Executive Training Programme: Policy Challenges for the UK Public Service

Initiated and supported by leading personalities of government and academia, this executive education short course offers participants the ability to develop a good understanding of what drives reform within the UK Public Sector, discuss the merits and limitations of national approaches with the global context, explore the concept of the state in the UK context and contrast with other perspectives and understand how to place public service reform into the context of 'wicked issues',  such as climate change.

To help inform our civil servants, diplomats, government officials and other senior executives, this executive education course seeks to deepen participants' knowledge and understanding of Drivers and Impediments to reforming the UK’s Public Service.

The module’s topics include:

• The UK Public Administration.
• The reform of UK Public Administration in a European Context.
• Climate Change and Sustainability Policies in Government.
• The United Kingdom public service: Future Human Resource Challenges.
• The future of Global Britain: governance in uncertainty. 
• Skilled immigration after Brexit.
• The Challenge of Regulatory Reform.

Click here to view the draft agenda for this course. 

Register your details for further information about upcoming online Q&As for applicants and to be kept up to date with any new developments.

Title:"Drivers and impediments to reforming the UK Public Service".

The International School for Government (ISfG), is offering an intensive 3-day face to face learning experience for public policy executives in London. Initiated and supported by leading personalities of government and academia, this programme offers participants the ability to develop a good understanding of what drives reform within the UK Public Sector, discuss the merits and limitations of national approaches with the global context, explore the concept of the state in the UK context and contrast with other perspectives and understand how to place public service reform into the context of 'wicked issues',  such as climate change.

At the end of the course, participants will have:

1. A good understanding of what drives reform within the UK Public Sector, including central government, the devolved and sub-national government.
2. Explored the challenges and impediments to reform
3. Discuss the merits and limitations of national approaches within the UK’s European and global context
4. To explore the concept of the state in the UK context and contrast with other perspectives
5. To place public service reform into the context of ‘wicked issues’ such as climate change.

The programme is designed for:

• National civil servants and other government officials who aspire to DG level positions,
• Civil servants from European institutions and international organisations,
• Senior diplomats and civil servants from EU member states as well as from other countries, preferably from Eastern partnership countries,
• Executives from private organisations, business associations, and NGOs. 

The module will offer practical insights and a state-of-the-art curriculum, including:

• Expertise: high quality seminars by academics employing various interactive learning formats,
• Dialogue: meetings with leading experts from government, business, and civil society,
• Insights: visits to relevant institutions to gain first-hand insights into their inner workings,
• Public Events: invitation to take part in public discourses and engage with distinguished speakers,
• Peer-learning: participants are co-producers of knowledge, co-designers of the process, and co-creators of the outcome.

Given the high degree of interaction among the group, each module will also provide room for discussion, group work and reflections. All modules will include seminars by academic experts, dialogue sessions with leading practitioners, visits to relevant institutions, networking and group building activities.

Content and speakers correct at time of publishing but subject to change

• Individual London module fee: £2,000
• Discount for KCL staff, alumni & students: £1,900

The application deadline for the individual London module is the 7th of August 2022.