Professor Alexander Evans

This course is compulsory on the Double Master of Public Administration (LSE-Columbia), Double Master of Public Administration (LSE-Sciences Po), Double Master of Public Administration (LSE-University of Toronto), Master of Public Administration, Master of Public Policy, MPA Dual Degree (LSE and Hertie), MPA Dual Degree (LSE and NUS), MPA Dual Degree (LSE and Tokyo) and MPA in Data Science for Public Policy. This course is not available as an outside option to students on other programmes. This course uses controlled access as part of the course selection process. For information on controlled access courses, including eligibility, application processes, deadlines, and departmental contact details, please refer to the Controlled Access Courses webpage.

Required for all SPP full-time programmes

The Professional Skills Accelerator is focused on applied policy skills for MPA, MPA in Data Science for Public Policy, MPA Double Degrees (SIPA, Toronto and Sciences Po) and MPP students, with a particular focus on effective communication and influencing. The core components include a reviewed self-assessment of skills and experience, and a menu of skills sessions covering effective writing, presentation skills, data visualisation, networking and career-management, interviewing, negotiating, working with politicians and public sector leadership. The components will draw on theory but largely be practitioner-focused, with in many instances experiential and exercise-based learning. The course will be international by design and aims to support full-time SPP students no matter where they will work, attuned to different cultural, organisational and national settings.

Skills sessions will be scheduled across Autumn, Winter and Spring Terms taking place during weekdays, evenings and some weekends.  Students will be notified of the dates, times and details of the sessions during the year and asked to sign up for sessions in advance.

• Robert Cialdini, Influence
• David McCandless, Information in Beautiful
• Georgina Sturge, Bad Data
• The Economist Style Guide
• Linda Babock, Sasha Laschever, Ask for It

 Participation and reviewed completion of the self-assessment task and attendance at at least four skills sessions is required.