The Doctorate in Public Leadership (DPL) degree provides an opportunity to combine a doctoral thesis of some 60,000 words with the coursework component of the Master of Public Leadership and Policy (8633) or an equivalent programs, such as the Master of Business (8388) and the Master of Public Policy and Governance (8259).
The degree consists of one-third coursework (equivalent to one-year full-time study) and two-thirds research (equivalent to two-years full-time study) which may be in an area encountered by the student while undertaking coursework.
The program is intended to prepare candidates for the highest level of professional practice, in which they can contribute significantly to the development of the multi-disciplinary study of Public Leadership while enhancing the Public Leadership they exert in the workplace specifically and society more generally.
Societies, rightly, expect a great deal from those who serve in public roles. One of those expectations is that they should display leadership, particularly when they are shaping public policy. Very little scholarly study is, however, focused on the particular challenges of public leadership, or the relationship between public leadership and policy formulation. The Doctor of Public Leadership uniquely addresses this gap by offering students a combination of courses focused specifically on public leadership and policy alongside a rich selection of electives addressing broader issues related to national and global policy, and leadership. This combines with a focused and directed workplace-based research thesis that builds on the coursework platform to develop new knowledge in this critically important field.
In contrast to similar programs focusing mainly on public administration, management and supervision, this program will be the first to concentrate specifically on exercising and enriching leadership in professional contexts ranging from government departments and statutory authorities, educational bodies and training authorities, media organisations and advocacy groups, defence and security services.
The Doctor of Public Leadership is ideal for those who are in, or seeking to attain, positions of public leadership, as well as postgraduate scholars seeking to develop a research competence in this field. This program has been designed with relevance to the workplace as a priority. The program as a whole prepares experienced professionals for public leadership in their area of interest.
In this program, mastery of the professional body of knowledge is achieved in the coursework component, which builds on prior education and the experience gained through professional practice.
Based on this mastery of the professional body of knowledge, the thesis component of the program develops the research skills necessary for an experienced practitioner to be able to make a significant contribution to the continuous improvement of their discipline’s professional practice. See UNSW Higher Degree Research Learning Outcomes.
Program structure
The DPL is designed as a three year full- time equivalent program, structured as one-third coursework and two-thirds research. The coursework component of the DPL will be undertaken through enrolment in courses already established within the Master of Public Leadership and Policy or equivalent programs. Coursework must be completed prior to the research.
The two-year research component consists of an independent supervised study, with a focus on either in-depth investigation and research of a particular professional issue or set of issues (applied practice-based empirical research) or conceptual research about a particular policy area or a Public Leadership challenge that builds on original policy and institutional oversight.
The DPL may be undertaken on either a part time or full time basis.
