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B5503 - PUBLIC MANAGEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Academic Year 2026/2027

                
                        Docente:
                        Paola Canestrini
                    
                        Credits:
                        8
                    
                        SSD:
                        ECON-06/A
                    
                        Language:
                        English
                    
                        Moduli:
                        
                            Paola Canestrini
                            (Modulo 1)
                        
                            (Modulo 2)
                        
                        Teaching Mode:
                        
                                    In-person learning (entirely or partially) (Modulo 1); 
                                
                                    In-person learning (entirely or partially) (Modulo 2)
                                
                            Campus:
                            Rimini
                        
                            Corso:
                            First cycle degree programme (L) in
                            Economics of Tourism and Cities (cod. 6054)

                            Teaching resources on Virtuale
                        
                                        Course Timetable
                                    
from Sep 16, 2026 to Oct 22, 2026

Learning outcomes

This course aims to provide students with a thorough understanding of the public sector, focusing on the New Public Management (NPM) framework and its progressions related to public value. Educational objectives include the critical analysis of diverse NPM elements, the ability to contextualize recent changes at national and international levels, and a grasp of the institutional, political, organizational, and ethical framework of public management. Additional goals involve acquiring specific accountability tools for the public sector. The course will equip students with analytical skills to assess accountability dynamics in the public sector. By the course's conclusion, students will have developed comprehensive theoretical and practical skills in contemporary public management, including accountability tools.

Course contents

The course is divided into two modules:

Module 1 – Public Management

Module 2 – Accountability

Readings/Bibliography

Core Textbook

Bovaird, T., & Löffler, E. (Eds.). (2024). Public management and governance (4th ed.). Routledge.

The core textbook will be complemented by selected academic articles, book chapters, empirical studies and case materials.

The detailed list of these readings will be made available on the course’s Virtuale page.

Teaching methods

Depending on the class's composition, interests, and level of participation, the course may combine lectures, discussions of selected readings, analyses of empirical cases, and individual or group activities aimed at encouraging active learning.

Assessment methods

Students are assessed through a written examination.

Students must register for the examination through AlmaEsami. Registration through AlmaEsami is compulsory, and students who have not registered will not be allowed to take the examination.

Grades are awarded on a 30-point scale. Students pass the examination with a grade of at least 18 out of 30.

An alternative assessment method may be arranged for attending students who actively participate in in-class activities.

Teaching tools

Teaching materials, slides, academic readings, case studies, exercises and information concerning the course and the examination will be made available through the University of Bologna’s Virtuale: https://virtuale.unibo.it [https://virtuale.unibo.it/]

Office hours

See the website of Paola Canestrini

See the website of