Doctorate in Governance

     | Institute of Governance


Aims and focus
The Doctorate in Governance (DGov) is a unique professional doctoral programme offered jointly by Queen's University Belfast and the Institute of Public Administration , Dublin. Its aim is to enable public policy-makers and public sector managers to develop their knowledge base and critical skills, and apply them to issues relevant to their professional lives. This aim is achieved through a programme of taught study followed by a research project on a subject relevant to the student's work experience and professional formation.

Taught by leading experts, the DGov offers the opportunity to explore how public policy making is evolving as a result of changes to the structure and practice of the state. It provides the means by which policy makers can develop an advanced and policy-relevant understanding of issues and patterns of governance in Ireland (North and South), Great Britain and the rest of Europe. It seeks to attract students from amongst the civil service, local government, health services, security services, other state services and the voluntary sector.

Key advantages of the programme
The DGov programme offers several advantages and benefits:

  • Provides a unique programme of cutting edge, doctoral-level education
  • Taught by an international team of leading experts
  • Offered by reputable academic institutions whose core goals include academic - practitioner dialogue and applied research
  • Focuses on applying academic skills to professional practice
  • Creates opportunities to develop inter-jurisdictional networks
  • Facilitates research into, and discussion of, key issues affecting policy-makers
  • Taught at residential study sessions, to facilitate learning and esprit de corps
  • Provides extensive student support, including an induction workshop, personal tutor, and progress tutorials at each study session
  • Doctoral research project on subject of the student's choice

Teaching methods and course structure
The programme is available on a part-time basis only, and lasts four years. The first two years are devoted to the following taught modules:

  • The Changing Role of the State
  • Devolution and British-Irish Relations
  • Transformation of Governance in Europe
  • The Internationalisation of Legal Frameworks
  • Citizenship and Legitimacy
  • Economics and Governance
  • Organisation and Strategy
  • Evaluation and Resource Management
  • Research Methods and Design

The taught modules are taken at a rate of two per semester, with teaching provided at intensive residential study sessions. These sessions involve lectures, seminars and workshops, and are scheduled over three days for each module. They take place in either Belfast or Dublin. The sessions will offer the opportunity to exchange best practice and construct interjurisdictional networks. Between study sessions, students will be in touch with each other and the Course Director electronically, and will be supported by course material provided in advance of the study sessions using the Queen's On-line system.

The second two years are devoted to a research project of 50,000 words, with training in research methods provided in the first semester of year three.

Fees
Course fees, which include tuition costs and the residential study sessions, are approximately £7,700 per annum.

Eligibility
Applicants must normally have a primary (Bachelor's) degree or equivalent, of at least 2:1 (upper second class honours) standard, and five years' full-time experience of work at an appropriate level in a relevant public service profession. Interviews will be held to ensure suitability.

Further information
The handbook is available in PDF format.

For further information contact Prof Sally Wheeler, s.wheeler@qub.ac.uk  at Queen's, or the course leader at the IPA, Dr Michael Mulreany, mmulreany@ipa.ie .

Information on applying through Queen's University is available online
For information relating to the IPA, please contact Patricia Ryan,  pryan@ipa.ie

Launch
The Doctorate of Governance was launched on Friday 17 January 2003 by Dr Garrett FitzGerald, Chancellor of the National University of Ireland and former Taoiseach. The launch was held in the Old Common Room, Queen's University Belfast.

   Launch of the Doctorate of Governance
   Members of the DGov class on visit to Stormont for meeting with the Speaker