MPA students recognized

MPA students (public administration) from the 2010 on-campus program undertook the British Columbia Public Service Challenge this summer as part of their ADMN 507 curriculum. Due to an aging demographic, increasingly tight budgets and demands for better service delivery models, the BC public service is looking for innovative ways to prepare skilled professionals for the future.The challenge was to develop a proposal for a leadership identification program that is practical, affordable and supported by research. Seven groups were formed within the 42-student cohort, and presentations were made by each group to a distinguished panel of BC public service experts. The winning team members were Hana Embaye, David Ennis-Dawson, Kathryn Harris, Naomi Jehlicka, Caitlin Morrison, Alexandra Schwenger, and Martin Stegman who proposed a three-pronged selection process for identifying potential leadership candidates early in their careers with government. The selection process included an online survey, an application submitted by the employee, and a manager nomination tool. “I’m pleased to have had the opportunity to present a leadership research challenge to ADMN 507 students and am deeply impressed with the quality and practical nature of the research and presentations that resulted,” said Kevin Jardine, assistant deputy minister of Labour, Citizens' Services and Open Government.