Accountability in the Public Sector: tools and experience
Persone
Docente titolare del corso
Docente titolare del corso
Descrizione
By the end of the course, students will:
- Understand the significance of accountability in public administration globally.
- Critically analyse different accountability frameworks and their application across governance contexts.
- Identify and evaluate tools such as transparency mechanisms, social and sustainability reporting, and citizen participation practices.
- Apply accountability concepts and standards in simulated real-world scenarios, understanding stakeholder conflicts and competing logics.
- Reflect on the political, administrative, and societal dimensions of accountability beyond procedural compliance.
- Communicate and defend positions under pressure, simulating high-stakes public debates and policy discourse.
Obiettivi
Accountability is a cornerstone of modern democratic governance, underpinning the management, communication, and legitimacy of public institutions. In an era marked by polycrisis, convergence of global health emergencies, climate change, geopolitical instability, and technological disruption, the ability of governments to explain, justify, and be held responsible for their decisions is central to public trust, citizen engagement, legitimacy, and performance. This course explores accountability not just as a normative concept or legal framework, but as a lived practice—contested, contextual, and evolving. Students will be introduced to the key concepts, standards, and international tools used to foster accountability in the public sector, such as transparency initiatives, anti-corruption mechanisms, social and sustainability reporting, and participatory governance approaches. Beyond theory, this course is structured as a series of applied classes and simulations, designed to challenge students with the dilemmas, tensions, and trade-offs of real-world accountability. Through case studies, guest speakers, and a final interactive simulation, students will step into the shoes of different stakeholders (e.g., NGOs, governments, citizen groups) and engage in persuasive advocacy under pressure. Rather than offering prescriptive answers, the course equips students with the systematic tools and critical reflexivity needed to navigate and shape accountability practices in diverse, complex institutional and cultural contexts.
Obiettivi di sviluppo sostenibile
- Città e comunità sostenibili
- Pace, giustizia e istituzioni forti
- Partnership per gli obiettivi
Modalità di insegnamento
In presenza
Impostazione pedagogico-didattica
The course is structured over 7 classes of 4 hours each, combining: lectures and guest speakers from international and local public organizations, and, case studies discussions and classroom debates. Students are encouraged to ask and present their opinions on issues. Class participation is not only encouraged, it is considered essential to develop a comprehensive overview of the course’s contents, while the course is designed as a collaborative space for co-constructing knowledge, applying theory, and rehearsing practice.
Modalità d’esame
The final evaluation will be determined as follows: 10% Class participation (regular attendance and active contribution to class discussions), 20% Group activity, and 70% Final individual paper.
Course material (slides, video, and readings) is available on the e-learning platform.
