Academic Program Review: Executive Master of Public Administration

In 2021, an independent panel of senior scholars and expert practitioners commenced a comprehensive Academic Program Review (APR) of ANZSOG’s Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA). The APR complemented the earlier Compliance Review undertaken by Dr Michael Tomlinson and Emeritus Professor Valerie Braithwaite. The APR focused on academic rigour, value for key stakeholders and the future direction of the program. The Review Panel was chaired by Professor Richard Eccleston, Director of the Tasmanian Policy Exchange and Professor of Political Science at the University of Tasmania. The diverse international Review Panel included globally recognised academics from the world’s leading schools of public administration and policy. It also included senior public sector leaders from a range of jurisdictions, as well as EMPA alumni and a current EMPA student. A range of data collection activities were undertaken for the APR, including surveys of EMPA students and alumni, consultations with partner universities, public service commissions and EMPA Subject Leaders. The Review Panel concluded that the EMPA is a unique and innovative program with strong conceptual foundations. It delivers unmatched value for money compared to similar programs delivered by the world’s leading universities. The program enhances graduates’ understandings of theory and its application to practice. The Review Panel highlighted the need for deeper engagement with First Peoples perspectives and priorities in the EMPA. It also made suggestions for enhancing the value that the EMPA delivers to owner governments and partner universities, and offered suggestions for ensuring the sustainability of ANZSOG and the EMPA into the future.

View the 1-page summary of the APR’s key findings and recommendations

Professor Richard Eccleston (Chair)   

Director, Tasmanian Policy Exchange and Professor of Political Science,  

University of Tasmania 

Mr Richard Banks   

Deputy Director, Policy Profession Unit (PPU),  

Department of Education, United Kingdom 

Mr Adam Fennessy PSM 

Victorian Public Sector Commissioner, Victoria.  Supported by Daen Dorazio, Executive Director, Capability and Inclusion,  

Victorian Public Sector Commission 

Professor Sherry Glied 

Dean, Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service,  

New York University, United States 

Dr Lindsey Te Ata o Tu MacDonald   

Senior Lecturer, Department of Political Science,  

University of Canterbury, Aotearoa New Zealand 

Ms Genevieve Mogridge   

Current EMPA student and Senior Director Major Projects,  

Department of the Chief Minister and Cabinet,  

Northern Territory Government 

Professor M Ramesh  

Professor of Public Policy and UNESCO Chair on Social Design in Asia,  

Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy,  

National University of Singapore 

Ms Janet Schorer PSM   

NSW Children’s Guardian,  

EMPA alum and Co-Chair of ANZSOG’s Alumni Advisory Council 

The Review Panel was asked to examine the following: 

Quality 

Academic quality of the EMPA and academic standards attained by program graduates. 

Strategic Alignment  

Strategic positioning and contribution of EMPA to strengthening of public sector leadership, outcomes and value for owner governments, partner universities, EMPA alumni and students.  

Sustainability 

Sustainability of the EMPA program, possible future strategic directions, delivery options, governance arrangements and business model.