Raising the Ranks of Public Sector Leaders: Results of a National Survey of Executive Masters of Public Administration Programs

Abstract

Faced with an impending demographic and cultural shift in the ranks of public service, government agencies, non-profits and private contractors for public sector are exploring ways to develop the next generation of public service leaders. Leadership development encompasses a diverse set of strategies ranging from informal mentoring to executive degree programs for experienced public service professionals. Yet there is scant assessment of these programs of the scope and impact of specific leadership development programs. The article presents the findings of the first national survey of executive degree programs offered by National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) for public service professionals and examines their role in leadership development in the public sector. The survey results suggest that the strength Executive MPA degree is the capacity to engage a diverse cohort of public sector professionals in a sustained manner and bridge traditional academic content with experiential learning. The findings also reflect continued challenges with Executive MPA programs, including securing funding, making the programs more relevant to the specific missions of organizations, and the impact of Executive MPA programs on improving public policy.