University of Essex

Masters in Public Enterprise and Management (MPEM)

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The Masters in Public Enterprise and Management (MPEM) programme aims to provide professional, high-quality, relevant and thought-provoking management education and training for public sector and non-governmental organisation managers. The MPEM is concerned with strategic policy and management education, and the development of new entrepreneurial management skills relevant to the public and voluntary sectors. These skills should help students to examine critically the inter-relationships between public, private and voluntary sectors in the context of a global environment and with particular reference to issues of governance and administration in such an environment. Optional modules will be offered in areas such as enterprise and the health sector, public policy and regional economic development, and social enterprise.

The content of the modules is interdisciplinary in nature, with sound academic and theoretical underpinnings, drawn from economics, sociology, management, law, information and communications technology, and entrepreneurship. The programme will provide students with a critical body of knowledge of key aspects of public policy and practice, and build on the essentials of public and voluntary sector management practice and the links between traditional approaches and emergent practice in an international context.

Significant changes in the structure and organisation of work in the public sector place considerable demands on the careers of existing employees in and new entrants to the public and voluntary sectors. This programme is aimed at helping students seek rewarding careers in those sectors, and in identifying opportunities for policy development and managing change in various government departments and regional offices, regional development agencies, charitable organisations, and the voluntary sector.