MSL4000 Governance - Forms and Reforms Course description

The course provides an overview of forms of governance and governance challenges in the public sector, enabling students to acquire a good knowledge base for the rest of the programme. Governance reforms and governance instruments are placed in a theoretical and contextual perspective. Students will gain an understanding of the concepts governance and management, an insight into key development trends and important implications relating to relevant changes in forms of governance and management. There will be an emphasis on studying the international and national development in public administration policy and public sector reforms. 

The course is taught in Norwegian.

None

After completing the course, the student should have the following overall learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student has

• in-depth knowledge of the concepts governance and management and their use in different contexts
• in-depth knowledge of key public governance instruments
• in-depth knowledge of the connection between social changes and governance challenges in the public sector, and between governance challenges and changes in forms of governance and management
• in-depth knowledge of international trends in public sector reforms and Norwegian management policy
• insight into the relationship between systems of governance and civil society and an understanding of democratic implications relating to the development of different forms of governance
• insight into ethical issues relating to public governance

Skills

The student is capable of

• analysing governance challenges in the public sector
• assessing how these challenges can be met through reforms and measures
• assessing different governance tools in public policy

General competence

The student is capable of

• disseminating the results of independent work, writing reports, and giving oral presentations as forms of communication
• applying knowledge and skills in obtaining and using relevant sources, literature and other information, masters reference and quotation techniques, and is capable of defining what constitutes plagiarism and cheating
• communicating with both specialists in the field and the general public about relevant issues, analyses and conclusions relating to reforms and management policy
• playing an active role in renewal and reform work and contributing critical perspectives to such processes

The teaching is session-based in the form of lectures, student presentations, discussions, group work and seminars. One session may be arranged outside the OsloMet campus at a hotel with option for overnight stay. Students will write assignments between the sessions. A high degree of independent activity is expected. The teaching will mainly be problem-based using examples and cases from the students' practical experiences.

The following coursework requirements must have been approved in order for the student to take the exam:

Coursework 1: Students will submit an individual presentation note of maximum three pages and hold an oral presentation. The reason for writing this note and makig this presentation is to get the students to start early with preparing the groundwork for the course assingmment (home exam) with possibilities for receiving feedback from fellow students. The oral presentation will take place in groups for about 15 minutes. 

All required coursework must be completed and approved by the given deadline in order for the student to take the exam. If the coursework requirements have not been approved, the student will be given the opportunity to submit an improved version once by the given deadline.

The exam in the course is an individual course paper. The course paper must have a scope of 8-10 pages (reference list/literature list is not included). Font and font size: Arial/Calibri 12 points. Line spacing: 1.5.

Students awarded a fail grade are given one opportunity to submit an improved version of the assignment for assessment.

All aids are permitted, as long as the rules for source referencing are complied with.

Grade scale A-F

The exam papers are assessed by one internal and one external examiner.

At least 25% of the exam papers will be assessed by two examiners. The grades awarded for the papers assessed by two examiners form the basis for determining the level for all the exam papers.

Åge Johnsen