The Public Management and Governance track (PMG track) aims to attract qualified and motivated students that are interested in conducting academic and non academic research on public and non-profit management themes, in times in which the lines between public, non profit and private are blurred.

Besides the research methodology courses, taught in English and held during the first year of the programme, lectures address the following main issues, among others, through a multidisciplinary perspective:
- Public management reform programmes: implementation patterns and evaluation of effects;
- Strategy and performance management in the public sector;
- Organizational change and innovation;
- Transparency, open government and fight of corruption;
- Collaborative governance: network management and co-production;
- Leadership;
- Accounting and accountability;
- Management of healthcare organizations;
- Management of international institutions;
- Good governance and inclusive development;
- Non-profit management, social entrepreneurship and social innovation.

A particular emphasis is put on relevance of research activities for policy-makers, practitioners and public understanding, in addition to methodological rigour.

PhD candidates are encouraged to actively participate in international academic networks such as the International research Society in Public Management (IRSPM), the European Group for Public Administration (EGPA), the Public and non profit management SIG at the European Academy of Management (EURAM), and EGPA-Med among others.

They also take part in teaching activities in the main under- and post-graduate courses in public and non profit management taught at the University of Rome Tor Vergata and have the opportunity to gain practical skills and work experience such as organising international conferences and training courses.

Previous candidates of the PhD track now work as professors in Italian and foreign universities and occupy leadership positions in national and local institutions.