Vision
The mission of the Academy of Government at the University of Edinburgh is to prepare students and professionals for leadership roles in the public sector, international organisations and the voluntary sector, and to produce knowledge and research on the major issues in public policy.
The Academy of Government draws on the spirit of the Scottish Enlightenment – a Golden Age in the eighteenth century that provided the seed-bed for much of the later thought of the western world. Members of the Academy of Government community walk in the footsteps of these men and women of genius. We endorse the principles that they that believed were vital for a fully functioning society – freedom of independent thought; tolerance, equality and engagement with other’s opinions; a willingness to challenge conventional wisdom and enter debate; and the desire to increase knowledge and understanding of the world.
At the Academy of Government, we apply these principles in our teaching, research and public engagement. As an institution of professional education and higher learning, the AoG seeks:
- to educate its students through a wide range of teaching, research and practical experiences in policy and public administration;
- to generate ideas about solving the most pressing public policy problems;
- to undertake high-quality research that has an impact on public services and policy and ultimately improves the quality of life of citizens;
- and to reach out to the local, national and international communities by making available its programs, services, and expertise of its faculty.
In seeking to carry out this mission, the Academy of Government offers a distinctive portfolio of practice-oriented professional programmes aimed at students and mid-career professionals. It fosters strong links with the policy community at the Scottish, UK, European and international levels and provides a strong academic support system for students, which provides an atmosphere of collegiality to sustain students through on-course training and beyond.
This page was published on 24 February 2011
