Although specific themes are tackled in the separate modules, emphasis is on incorporating new knowledge and skills into daily professional practice. Purely intellectual transfer of knowledge on a particular subject plays a subordinate role. The capacities and motivation of participants have to be high given the level of the subject matter and the pace of study. It is for this reason that the NSPA has adopted an intake procedure which guarantees a careful selection of participants. The four phases of the MPA program The two-year program is subdivided into four phases, three of which comprise a number of modules.
Participants spend a period abroad between the second and the third phase.
The fourth phase involves a practical assignment in project groups. Phase 1 unfreezing This phase aims at jolting participants out of their entrenched ways of thinking and making them receptive to new insights. They are confronted with new angles of examining issues in public administration and become aware of the implications of their present paradigm for critical thinking. The fellows get instructions about the philosopy of self learning teams. After that they work in teams on development of different cases on the knowkedge of public management and public policy.