Admission requirements
None
Description
The elective focuses on ICT challenges from a public governance perspective. This includes providing a basic understanding of the politico-administrative characteristics that distinguish public from private organizations and how these characteristics affect people working with ICT. The course will include problems and solutions that are specific to working with ICT in such public environments. It is aimed at students considering a career in the public sector (or who possibly already work there), but also at students who expect to work in business, but recognize the public sector as a crucial market.
The elective offers a comparative assessment of public administrations around the world with emphasis on the Dutch system. Students will be introduced to Public Administration theories and the workings of government as well as different themes that are linked to the major problems identified for ICT projects within government. The themes include aspects of leadership in the public realm, public performance, the governance of new technologies and public challenges in the big data age. Students will further have the opportunity to connect with government officials and private sector representatives to pitch ideas and discuss challenges that stakeholders currently face in the field.
Course objectives
The course aims at providing a deeper understanding of the issues, challenges and opportunities engendered by the rapid changes in ICT and its applications in government over recent years. By the end of the course, the students should:
Have an understanding of the basic public administration concepts;
Be able to write a policy recommendation based on real-world challenges in combination with theoretical insights;
Understand public sector specific aspects of leadership, management and decision-making;
Be able to identify key dynamics of the Dutch system that facilitate or hinder ICT implementation.
Timetable
The schedule can be found on the LIACS website
Detailed table of contents can be found in blackboard.
Mode of instruction
Bi-weekly 4-hour lectures
Assessment method
Bi-weekly discussion questions (10%)
Essay (30%)
Final paper (60%)
Blackboard
The blackboard site will be made available two weeks before the start of the course.
Reading list
The reading list will be made available on the corresponding blackboard site
Signing up for classes and exams
You have to sign up for classes and examinations (including resits) in uSis. Check this link for more information and activity codes.
There is a limited capacity for elective students. Please contact the programme co-ordinator.
Contact information
Programme Co-ordinator ms. Judith Havelaar LL.M
Remarks
This course is organized in cooperation with the Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs, and will hence be located in the Hague (Den Haag).