2024-2025 / SPOL9216-1

Managing public services

Duration

30h Th

Number of credits

 Master in political sciences : general, professional focus in public administration (Even years, organized in 2024-2025) 5 crédits 
 Master in political sciences : general (60 ECTS) (Even years, organized in 2024-2025) 5 crédits 

Lecturer

Damien Piron

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

This course examines contemporary modes of management of public services in Belgium and their evolution under the effect of New Public Management (NPM). These aspects are analysed in the light of both international literature and examples relating to the different levels of power in Belgium.

This course is divided into two parts.

The first part, which corresponds to the oral course, examines the theoretical content of the reforms promoted by the NPM and its avatars on the basis of three transversal dimensions: organisation, finance and human resources management.

The second part (which runs in parallel to the first one, in order to feed it) is dedicated to the empirical analysis of a public administration, based on an in-depth case study. It culminates in a written report and its presentation to a jury made up of experts.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

At the end of this course, you will be able :

  • to critically expose the theoretical postulates, as well as the reforms and instruments promoted by the NPM and its avatars in the three transversal dimensions studied (organisation, finance and HRM);
  • to illustrate their implementation in Belgium, as well as in the reviewed cases;
  • to conduct an in-depth transversal empirical analysis of the management methods of a public body in Belgium.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

  • Lectures based on interactive ex cathedra presentations;
  • In-depth field analysis through an empirical case study.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Face-to-face course

Course materials and recommended or required readings

  • PowerPoint slideshow;
  • Weekly readings
Sent via the intranet.

Exam(s) in session

January exam session

- Remote

written exam

August-September exam session

- Remote

written exam

Written work / report

Continuous assessment


Further information:

First session:

  • continuous assessment (50%);
  • essay to be presented to a jury (50%).
Second session: essay (100%).

Work placement(s)

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

Contacts

Professor: damien.piron@uliege.be

Association of one or more MOOCs