MPA Applied Studies

Module title	MPA Applied Studies
Module code	POLM014M
Academic year	2025/6
Credits	60
Module staff	Dr Stephen Greasley (Convenor)

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks	10	10	4

Number students taking module (anticipated)	7

Module description

How can public administrators use evidence to inform policy and practice? How and to what extent can practitioners draw lessons from other countries to inform their own country’s administrative system? In this module you will consider these questions, drawing on a mix of lectures, seminar discussion and critical personal reflection. You will also, under supervision, research a specific topic which is of benefit to your future career and, where applicable, your employer. A further aim is to enable you to understand and critically evaluate British public administration through a programme of visits to local and regional institutions and a series of guest lectures by academics and practitioners.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module is designed to accommodate the needs of cohort students from international public sector authorities. It is part of the 21 month MPA with Applied Studies programme.

The module aims to deepen your understanding of how research and evidence can be used to inform public administration practice, whilst acknowledging the political, practical and professional challenges of doing so. By the end of the module, you will also have a deeper understanding of the challenges facing UK government and how lessons may be drawn from governments around the world.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

1. critically compare public administration systems and/or practices between different jurisdictions and demonstrate this by analysing real world examples;
2. Identify examples of 'best practice' and evaluate their transferability to other jurisdictions;
3. Demonstrate critical awareness of the drivers for, and varieties of, policy transfer
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the range of sources and types of evidence available to public administrators in professional practice
5. Show awareness of the political and professional challenges of evidence-based policy

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

6. Appraise and critically evaluate government reports, public policy and institutional frameworks;
7. Synthesise and comment critically on a corpus of academic literature;
8. Link public administration concepts and theories to real world examples;
9. Compare and contrast practices and institutions in different political systems

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

10. Undertake independent/self-directed learning (with effective time management) to achieve consistent, proficient and sustained attainment;
11. Refine oral presentation skills and presentational effectiveness; and
12. Reflect on the process of learning and evaluate personal strengths and weaknesses.

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

Evidence and decision-making in the public sector

The structure and challenges of British government

Practitioner guest speakers

The challenges of policy transfer and learning

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
60	540	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	22	11 x 2 hour whole class seminars/lectures
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	12	12 hours group/individual supervisory meetings (6 x 2 hours)
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activities	10	10 hours guest lectures (5 x 2 hours)
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities	6	Half day institutional visit
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	10	Policy analysis activity
Guided Independent Study	60	Preparation for seminars including reading & note taking
Guided Independent study	40	Writing reflective logs
Guided Independent study	35	Preparation for supervision
Guided Independent Study	385	Production of report, including reading, research, drafting & editing
Guided Independent Study	20	Preparation for summative presentation including audio-visual materials

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Feedback on Reflective Learning Log	500 words	1-9	Oral and written
Feedback on report drafts	1,000 words draft chapters	1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10	Oral and written

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
85	0	15

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Report	60	9,000 words	1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10	Written
Final Reflective Learning Log	25	2,500 words	1-10, 12	Written feedback upon completion
Presentation of report	15	15 minutes	1-9, 11	Written

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Report (9,000 words)	Report (9,000 words) (60%)	1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10	August/September reassessment period
Final Reflective Learning Log (2,500 words)	Reflective Learning Log (2,500 words) (25%)	1-10,12	August/September reassessment period
Presentation of report (15 minutes)	Individual Presentation (15 minutes) (15%)	1-9, 11	August/September reassessment period

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Biddle, N. 2017. Mixed methods for Policy Evaluation. London: Sage. (video)

Hadjiisky, M., Pal, L.A. Walker, C. 2017. Public Policy Transfer. Edward Elgar Publishing.

Stoker, G. and Evans, M. (eds) 2016. Evidence-Based Policy Making in the Social Sciences: Methods that Matter. Bristol : Policy Press.

UK Treasury 2022. The Green Book.

For the research report, the reading list will depend on the student’s topic, but will be guided by the module co-ordinator.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

Indicative web based resources e.g. ELE:

The module will be supported by ELE materials, including the reflective learning log

Key words search

Applied Studies, Politics, Public Administration, Evaluation, Evidence-Based Policy

Credit value	60
Module ECTS	30
Module pre-requisites	This module is available only to students on the MPA with Applied Studies Programme who must have completed 180 credits of MPA modules.
Module co-requisites	None
NQF level (module)	7
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	01/10/2010
Last revision date	14/04/2025