This innovative part-time programme addresses a field of huge importance to the Irish public service: innovation. Public servants are working in an increasingly complex and challenging environment where being innovative has become a necessity rather than an option.
The IPA's Professional Diploma in Public Sector Innovation, accredited by the National University of Ireland (NUI), is the only such programme in Ireland designed exclusively for employees from the civil and public sector and from local authorities. Facilitated by a team of public service innovation specialists over four (4) immersive, engaging modules, it will enable you to collaboratively tackle multiple real-world government challenges by applying design thinking, the world's most widely used and proven innovation process.
You will develop core innovation skills like empathy, problem framing, ideation, prototyping and iterative testing as well as collaborative skills like nurturing psychological safety. Crucially, you will foster your innovation mind-set and nurture your creative confidence as you “pitch” ideas that address some of the most thorny issues of our time. Along the way, you will become part of a community of innovation enthusiasts and obtain a network of creative practitioners that you can leverage time and again throughout your career.