Learning the main concepts for the empirical study of public policies. Understanding the logic of policy evaluation and its methodological problems.

Knowledge and understanding: students will acquire the knowledge needed in order to place public policies and their evolution in a comparative framework; they will learn the fundamentals of the analysis and evaluation of public policies, including, among other things, the policy cycle, the policy tools, the methodology of evaluation, the different types of evaluation. Capacity to apply knowledge and understanding: thanks to the analysis of specific cases, exercises and discussions, students will develop their capacity to apply the knowledge and the methodological approach learned to the study of the Italian public policy system, the interpretation of specific policy processes within the context of the European Union, and the evaluation of individual measures. Such capacity is remarkably relevant in the professional world, especially for civil servants and consultants working for the implementation and improvement of public policies. Making judgments: with regard to the characteristics and evolution of public policies in the contemporary political and institutional reality, through the knowledge acquired and the analytical tools provided students will be able to strengthen their critical awareness as well as their ability to formulate independent judgments on the basis of relevant data and comparisons. Communication skills: active participation in class will be encouraged. Students will be advised to engage themselves to do oral presentations and write short notes, in order to improve their communication skills, with due consideration given to the different types of languages used and discourses going on in the world of public policies. Learning skills: with regard to the national, sub-national and European levels, students will learn where to find and how to read the main information sources to be used for the analysis and the evaluation of policy processes and their results. This will be done, among other things, by putting into practice the techniques learned during the course.

The life cycle of public policies; methods, phases and components of public policy evaluation.

Bobbio, L, Pomatto, G. and Ravazzi, S. (2017) Le politiche pubbliche. Problemi, soluzioni, incertezze, conflitti, Mondadori (ALL CHAPTERS). La Spina, A. (2020) Politiche pubbliche. Analisi e valutazione, il Mulino, ONLY PART THREE: Valutazione (CHAPTERS from 8 to 11). Empirical material for the analysis of case studies and supplementary readings will be distributed during classes by the instructor. The AIR/VIR Guidelines (2018) will also be used.

Teaching activities will use frontal lectures, in preparation of which students will be asked to work individually on the indicated readings. Class discussion of concepts, theories, empirical research will encourage active participation in the course, especially during online teaching. To complete, exercises will be proposed so to analyse case-studies that exemplify concrete public policy paths and processes. Finally, in order to enhance learning during online teaching, short periodic self-assessment checks (through structured or semi-structured tests) will be proposed. As from this year Luiss formalises the “continuous assessment” model, students' active participation in each of the proposed activities will receive specific in itinere assessment, which is relevant to the final grade.

To implement the “continuous assessment” model, no mid-term exam is planned this year. Instead, the course will be disseminated with in-progress assessments (written tests and exercises on case-studies) and oral presentations in working groups (amounting to 70% of the overall assessment), which will be combined with a final written exam (amounting to 30% of the overall assessment) consisting of open and closed questions. All tests are designed to verify that students have sufficient knowledge of the essential concepts, methodological issues and topics covered in the course, and that they have acquired the ability to discuss them using appropriate linguistic expressions. Of course, a diligent attendance of classes contributes to this. Non-attending students must contact the lecturer to agree on the exam programme and the topic of the presentation (which will be written, but discussed orally in the final exam session). For non-attending students, the final exam will also be written, consisting of open and closed questions (70% of the overall assessment). The presentation will cover the remaining 30%.

Personal interest in the course’s topics.