About Us
Welcome From the Head of School
Victoria University of Wellington’s School of Government was formed in July 2002, the first and still the only such school in New Zealand.
We aim to build public sector capability through our teaching programmes, improve public sector governance through research into public management and administration, and contribute to scholarship in important areas of public policy. Contributing to the distinctive nature of the School is its cross-disciplinary approach and collaborations within the University, and partnerships with central, regional and local government and other academic institutions in New Zealand and overseas. We are the only New Zealand University member of the Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG).
The School of Government, including the Health Services Research Centre and the Institute of Policy Studies, is located on the University’s Pipitea Campus, very near Parliament, and within easy walking distance of the heart of Wellington city and the major agencies of government.
As well as being engaged in a very active research programme, staff in the School teach in our undergraduate and Honours public policy programmes, our postgraduate professional degrees in public policy and public management, and supervise research towards higher degrees in these areas. We also contribute to the programmes of other Schools in the University in fields including political science, international relations, social policy, economics and environmental studies. The School also runs courses tailored to the specific needs of particular agencies.
A number of characteristics distinguish the School of Government. We are unusual in that the largest group of our students are studying at the postgraduate level. They are typically full-time public sector employees who study part-time. Many of our students who are undertaking Honours or majors in public policy – usually full-time – will also be considering employment in the public sector.
Most of the academic disciplines represented in the School can be studied elsewhere in the University. In this School, however, they have a common focus – government, understood broadly as the development, implementation and evaluation of policy, together with the leadership and management of those who are charged with that responsibility.
The research undertaken within the School of Government is mostly aimed at improving public policy and management. This applied research is intended to be read not only by academic colleagues, but also to inform practitioners. Our staff have often spent considerable periods of time working with the public sector and continue to engage with it closely.
To recognise and assist with this the School has a lead role in implementing the Strategic Tertiary Alliance formed between Victoria University and the State Services Commission in 2003. The School also benefits from the income of a Trust endowed by the New Zealand Government. And, through the Institute of Policy Studies, we receive funding through the Emerging Issues Programme contributed by ministries and departments, as well as a number of other Crown Entities.
Like our other teaching programmes, our research higher degree programme has a strong professional focus. Our PhD students do not usually start their research immediately after completing Honours, but are typically in mid-career working on dissertation topics arising from their professional experience. We also offer a professional Doctorate in Government.
The School welcomes students from a number of other countries in our region who generally are also public servants. Through our involvement in the ANZSOG Executive Master of Public Administration programme, New Zealand students study with Australian colleagues from the federal, state and territory public services (and vice-versa). We have also hosted the ANZSOG Executive Fellows Programme, which brought senior public servants to Wellington, again from across Australia and New Zealand. The School is often asked to organise programmes for groups of visiting public officials from other countries.
We welcome your interest in the School of Government and hope you will become a regular visitor to our website.
Professor Peter Hughes
Head of School
Need to contact us?
|
Associate Professor Graham Hassall |
Honours Degrees
|
Dr Chris Eichbaum Honours Coordinator and Director, Master's Programmes |
Post Experience Degrees
|
Dr Chris Eichbaum Honours Coordinator and Director, Master's Programmes |
PhD and Masters by Thesis Degrees
|
Dr Amanda Wolf Dawn Yeabsley |