Course 2008-2009 a.y.

Course Objectives

The shift from government to governance has reinforced the role of international institutions, both from a strategic and from a policy-making point of view. Yet, the increasing diversity of tasks, the scarcity of resources, the critiques posed by governments and civil society underline the need of a deep reform of international institutions, which certainly requires a managerial upgrade.

International institutions are currently performing functions and influence the activities of managers in public, private and non governmental organizations. Thus, analyzing and managing their nature, the goals, the tasks and the stakeholders represent important skills and require a multidisciplinary approach.

The course is aimed at providing participants with the managerial abilities and tools that are crucial in working with and for international organizations, recognizing the peculiarities of an institutional context where international relations and the political mandate play a significant role.

Course Content Summary

Part I: The role of international institutions: governing a changing world

• The politics of the international public sector
• The role of NGOs: between representation and implementation
• Managing the relations between International institutions, NGOs and member states

Part II: The politics and management of the European Union

• The European Union: history and developments
• The European Union: institutions and political functioning
• Implementing EU policies: the EU Commission and the EU decentralized agencies
• The managerial reform of the EU Commission

Part III: Managing international institutions: Development Banks, OECD and the UN System

• International Institutions: Institutional setting and key implications for management
• Managing development banks
• Management of the UN System and of UN institutions
• Program management and Project Cycle Management
• The managerial reform of the UN

Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

Attending Students

Attending students will be graded on the group assignments (30%), on an individual assignment (20%) and on the final exam (50%).

• Group assignments

Students attending classes on a regular basis are requested to work in small groups and deliver two group assignments meant to test the skills developed throughout the course. Detailed instructions for each group assignment will be presented during ad hoc briefings and made available on the course online learning space. Students will have to turn in the group assignments by the deadline indicated on the course syllabus to be distributed in class. Each group assignment will be graded on a 0 to 30 point scale.

• Individual assignment

This is meant to test the analytical skills of the attending students. The assignment will be a take-home assignment.

• Final exam

The final exam for students attending classes on a regular basis will be in a written form.

Non-attending students

For non-attending students, the final exam will be based on:

• DIJKZEUL, D. & BEIGBEDER, Y., (eds.), Rethinking international organizations: Pathology and promise, New York and Oxford, Berghahn, 2003.
• COURSE COLLECTION: Management of International Institutions. Egea, 2009.
• COICAUD, J.M. & HEISKANEN, V. The legitimacy of International Organizations p.45-308.

The exam  will be in a written form and will be graded on a standard 0 to 30 points scale.

Textbooks

• DIJKZEUL, D. & BEIGBEDER, Y., (eds.), Rethinking international organizations: Pathology and promise, New York and Oxford, Berghahn, 2003.
• COURSE COLLECTION: Management of International Institutions. Egea, 2009