The Certificate in Civil Service and State Agency Studies is a one year course accredited by University College Dublin (UCD), which has been running successfully since 2004. The course offers participants the opportunity to develop a wide-ranging and detailed comprehension of the system of government in Ireland and how it operates. It considers the challenges, innovations and developments currently facing the civil service and state agencies, and provides a framework for understanding wider processes of governance in contemporary Ireland.

The course is structured around five principal modules:

• Central Political Agencies and the EU
• Government Departments and the Civil Service
• State Agencies
• Non-Elected Oversight Agencies
• Sub-National Government, the Health Sector and Legal Agencies

While the Certificate pays particular attention to the work and functions of the Irish civil service and state agency sectors, it also considers other important institutions such as those of the European Union, which is becoming increasingly influential in the policy process.

The programme is appropriate to those in administrative, technical, professional, and managerial positions. However, it will also be of significant benefit to staff in private and voluntary organisations, particularly those that have significant interactions with either the civil service or state agencies in the course of their work.

The programme consists of 5 one day tutorials at IPA Headquarters, Ballsbridge, and distance education through readings and assignments. Tutorial attendance, assignments and an end of year exam contribute toward the student’s final mark.

The 2011-2012 programme is currently running in Dublin and in Wexford.