Economics of Public Finance (20 credit hours)

The Economics of Public Finance module (MPA 512) focuses on the intersection of economics, public policy, and government finance. It explores how governments make decisions regarding taxation, public spending, and resource allocation to achieve economic efficiency and social welfare. The module introduces the fundamental principles and concepts of public economics, including market failures, externalities, public goods, and social welfare. It examines the role of government in addressing these market failures and improving economic outcomes. The material explores topics such as Taxation and Fiscal Policy; with the focus on theory and practice of taxation and fiscal policy. It explores different tax systems, such as income taxes, consumption taxes, and wealth taxes, along with their implications for economic efficiency and equity. It also covers topics related to tax administration, tax evasion, and optimal tax design.

The module also examines the theory and analysis of public expenditures. It explores how governments allocate resources across different sectors, such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and social welfare. It covers issues related to cost-benefit analysis, public investment, public-private partnerships, and the evaluation of government programs. The module looks at Government Budgeting and Debt. This part of the module focuses on government budgeting processes, including revenue forecasting, expenditure prioritization, and budgetary decision-making. It also explores the management of government debt and fiscal sustainability, analyzing topics such as public debt dynamics, debt financing strategies, and debt sustainability analysis.

Additionally, the module examines how economic principles and tools can inform public policy decisions, such as designing optimal social insurance programs, evaluating the impact of government interventions, and analyzing the effects of taxation on behavior and economic growth. Throughout the module, students may engage in case studies, empirical analyses, and policy discussions to apply the theoretical concepts learned and develop a deeper understanding of the complexities and challenges in public economics and finance.

Organizational Leadership and HR Management (20 credit hours)

The Organizational Leadership and HR Management module (MPA 513) looks at the role of organizational leadership and HR Management in creating a strong public sector workforce. The public sector is being disrupted by change and the future of work. This requires a rethinking of how public sector organizations are designed, people are hired and promoted, and the role the organization plays in the larger ecosystem to deliver public value. The competitive mindset that dominated the private sector may not always be beneficial for the public sector. Further in their role as ambassadors of soft power, the public sector needs to think beyond the local and national boundaries to international markets. This requires introspection on HR practices and leadership itself.

A significant expenditure of public budgets is human capital and hence people management is critical to explain why and how public sector can be relevant and contribute rather than detract from the process of public value. In the UAE, which is expatriate focused, another key objective is to ensure we retain knowledge, but this can only come with long-term policies that support a culture of knowledge-transfer.

Technology being used in HR itself is a two-edged sword and policy makers need to look the role of people and technology in new teams being formed. Finally, the value with which a public sector organization operates is a function of the public value they are supposed to deliver. How do we prevent mission drift by creating a culture of trust and rewarding for performance and contribution to public value? These are some topics being explored in this module through discussions, readings and cases. We are creating a new stronger public sector, one that can weather the crisis of time and generational gaps, and changes in global culture and technology.

Policy Analysis for Public Administrators (20 credit hours)

What are public policy and governance? These are the central ideas associated with the MPA 514 module, which takes a practical and theoretical approach to the UAE and across the region. The Module examines the themes associated with the governance and public policy, from the role of the government, its organization and management, to the purpose, design and delivery of public services.

MPA 514 takes students on a journey of guided learning and self-study, which applies governance and public policy concepts to their own experiences and areas of expertise. Over the semester, students will be introduced to the various stages of public policy design and development, working in groups and individually to address a policy problem and propose a policy solution. To facilitate the learning process, different assessment forms are undertaken.

The Module is tailored towards the local experience of governance and public policy (for example, in Dubai and the UAE). Therefore, students will acquire insight and knowledge about policymaking and development alongside governance by drawing on practical, real-world cases and examples. At the same time, students will also be encouraged to gain a broader perspective of the Module's themes by studying the theories and concepts associated with the governance and public policy, benchmarking local cases against international policies.

Lectures (including guest speakers) will complement their learning, alongside audiovisual and written content that provides insights into the various state and government organization models, the role of international and regional organizations, and various models of policymaking. The Module will allow students to understand why and how public policies are designed, implemented and evaluated.

Technology and Innovation Governance (20 credit hours)

Advanced countries are technology dependent to drive their economies. The challenge is balancing human capital development with technology. The research pipeline from basic to commercial research takes decades and often governments are the key stakeholder in the early stages. However, this focus is changing.

This module (MPA 515) will challenge assumptions made about the role of governments in technology development, supporting innovation and its governance. The objective of MPA 515 is to build knowledge and understanding of the topic and use practical examples to illustrate the complexity of thought required for governance. These answers require systems thinking and an ability to “foresee” the future advantages and consequences. The future is not simple but grey and fuzzy.

The module will “borrow” theory from recent government thinking, public management and digital transformation, engineering management (including new topics like synthetic biology) and business management. This breadth of knowledge will give an overview of the complexity of new technology and innovation governance.

Further, the readings are chosen to motivate individuals to probe more into the topic via their assignments. The reality is that though preparations for the future from the past, the past alone cannot prepare us for the future. The assignments have been designed to understand the role of design thinking centering on the human on planet even though the focus is technology. This is “human and planet centeredness”

Dissertation (60 credit hours)

The research dissertation (MPA 901) is a very important part of your master’s degree. It is an opportunity for you to acquire and apply transferable research and academic writing skills.

It is the part of your program where you can apply your policy analysis skills through creative thinking and problem-solving techniques you have acquired during your studies to explore a specialist interest in greater depth. Although demanding, students often find the dissertation one of the most rewarding aspects of their Master’s experience. Students normally do their dissertation online in the third semester.