Diploma in Public Service Leadership

There are now 5 places remaining for Cohort 10 at UWS Hamilton Campus.

• Key Dates – workshop attendance and assignment deadlines
• Syllabus – details on programme content
• Application Form - to be returned to Faculty of Business & Creative Industries, UWS, University Avenue, Ayr, KA8 0SX, with a passport photo.

There are also opportunities available for organisations to host bespoke cohorts in partnership with other public & third sector organisations. Please contact us for more details.

The Diploma is aimed at developing professional managers within the public and voluntary sector, and encouraging them to work more collaboratively. It is recognised at Level 9 on the Scottish Credit & Qualification Framework, and awarded 88 credit points by the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

The Diploma meets the accreditation requirement of the Scottish Social Services Council, for Registration purposes in terms of being a “an award in management that is certificated at or above SCQF Level 8 (minimum of 60 credits)". It is also a recognised qualification on the Fire Leadership Pathway for Scottish Fire and Rescue Services staff.

This programme is eligible for funding of up to £500 under the new Scottish 'Part Time Fee Grant'.

For the public sector:

• Helps to encourage partnerships between public sector organisations and within their internal departments
• Helps to develop public service leaders with the skills needed in an ever changing environment  
• Helps to provide an improved delivery of services to the public

For the organisation:

• Provides opportunities to share best practice 
• Challenges current thinking 
• Develops leadership skills
• Offers sector specific content
• Provides real work-focused learning
• Provides flexible and collaborative learning

For the individual:

• Incorporates a high level of participation
• Builds individual confidence and professionalism
• Enables new perspectives to be acquired on public service delivery
• Challenges current practice 
• Develops leadership skills to provide better local services

With students from our six previous cohorts ranging in age from 25 to 55, the 'average' Diploma student is 43 years old and holds a middle management post within the public sector. 

You don't need any prior qualifications, but should be confident you can undertake written assignments at this level. (i.e. SCQF Level 9, which is the level at which the final year of an Ordinary Degree is taught). In terms of work relevance, you should hold a managerial position within the public or voluntary sector 

In the University of the West of Scotland's model, there are five individual assignments and one project based assignment following the workshops as outlined in the cohort leaflet . You would submit a 2,500 word assignment 6 weeks after each of the following workshops: Leadership, Organic Team, Leading and Achieving Service Performance, Public Purse and Serving the Public. The Communication workshop is not assessed. Challenge of Change and Plan to Deliver are jointly assessed as part of a final collaborative project-based assignment..

Approximately 35 hours per assignment (of which there are five) and 70 hours for the project based assignment.

You don't need to buy any. All the academic references you require are provided within the course handbooks issued and discussed at each session. It is not a course requirement, but we will provide you with further recommended reading which may be of interest to you. On registering for this programme, you will also have access to the Chartered Management Institute's Student Resource Centre as well as the University of the West of Scotland libraries.