Programme approval 2006/07 PROGRAMME APPROVAL FORM SECTION 1 THE PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION. ECTS equivalent

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1 PROGRAMME APPROVAL FORM SECTION 1 THE PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION 1. Programme title and designation Public Services Policy and Management 2. Final award Award Title Credit ECTS Any special criteria value equivalent MSc Public Services N/A Policy and Management 3. Nested award Award Title Credit ECTS Any special criteria value equivalent N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 4. Exit award Award Title Credit value Public Services Policy and PGDip Public Services Policy and PGCert ECTS equivalent Management Any special criteria Management Level in the qualifications framework M 6. Attendance Full-time Part-time Distance learning Mode of attendance X X N/A N/A N/A Minimum length of programme 1 year 2 years Maximum length of programme 6 years 6 years 7. Awarding institution/body King s College London 8. Teaching institution King s College London 9. Proposing department Department of Management 10. Programme organiser and contact details Prof. Alison Wolf x3724 alison.wolf@kcl.ac.uk 11. UCAS code (if appropriate) n/a 12. Relevant QAA subject benchmark/ n/a professional and statutory body guidelines 13. Date of production of specification January Updated for credit framework July Updated Date of programme review 2017/18

2 16. Educational aims of the programme The MSc offers a distinctive and advanced interdisciplinary programme covering the management (i.e. organisation, funding, administration and delivery) of the public services and the policy of public service provision. It draws on contemporary developments and contemporary advanced research and will address not only the traditional public sector but also the voluntary/not-for-profit sector (NGOs, charities) and quasi-market provision. It examines British experience, especially in areas where the UK has been in the forefront of public services reforms and management policy debate. However, issues will, in all modules, be analysed in a comparative and international context, with reference to different countries approaches and experiences, both historical and contemporary. Seminars with leading individuals involved in British policy reforms and implementation will further strengthen students critical awareness of current problems and insights. The specific aims are to: 1. develop a systematic understanding of how the social sciences contribute to an analysis of public service management and of professional practice in the public services 2. develop a comprehensive understanding from a comparative and international perspective of the political and historical origins of the contemporary public services sector 3. develop a critical awareness in an international context of the nature and origin of contemporary issues in public service provision, including those associated with the new public sector management 4. develop a practical understanding and command of the techniques of research and enquiry required to evaluate critically public service policies and management practice, and current research evidence and advanced scholarship concerning the public services 5. foster the ability to identify, tackle and solve problems relating to public service management, using appropriate methodologies and techniques of research and enquiry 6. encourage a systematic and critical understanding of the connections between issues and evidence in specific areas of provision (including, but not confined to, education, defence, training, health), and of how these are informed by more general social science research 7. foster self-directed and autonomous learning and activity, notably in the use of research and enquiry to interpret and create knowledge in the field of public services 8. foster a range of advanced communication skills, oral and written, of relevance to continuing professional development in academic and professional/applied settings, and including team work, participation in policy debates, and communication of original work in the development and application of knowledge.

3 17. Educational objectives of the programme/programme outcomes The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding and skills in the following areas: 1. a systematic and comprehensive understanding, based on comparative and in-depth study, of the meaning of and rationale for public services, and the possible roles of public provision, finance and regulation (actual and ideal) in their delivery 2. a critical understanding of the contribution of the social sciences to an understanding of issues in public sector management and policy implementation in the public services, and the interaction between them 3. originality in the application of knowledge, as demonstrated in particular by the ability to analyse, theoretically and empirically, a particular issue in public service policy and management, and produce a sustained account of findings: the latter to include a critical evaluation of methodologies and, where appropriate, the advancement of new hypotheses. 4. a capacity to deal with complex issues systematically and creatively, make sound judgements in the absence of complete data, and evaluate the contribution of both quantitative data and qualitative evidence to analysis and judgement 5. self-direction, independent learning ability and autonomy in tackling problems and in planning and implementing tasks at an advanced level 6. ability to communicate complex material clearly and appropriately to a range of audiences and using a range of techniques The programme provides a knowledge and understanding of the following: Contemporary issues in and approaches to public services policy and management as revealed through: 1. rigorous investigation of the contributions of research in the forefront of the social sciences (economics, political science, sociology) to an understanding of the public services in historical and comparative context 2. systematic and critical study of theoretical/research-based knowledge of management in the public services, including the new public sector management, and incorporating in-depth examination of specialist areas 3. study and understanding of methodologies and techniques for evaluation, including quantitative and qualitative research methods Knowledge and understanding 4. examination and critical analysis of ethical issues in the public services, including trade-offs between competing demands, and issues relating to accountability, transparency, efficiency These are achieved through the following teaching/learning methods and strategies: Knowledge and understanding is acquired through a combination of: Knowledge is developed in all four areas through a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, the study of assigned materials from reading lists, library and database searches, and the completion of assignments, including unmarked formative essays, coursework, and the supervised dissertation. The research methods module will develop specific knowledge of appropriate statistical, methodological and evaluative tools for analysis of public service management issues. Understanding is developed in all areas through the reading of assigned and recommended materials associated with the lectures, by self-directed preparation for tutorials and coursework, by formative feedback, by revision work for examinations, and by the preparation of the dissertation under supervision.

4 and equity Assessment: Formative assessment is provided in three ways: (i) Informally, through constructive verbal feedback by tutors on contributions to tutorials and dissertation topic presentations (ii) Formally, but with no direct implications for final performance, through feedback on one or more unmarked essays, prepared halfway through term 1. This essay will be parallel in format to a coursework assignment, and cover the first half of the material covered in core course (normally The Political Economy of the Public Services). Feedback relating primarily to the structuring and development of sustained academic argument at Masters level will be provided. Normally one such essay will be set. In the case of students whose ability to progress is uncertain, a second essay may be assigned. (iii) Formally, through verbal and written feedback on coursework, and through verbal and written feedback during preparation of the dissertation. Intellectual skills: 1. analyse with critical awareness issues in the provision, finance and management of public services, including those where current knowledge is complex, incomplete and /or contested 2. understand the relationship between Skills and other attributes Summative assessment is achieved through coursework, unseen examinations, and the dissertation. Coursework varies from course to course. It usually consists of an analytical essay on a specific question. The dissertation is central to the assessment of the student s understanding both of the taught modules, material from which will inform and be related to the dissertation topic, and, more generally, of the capacity to identify and apply appropriate research methods, integrate and evaluate current knowledge appropriately, and present sound critical judgements based on original work. These are achieved through the following teaching/learning methods and strategies: All modules require students to develop and utilise all these intellectual skills in understanding lecture content and materials, doing assigned reading,

5 theory and practice and its application for research and practical work in the public services 3. scan and organise materials, including both relevant research and methodological literature and primary data; synthesise, with critical awareness, the information therein, utilising theoretical and factual knowledge from the forefront of the discipline 4. evaluate critically, in terms of identifying assumptions, determining appropriate evidence, evaluating statements in the light of the evidence, defining terms carefully, thinking logically, perceiving implicit values and generalising appropriately on the basis of a high level of conceptual understanding in reaching conclusions 5. identify, formulate and apply knowledge and understanding to solve problems associated with the management of the public services Practical skills:.the capacity to: 1. direct one s own learning 2. write analytically and clearly 3. locate, handle, analyse and interpret evidence, quantitative and qualitative 4. act autonomously, most specifically by the conduct of a sustained research project 5. handle assignments precisely and punctually 6. interact effectively with others, both teachers and students, including in small and larger groups 7. structure and present formal verbal presentations preparing materials for tutorials, participating in tutorial discussions, and completing coursework assignments. All modules require students critically to analyse and evaluate the links between theoretical constructs, research methods and empirical evidence in the context of specific issues and problems in the public services. The dissertation contributes in a major way to the development of all of these skills. Guided self-directed learning, drawing on feedback from course teachers and tutors, is the primary strategy. The dissertation in particular develops skills related to the synthesis and critical evaluation of scholarship, methodologies and primary data. Assessment: Intellectual skills are assessed through written coursework, unseen examinations and the dissertation. These are achieved through the following teaching/learning methods and strategies: All modules require students to develop and use all these practical skills: by preparing materials for tutorial presentation and discussion, by participation in tutorial discussions, and by completing coursework. Unseen examinations encourage the development of skills 1, 2 and 3 in particular. The dissertation demands the development and use of all of these skills, notably skill 1, developed under the guidance of the supervisor. Feedback from teachers and tutors, written and verbal, contributes to the development of these skills, by identifying defects and encouraging progress. Assessment: The development of practical skills is assessed formally through coursework, unseen examinations and the dissertation 8. use ICT appropriately for the preparation and presentation of tutorial presentations, coursework and a dissertation

6 D. Generic/transferable skills:- a capacity to: 1. undertake research tasks with minimum guidance, including ability to apply knowledge, systematically analyse evidence, structure presentations and conclusions. 2. apply originality, insight and critical awareness to problems and issues, and identify appropriate problem-solving strategies 3. direct one s own learning and act as an autonomous, reflective, independent and self-critical learner in planning and completing projects at professional level, including skills related to time management, motivation and initiative. 4. operate effectively in group contexts, including team membership and leadership 5. communicate effectively, orally and in writing, drawing on a full range of learning resources, using a range of media widely used in the organisations in which subsequent careers are likely to occur, and reporting on actions and findings clearly and autonomously These are achieved through the following teaching/learning methods and strategies: The development of generic and transferable skills is a component of every course on the programme. Active participation in tutorial discussions encourages students to develop communication and team-working skills (4,5); presentations to tutorial groups and teachers encourage the development of project-related research skills (1), as does work for formal assessment; time management skills are fostered by handling and meeting deadlines for coursework, exam studies and dissertation (3); feedback from teachers and interaction/feedback from tutorial presentations encourage the development of insight, reflective and selfcritical learning and critical thought (2) Assessment: Competence in these generic and transferable skills forms part of the assessment of coursework (3, 5) and the dissertation (1, 2, 3, 5), as does the completion of all programme requirements on time (3). Tutorial presentations and discussion require and develop team skills (4). 18. Statement of how the programme has been informed by the relevant subject benchmark statement(s)/professional and statutory body guidelines The programme s objectives have been drawn up with reference to the framework for Masters level qualifications outlined by the QAA

7 20. Programme structure Please complete the following table and, if appropriate, to include joint, major/minor or other variations Code = code of each module available for the programme Title = title of each module available for the programme, plus its credit level and credit value Status = please indicate whether the module is introductory (I), core (Cr), compulsory (Cp), one or more of however many modules must be passed to progress (CrCp), (P) professional (i.e. module testing skills/competency that has no credit level or value but is a professional body requirement) or optional (O) for each type of programme. For postgraduate programmes use the "single honours" column Pre-requisite/Co-requisite = where appropriate please indicate whether the module is pre-requisite to another module or co-requisite by noting pre or co and the module code that it is pre/co-requisite to. Assessment = please indicate in broad terms the assessment for the module eg written examinations, coursework (Note: the availability of optional modules may vary slightly from year to year; the following are the modules available at the commencement of the programme) Code Title Credit Level Credit Value Status (I, Cr, Cp, CrCp, P, O) for each type of module Single Joint Major/ Minor Pre-requisite/ Co-requisite (Please note the module code) Single Joint Major/ Minor Assessment Full-time Study First Year 7SSMM401 Organisation and Management of the 7 20 Cp No Written examination Public Services 7SSMM402 Economics of Public Management 7 15 Cp No Written examination SMM403 Management, Finance, Accounting and Audit 7 15 O No Written 7SSMM404 Politics, government and regulation in public 7 15 O No Written service management 7SSMM405 Research methods in Public Policy & 7 20 Cp No Coursework Management 7SSMM406 Leadership & People Management in the Public Sector 7 15 O No Written

8 SMM407 Education and training policy and programmes 7 15 O No Written SMM408 Dissertation 7 60 Cr Yes Dissertation SMM409 Key Issues in Health Policy 7 15 O No Written 7SSMM411 New Public Management in the UK Defence Sector 7 20 O No Written 7SSMM412 The Third Sector and the Public Services 7 15 O No Written 7SSMM413 Internship Analytic Report 7 30 O No Coursework (analytic report) 7SSMM414 Leadership & Innovation in the Public 7 15 O No Coursework, reflective journal Services: Theory and Practice 7SSMM415 Strategic Management in Public Services Organisations 7 15 O No Written examination, presentation & discussion 7SSPP001 Policy Process 7 20 Cp No Coursework Social Science modules offered by King s College O No Various London as approved by the programme director Other modules offered by Imperial College as approved O No Various by the programme director If a Masters programme, are level 6 credit levels permitted within the programme? NO Maximum number of credits permitted with a condoned fail (core modules excluded) 30 credits at level 7 with a condoned (Masters) fail mark permitted, dissertation excluded (as per KCL Framework of Credits & Levels for College Awards) Are students permitted to take any additional credits, as per regulations A3? Yes. Students are allowed to select, as options. Social Science modules offered within King s College London as approved by the Programme Director. Are students permitted to take a substitute module, as per regulations A3? Yes

9 Are there are any exceptions to the regulations regarding credits, progression or award requirements? (where relevant the information should also differentiate the particular requirements of pathways within a programme or nested/exit awards) see above Other relevant information to explain the programme structure Please note that new students enrolling on the information provided on this section of the PAF will have these regulations stipulated throughout their programme of study. The only exception to this will be if there are changes made by Professional, Regulatory or Statutory Bodies that are noted to this programme. n/a 20. Marking criteria The College generic criteria for assessment of postgraduate work apply to the assessment of this programme

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