Master of Science in Innovation Management in the Public Service

Course details

The MSc in Innovation Management in the Public Service course aims to deliver a range of learning experiences that empower participants to develop their knowledge, understanding and applied skills in the field of innovation and transformational change within the delivery of public services. It aims to challenge participants to move beyond the passive absorption of information through critical analysis and reflection and towards innovative, strategic and transformational management initiatives within their sponsoring organization. This course has been developed by Letterkenny Institute of Technology and the University of Ulster in collaboration with the Office of An Taoiseach and the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister. Participants will be drawn from those identified by their organisation as being charged with implementing strategic change programmes. The selection process will involve an outline of a project plan agreed with their organisation or department. The course is directed at personnel at Principal Officer level or equivalent.

Minimum Academic Entry Requirements

A second-class honours degree or better from a university of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, from the Council for National Academic Awards, the Higher Education and Training Awards Council, or from an institution of another country which has been recognised as being of an equivalent standard; and be in relevant employment within the Public Services

Proposed Modules

• Context of Innovation and Transformation in Government  
•  Change Management in Public Service  
•  Citizen Centric Public Service Delivery
•  Culture in Innovating Organisations
•  Information Sharing, Integration and Inter-Operability  
•  Transformational Leadership and Strategic Management  
•  Driving Innovation in Public Services  
•  Performance Evaluation & Control  
•  Research Project

Learning Outcomes

Graduates will be able to:

• to develop students' critical judgment, intellectual integrity and practical skills at postgraduate level with specific reference to the rapidly evolving disciplines of transformational management in the public sector;
• to be able to evaluate and demonstrate performance improvement across a range of rigorous
• business, fiscal and non-fiscal criteria. to promote a critical awareness of current trends in research activity and to enable the student to be capable of evaluating the likely impact of these on new, emerging and converging applications and techniques.
• to instil critical evaluation in the students through challenging current processes and to use benchmarking techniques to identify best in class ICT-enabled service delivery standards internally, nationally and internationally.
• to engender strategic planning and management skills for sustained transformational change in public service organisations in a citizen centred cultural ethos
• to expose the students to a range of implementation techniques so as to act in a wide and often unpredictable variety of ill defined contexts. To use advanced investigative skills to conduct empirical research and to transfer and apply diagnostic and entrepreneurial skills to improve service delivery systems in a complex, multi-stakeholder and increasingly integrated environment.

Are there follow-up Programmes Available?

• Progression is possible to Research Masters and Doctoral Programmes in Institutes and Universities within Ireland and abroad.

Career Opportunities

• Your in-depth knowledge and practical experience gained in this programme will leave you well placed in your organisation to take up positions with increased responsibility

PREVIOUS PARTICIPANTS

Currently over 150 public service managers from the following departments and agencies are benefiting from our programme;

• An Garda Siochana
• Antrim Borough Council
• Athlone Institute of Technology
• Belfast City Council
• Business Development Services
• Ceann Comhairle
• Courts Service
• Dept of Agriculture & Food
• Dept of Agriculture & Rural Development
• Dept of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
• Dept of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources
• Dept of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
• Dept of Education & Science
• Dept of Education & Training
• Dept of Employment & Learning
• Dept of Enterprise, Trade & Employment
• Dept of Enterprise, Trade & Investment
• Dept of Environment
• Dept of Environment, Social Services & Public Safety
• Dept of Family & Social Affairs
• Dept of Finance & Personnel
• Dept of Health, Social Services & Public Safety
• Dept of Justice
• Dept of Marine Communications & Natural Resources
• Dept of Regional Development
• Dept of Social & Family Affairs
• Dept of Social Development
• Dept of an Taoiseach
• Donegal County Council
• Driver and Vehicle Licensing Northern Ireland
• Health Service Executive
• Institute of Technology, Carlow
• Inter Trade Ireland
• Irish Water Safety
• Isle of Man Dept of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry
• Land & Property Services
• Limerick Institute of Technology
• Local Government Computer Services Board
• National Employment Rights Authority
• Newtownabbey Borough Council
• North Eastern Education and Library Board
• Northern Ireland Civil Service
• Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service
• Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission
• Northern Ireland Office
• Office of Revenue Commissioners
• Office of the Civil Service & Local Appointments
• Office of the First Minister & Deputy First Minister
• Public Achievement
• Property Registration Authority
• Social Security Agency
• Údarás na Gaeltachta