Leadership & Innovation in the Public Sector

Overview

The Department of Global Business and Enterprise at Ulster University and the Department of Business Studies at Atlantic Technological University have established a customised cross-border Master of Science programme in Leadership and Innovation in the Public Sector.



This programme has been developed specifically for senior public servants, and is designed to hone leadership skills and develop more innovative departments. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of both business and strategic issues facing their organisations. Furthermore, the programme provides an overview of the progress of cross-border and other international reform programmes, coupled with leadership, innovation and transformational change initiatives.



Experts in the areas of innovative government, transformational leadership and change conduct lectures, seminars and workshops to impart knowledge and inject fresh thinking into the expanding envelope of service improvement and delivery.



About

This highly successful Master's programme was designed in response to the demand for strong leadership and innovation within the public sector. Challenging public sector reform agendas are stimulating the necessity for transformational change which often requires the re-engineering of business processes, resolute leadership and direction with alignment to outcomes based accountability. Many of the skills and much of the knowledge required to implement successful transformational change resides in the public sector departments and agencies themselves. In that vein, this programme will hone those leadership skills and develop more innovative departments.



Given its unique cross-border approach, this programme provides a mechanism for participants to co-create synergies within and across a wide spectrum of public organisations including - finance, revenue, health, social security, agriculture, education, local authorities, and non-departmental public bodies. Participants will be challenged to compare and contrast initiatives on both sides of the border.



This programme provides postgraduate executive education and applied training in the concepts and methods of transformational change and strategic leadership particularly in those aspects related to digital transformation and public sector innovation. The modules provide participants with rigorous theoretical underpinning coupled with practical business experience.



A unique feature of the programme delivery is the use of guest speakers in the form of academic and industry external experts. The selection of external experts for each student cohort is based upon key issues at the time thus, ensuring relevance of the curriculum.

Year One

Context of Leadership, Innovation and Transformation

Transformational Leadership

Citizen Centric Policy and Service Design



Year Two

Change and Cultural Management

Digital Strategy and Innovation

Performance Management

Research Project

Normally a UK second class honours degree, or better, in any discipline or the equivalent of this for international students. If you do not have an honours degree but have relevant experience, you may be eligible to apply.



This course is directed at personnel at Principal Officer (Grade 7) or equivalent from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The course is open to candidates from government departments and the wider public service.



Participants will be accepted from those identified by their organisation with a remit to implement a strategic change programme. Applicants would be particularly welcome from those working in areas such as:



- Major organisational reform; or

- Providing shared services across organisational boundaries; or

- Programme or project management



To apply for the programme please contact the Course Director Dr Emer Gallagher directly at: em.gallagher@ulster.ac.uk



English Language Requirements

English language requirements for international applicants:

The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement for Tier 4 visa purposes. Ulster University recognises a number of other English language tests and comparable IELTS equivalent scores.

Attendance

6 x two-day blocks, plus 6 half-day Action Learning Sets (ALS).



The course consists of 6 taught modules and an applied work-based research project. The modules are delivered over a 24-month period. The taught modules are delivered over 6 x two-day blocks, each supported by one half-day Action Learning Set (ALS).



Given this programme is executive education, most modules are delivered off campus using a residential delivery method. Venues in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are used in the delivery of the 6 modules.

Start Date: January 2026.

Career options

All participants on the programme are in full-time employment as senior managers in public service organisations. The course supports their career progression in that, it is employers who advise on the emerging discipline areas and provide on-going input into course and curriculum design. The positioning of the MSc Leadership and Innovation in the Public Sector is to test, prepare and equip participants with the necessary knowledge and skills to progress to senior civil service levels.



The nature of this programme supports continuing professional development and those wishing to progress on an academic path with for example a PhD, will be prepared to do so.