solving problems “domestic” policies. These trends may give rise to new in management and communication, thereby helping to problems in governance, but eventually may also lead to achieve public administration reform. better government. The specialization in “Public Policy and Administration“ Today’s rapidly changing international policy environ- within the MPM program offers professionals academi- ment not only requires the need for public sector and cally sound, practice-oriented training for public policy non-profit professionals to have a new understanding of 4 and management. The stream combines business ma- international cooperation in public policy, but also to have nagement with social sciences perspectives and prepa- stronger interpersonal and communication skills, both res participants for interdisciplinary approaches to con- political and managerial. Our specialization in “Global ceptual assessment, implementation, and the adaptation Public Policy” takes an interdisciplinary approach to of international management models to the specific successfully address the challenges of global interdepen- circumstances of the public sector. dence and how to be prepared for them. Stream courses will focus on instruments and techniques Building on the core curriculum of the Master of Public of financial, HR and quality management in public sector Management (MPM) program, the Global Public Policy organizations. Students will be able to describe, analyze stream extends the management training to the subject and apply relevant management and policy instruments area of global public policy. Faculty members and stu- to typical public sector decision problems, assess their dents will work together on the analysis and design of function and impact, and identify their strengths and international policies and options for implementation. weaknesses. Students will receive a solid overview in international po- litics, international development and international organi- zations and draw on the latest approaches taught by the Global Public Policy (GPP) faculty members and experts invited from international organizations. Meeting the challenges posed by the internationalization of policies and economies as well as the changing demands MPM Global Public Policy graduates will be able to analy- of citizens, requires political and economic leaders to re- ze policy problems beyond the nation state and contribu- think their roles and act appropriately. Increased economic te effectively to the design and formulation of “real world” and political interdependence worldwide has meant that policies that deal with cross-border problems. events and decisions in one part of the world can have GeoGovernance (GG) Countries all over the world are increasingly challenged The GeoGovernance stream offers students a scientifi- by the devastating impacts of climate change and natural cally rigorous, postgraduate qualification for professio- disasters. Dealing with these issues in a timely, effective nals working at the interface of administrative and envi- and efficient manner requires – probably more than ever ronmental policies. Students will be able to understand before – better public administration and better gover- the complex interactions between natural change proces- nance, i.e. a highly capable and professional workforce ses and core social and political-administrative proces- as well as sound public sector management. Moreover, ses, and develop leadership skills that will equip them for as evidenced quite clearly in global environmental poli- a rapidly changing