Public Management and Governance
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.
The PMG Track Coordinator is Professor Denita Cepiku.
Track Schedule
First year
It is focused on consolidating the Ph.D. candidate’s basic knowledge about the research skills and the existing body of research in their field. Students are involved in learning activities such research methodology classes, seminars, and other initiatives. In the second half of the first year the PhD student has to identify and select a research theme, with the support of a senior researcher that will play the role of Supervisor, taking into account student’s research interests and study/professional experience, by attending the events promoted by the Program and the partner Universities, in order to obtain the credit points for the various Program activities. At the end of the first year, the Ph.D. candidate present his/her proposal, including the title of the thesis, and a full review of the literature that supports the proposal and stress the importance of the research project to advance the frontier of knowledge on a specific area of interest.
The proposal will be evaluated, and in case of a positive result the Ph.D. Student is admitted to the second year of the program. Whenever the research proposal will not be positively judged, the PhD Student will not be allowed to continue his/her Ph.D. program.
Second year
In the 2nd year of the Program, Ph.D. candidates continue their studies and research activities in order to implement the proposals, also by spending a period of study at another University, business, (public or private) research institute, in Italy or abroad, subject to the prior authorization of the Coordinator and acting on the proposal of the supervisor. Students can attend further different types of events such as seminars and summer schools, and they will participate to academic conferences useful to improve knowledge about the research topic of the thesis. The focus of the second year is the refinement of the research questions and the design and start of the field research.
Third year
In the 3rd year of the Program, the Ph.D. candidate must focus on the completion of the doctoral thesis and the preparation of the related final discussion, presenting papers in academic events and submitting them for publications in peer reviewed academic journals.
Teaching is an integral component of the training of the doctoral Ph.D. candidates from the 2nd year. Ph.D. candidates, therefore, may be asked to provide limited teaching support, with respect to the Program courses or to other (first or second level) courses. Teaching support, however, is optional and, as a rule, unremunerated; however, it may exempt the Ph.D. candidate from the payment of the admission and attendance fees.
The selection of Ph.D. Students for the new academic year (new PhD cycle) usually starts in springtime, with exams (written and oral) during the summer, and the activities of the Ph.D. start in September/October. The list of the activities for the full year (e.g. research methodology classes, seminars, conferences, other learning events) are mainly planned at the beginning of each year.
Every six months (in July and in January), PhD students submit an activities report to the track coordinator, previously approved by the supervisor. In the report they account for the research and teaching activities and report publications and progress with their dissertation. At the end of the first and at the end of the second year, a paper should be presented and submitted to the PhD track coordinator.
In case of a negative evaluation the Ph.D. Student will quit his/her program because will not be allowed to enrol for the next year.
At the end of the third year (October) the PhD Students that complete their thesis can be admitted to the final exam, where a committee made by three members will judge the research work.
Track Program Overview
The PMG track program is a three years program and Ph.D. students are required to take part in the scheduled activities, namely, (i) attendance of lectures, and (ii) the completion of a research project, individually and/or as a member of a team, aimed at finalizing the doctoral thesis. During the years PhD candidates accrue credits, as follows: 120 ECTS for the thesis; 50 ECTS for attendance of lectures; 10 ECTS for supplementary and other training activities (overall credits 180 ECTS).
Individual study plans may provide for sections of the Program to be undertaken at other Universities or research institutes, in Italy or elsewhere, for a period of no more than one year. The Program encourages Ph.D. candidates to take part in international conferences and/or visiting period.