Across the globe, public servants need to be more forward-thinking and tech-savvy than ever. Complete with contemporary topics and the latest thinking from around the world, our 8-week, 100% online short courses – or Postgraduate Microcredentials – will help you to progress in this dynamic and evolving field. Covering topics such as leadership, governance and performance management, each postgraduate microcredential is designed to help hone your skills in a particular area of public services. Not only are they a quicker way to boost your CV, but they also teach you the skills you need to support your career objectives and continuing professional development (CPD) – without the commitment of long-term study. At the end of your 8-week course, you will receive an official University of Birmingham Postgraduate Microcredential certificate worth 10 credits, and a transcript highlighting your new credential to both current and prospective employers.

This course will provide insight and understanding to create and plan the delivery of hugely challenging Public Sector policies successfully. It analyses the many, and often conflicting strategic priorities within the public sector, and how to reach a compromise, so that a cohesive and coherent policy can be created and implemented. We discuss the fundamental requirements of a structured, strategic planning process. However, it is essential to remember that strategic planning takes places in a wider political context, which is often in a constant state of flux, and subject to a plethora of interests and influences, so such strategy creation cannot be carried out in isolation. Understanding, appreciation and consultation of stakeholders is essential to the successful outcome of a policy, so that we consider in depth how to achieve this. However, a policy cannot be implemented without resources which need to be assessed, evaluated and matched to requirements to achieve the outcomes required, which we study in this course.

This course will provide the knowledge and tools to understand the financial management of resources in the public sector. It also provides an understanding of the concepts and strategy relating to the effective management of public sector finances. You will learn: - the fundamentals of managing funds in the public interest. - that budgetary control provides a formal basis for achieving specific plans. - Project financial management is the methodology of managing resources effectively to achieve a project's objectives. - that Strategic financial planning assists organizations to achieve value for money. - that Financial management is the process of using funds effectively, efficiently and transparently by a combination of procedures, methods, rules of conduct and standards. - the key challenges in the financial management of the public sector. The course will wrap with a summary of the key learning points, followed by an action planning exercise with a view to apply the acquired knowledge and skills immediately upon your return to work. Post-course support is also available in relation to the implementation of your action plan, up to six (6) months following course completion.

By attending this course, you will explore the role that is required of end-to-end service managers in a public authority. You will: - understand how public services contribute to broader community objectives of Improving Public Health and Well-Being. - be able to successfully lead the whole service and deliver its outcomes. - be able to ensure the workforce is making an effective contribution to service delivery. - be able to successfully manage public services to achieve service excellence and community objectives. - understand Budget management for operational managers. - be able to make a step-change in service performance. - appreciate the role that stakeholders play in defining public service value for money. The course will wrap with a summary of the key learning points, followed by an action planning exercise with a view to apply the acquired knowledge and skills immediately upon your return to work. Post-course support is also available in relation to the implementation of your action plan, up to six (6) months following course completion.

This course gives deep insight into the complex and interrelated factors which help or hinder the successful implementation of Public Sector policy. The large majority of Public Sector policies do not deliver their intended outcomes. They often go over budget; are extraordinarily late; have unintended consequences; do not achieve their desired level of service; are irrelevant; are not wanted or just fizzle out. The course provides understanding of how and why public sector strategy can work. It provides tools, techniques and templates on how to understand needs and requirements, and then manage influences and interests, to ensure successful policy outcomes. It focuses on how to create, implement, evaluate and adjust policy as it is progresses. We analyse the key factors required for successful implementation at the global, national and local levels. Risks and crises are ever-present in the political arena and we discuss how to analyse, anticipate, evaluate and react to these and other specific crises which might arise at any time and ensure they do not deflect from providing the quality services expected and required.

By attending this course, non-finance staff who need to extend their understanding of finance will learn how this could make a difference to their organization’s financial management.

Society is a continuum between collectivist and individualist cultures. Whether public services are government led or through sovereign decree, leadership in the public sector requires passion, duty and determination which this course will behold. Whereas profitability is not a consideration as in the private sector, productivity and performance certainly are. Both domains share learnings in their leadership predicaments yet differ in scope of development that this course entrusts you with. The course will wrap with a summary of the key learning points, followed by an action planning exercise with a view to apply the acquired knowledge and skills immediately upon your return to work. Post-course support is also available in relation to the implementation of your action plan, up to six (6) months following course completion.

This course will provide the knowledge and tools to understand the financial management of resources in the public sector. You will learn: - the fundamentals of managing funds in the public interest. - that budgetary control provides a formal basis for achieving specific plans. - Project financial management is the methodology of managing resources effectively to achieve a project's objectives. The course will wrap with a summary of the key learning points, followed by an action planning exercise with a view to apply the acquired knowledge and skills immediately upon your return to work. Post-course support is also available in relation to the implementation of your action plan, up to six (6) months following course completion.

By attending this course, you will explore the role that is required of end-to-end service managers in a public authority. You will: - understand how public services contribute to broader community objectives of Improving Public Health and Well-Being. - be able to successfully lead the whole service and deliver its outcomes. - be able to ensure the workforce is making an effective contribution to service delivery. The course will wrap with a summary of the key learning points, followed by an action planning exercise with a view to apply the acquired knowledge and skills immediately upon your return to work. Post-course support is also available in relation to the implementation of your action plan, up to six (6) months following course completion.

By attending this course, you will be able to successfully manage public services to achieve service excellence and community objectives. You will: - understand Budget management for operational managers. - be able to make a step-change in service performance. - appreciate the role that stakeholders play in defining public service value for money. The course will wrap with a summary of the key learning points, followed by an action planning exercise with a view to apply the acquired knowledge and skills immediately upon your return to work. Post-course support is also available in relation to the implementation of your action plan, up to six (6) months following course completion.

This course provides an understanding of the concepts and strategy relating to the effective management of public sector finances. The course also includes a site visit to an organization relevant to the course so delegates can develop an understanding of how their contemporaries function in the real world.

Upon entering the Specialization in Innovation and Quality Process Management, students will integrate concepts and practice to complement their professional life in two different ways.