Dr Diana Stirbu uses her profession to teach students real life examples of devolution.
Date: 30 August 2016
Dr Diana Stirbu, senior lecturer in Master of Public Administration (MPA), has recently been appointed as an independent trustee for the Centre of Public Scrutiny.
Diana’s most recent research includes expert evidence to parliamentary inquiries, and devolved elections analysis disseminated via guest blogs.
"By drawing on our research and policy work, we can provide our students with first hand relevant case studies and material to support their learning experience,” said Diana.
“We also call in policy practitioners, via regular guest lectures, to help us bridge the gap between theoretical understanding and practical application of concepts and tools underpinning public sector management and change.
"The MPA course aims to provide practical skills and real life experience for students, whilst connecting them with relevant policy and practitioners networks before they graduate, all of which enhances their employability,” she continued.
As outlined in the University’s 2015-20 Strategic Plan, the University aims to improve student experience by offering real work experience to students while studying.
The Masters of Public Administration course promotes an interactive research-led teaching environment that enhances student experience. Students benefit from practitioner input into their course and from leading research undertaken by MPA staff.
Guest speakers include academic experts, representatives from public authorities such as Hackney Council and Islington Council, and leaders of non-governmental organisations and think-tanks, such as the Centre of Public Scrutiny, a leading national body promoting and supporting excellence in governance and scrutiny.
"The MPA course benefits from staff with more than 20 years of international consultancy experience in transitional countries, enabling us to deliver a course which is comparative in focus and engages with a wide range of debates about reforming public management and service delivery in challenging environments,” said Brian Tutt, MPA Course Leader.
"The international focus of the course has attracted students from throughout Europe, the USA, Russia, China, Mongolia, Japan, India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Indonesia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and a range of other developing countries. The quality of the MPA has been recognised by a number of national governments and charities providing scholarships for students to study with us,” he continued.
