Overview
Find out about the objectives, research areas and career prospects of the PhD programme.
The PhD programme in Public Governance, Management and Policy (P-GOMAP) is a three-year pathway of advanced training and research dedicated to the study of processes of governance, management and evaluation of public policies and services of collective interest.
Public administrations and the organisations involved in the planning and delivery of public services now operate in increasingly complex contexts. The digital transition, sustainability, risk management and collaboration between institutions and stakeholders require new skills to design, implement and evaluate effective public policies.
The programme trains researchers and professionals who can address these challenges with an interdisciplinary approach, integrating competence in public governance, public management, policy analysis, and qualitative and quantitative research methods.
The programme is developed jointly by four departments of the University of Bologna, each with specific disciplinary specifications:
- Department of Political and Social Sciences - SPS for the field of Public Governance
- Department of Management - DISA for the field of Public Management
- Department of Economics - DSE for the field of Public Policies and Qualitative Methodology
- Department of Statistical Sciences "Paolo Fortunati" - STAT, for applied quantitative analysis
Course overview
Programme objectives
The programme provides interdisciplinary scientific training in the fields of public governance, public management and public policies, developing skills that are useful to design, manage and evaluate public services and decision-making processes.
The pathway aims to enhance any professional experience already gained by participants, encouraging dialogue between research and professional practice.
At the end of the path, PhD students will have developed skills to:
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analyse emerging needs and complex phenomena;
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collect, interpret and communicate data to support public decision-making, in compliance with ethical aspects and privacy protection;
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design innovative multi-level and multi-stakeholder governance solutions;
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use qualitative and quantitative methods for the measurement and evaluation of public policies and organisational performance;
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understand and enhance the potential of digital technologies in decision-making and administrative processes.
For those already working in the public administration or in organisations that collaborate in the design and delivery of public services, the programme represents an opportunity for professional upskilling and career development, encouraging lifelong learning pathways.
Research themes
Research develops within an interdisciplinary framework that integrates public governance, management, public policies and quantitative analysis.
Each PhD student defines their own research project together with the supervision team, exploring in depth one or more topics of interest within the fields of specialisation of the programme.
The research areas include, by way of example:
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economic and social development;
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environmental and financial sustainability;
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technological innovation and digital transformation;
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management of operational, natural, financial, geopolitical and cybersecurity risks;
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social protection and welfare;
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governance of public services and collaboration between public and private entities;
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social cohesion and participation;
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evaluation of public policies, with applications in the healthcare, education and social sectors, as well as in sustainable mobility and infrastructure.
Career opportunities
At the end of the pathway, PhD students acquire interdisciplinary training that enables them to address all phases of the public policy cycle: from needs analysis to the design, implementation and evaluation of services and interventions.
The expertise developed opens up career opportunities at national and international level, including:
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policy analyst, public management analyst, policy advisor and audit manager roles in public bodies, international organisations, research institutes and consultancy firms;
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positions of responsibility and leadership in public administrations, third sector organisations and companies involved in the design and management of public services;
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coordination of national and European projects dedicated to public policies and European Union programmes;
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positions as an economist with national and international public bodies;
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research activity and an academic career in the fields of economics, political science, public management and public policies.
The experience of those who attended the programme
Interview with PhD student Mohamed Abdel Sayed
In the series of interviews "Meet Unibo PhD Students", Ammr Mohamed Abdel Sayed, a PhD student of the thirty-ninth cycle, talks about their research pathway. Their project analyses the role of second generations in the co-production processes of public policies, exploring how their positioning between different cultural contexts can foster new forms of dialogue, participation and social innovation. The research highlights the contribution that these experiences can make in strengthening the relationship between citizens and institutions
Interview with PhD student Daniele Panzeri
Daniele Panzeri is a PhD student of the thirty-eighth cycle. Their research project focuses on public governance and management policies. Alongside their PhD, they work at the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Rome, where they deal with migration and development.
