MPA Public Management Academy Certificate Focuses on Public Sector Managers

February 4, 2019
Categories: College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences, Community Engagement, Teaching & Advising
mpa class shot in the classroom

Public sector managers face specific challenges that differ from those of people working in the for-profit arena. To address these challenges, UNC Charlotte’s Gerald G. Fox Master of Public Administration Program and the University’s Continuing Education Office offer the MPA Public Management Academy Professional Development Certificate program.

Just a few slots remain for the spring 2019 academy, which runs from Feb. 22 to April 26 at UNC Charlotte Center City. This professional development program is designed for supervisors and high-potential staff working in the government and nonprofit sectors. The focus during the 3-day program is on key skills needed for management success in the unique environment of government and nonprofit organizations.

“There are certainly general management skills relevant to any setting, but there are fundamental differences between the private and public sectors,” said Tom Barth, director of the MPA Program in UNC Charlotte’s College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. “Government and nonprofit managers must appreciate these differences to be effective. They deal with divided but shared power, with complex performance measures that can be hard to quantify and communicate, and with multiple sources of responsibility and accountability.”

academy in classSessions will take place on three Fridays: Feb. 22, March 22 and April 26, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Registration for the complete series is $750, with a 20 percent discount for eligible UNC Charlotte faculty or staff  members. UNC Charlotte faculty and seasoned professionals working in the field will teach each day-long session. Topics will include Leading and Managing in a Government and Nonprofit Context, Setting Goals and Achieving Outcomes and The Power of Data for Public Managers.

Public administration and management positions require both analytical and people skills, Barth said. “Participants will learn the best of both applied theory and practice,” he said. “Plus, the academy is an opportunity for individuals who want to build a new network of fellow professionals from across the region who can be ongoing sources of support and new ideas.

Since 2017 when the academy began, 140 local professionals have completed the courses. The takeaways of the academy include:

  • Ethical and leadership challenges, including working with elected officials and boards
  • How to set goals, measure outcomes, and evaluate success
  • Strategies for securing resources in a competitive environment
  • How to manage projects and work collaboratively
  • Understanding cutting-edge theory and how to apply it in practice
  • Developing a new network of professional contacts