University launches degrees designed to create next generation of public service leaders

An innovative degree programme which aims to produce 21st century leaders throughout Wales and beyond has been launched by Wrexham Glyndŵr University.

The courses developed by the university, alongside partners from the public, private and third sector including the Leadership Centre and leadership practice, Do-Well (UK) Ltd are the first of their kind in the country.

Nina Ruddle, head of public policy engagement at the university, is one of the key drivers of the programme – which has recently been launched to an audience of key leaders from across North Wales at the university.

“There are so many challenges facing public services at the moment – with increasing demands on scarce resources,” explained Nina.

“Tackling those challenges means changing the way we deliver public services and how we work across sectors.

“Wales is the first country in the world to set legislation that drives this and ensures we change the way we work to improve the health and wellbeing of current and future generations in the Future Generations Act Wales.

“The leadership programme is to support and enable this act to come to life and work with and alongside all sectors to improve outcomes for citizens.

“Answering that call, Glyndŵr has worked in partnership to co create the BA and MA courses, the first of their kind in Wales. They will change the way people think about working with each other – and help build a network of people with the skills needed to deliver the transformational change their organisations want.

“Those skills are transferable, and graduates from these courses will be equipped with a mindset which can be applied across boundaries – helping their career, but also helping to build a new generation of leaders who can help transform their communities.”

Nina added: “As one of the pilot cohort, who has helped to shape the course – a senior manager in a key North Wales organisation – said at its launch, ‘if we want to change North Wales, we have to work together.’”

The course has been developed with support from external experts.

Among these is Ken Perry, Director of leadership practice, Do-Well (UK) Ltd, and a Visiting Industrial Fellow at Wrexham Glyndŵr University, who said: “Strong and effective leadership is vital to enabling organisations, people and places to do well and succeed.

“The Public Services Degree Programme is the first of its kind in Wales, developed and created in partnership with the public, private and voluntary sectors across the region in response to the growing need for these organisations to work better together to address increasingly complex and wicked issues in our society.

“Do-Well is pleased to be working in partnership with Wrexham Glyndŵr University and the Leadership Centre to develop a truly unique programme that will support and develop the next generation of leaders in Wales.”

The programme has been designed to be flexible to enable students to combine learning with work. It will be delivered at Glyndwr’s campuses in both Wrexham and St Asaph. Both BA and MA programmes are available.

A Postgraduate Support Bursary is available for twenty Welsh and EU domiciled students who wish to study on the MA programme. The bursary will be provided on a first come first served basis for those students who accept an offer to study the programme by January 14th 2019.

Glyndŵr’s Dean of the Faculty of Social and Life Sciences, Simon Stewart, said: “We are delighted to be offering these new courses – the first of their kind in Wales. They are designed to help equip people with the skills they need to lead better together – and transform our public services.”

More information about the Public Services Leadership programme can be found here.