Postgraduate Programme in Strategic Municipal Governance

Contemporary municipal governance faces unprecedented challenges that demand leaders equipped with strategic vision, strong technical expertise, and multidisciplinary skills. It is within this context that the Postgraduate Programme in Strategic Municipal Governance is offered by the Institute of Public Policy (IPP) in partnership with IDEFE/ISEG Executive Education—renowned institutions in Portugal for their academic excellence and commitment to training public policy decision-makers and technical staff.

Programme Overview

This programme aims to equip senior officials, technical staff, and political decision-makers with advanced tools for managing local government, promoting the professionalisation of public administration, technical rigour, and institutional innovation. With a practical, challenge-driven approach, the programme provides an integrated understanding of key areas such as local public finance, urban planning, housing, social cohesion, education, sustainability, land use planning, public procurement, and auditing.

Objectives

Equip professionals to design and implement public and territorial governance strategies with real impact on local socioeconomic development;
Strengthen skills in compliance, accountability, and long-term planning, integrating financial management, the legal framework for public procurement, internal control instruments, and auditing practices;
Promote the efficient attraction and use of European and national funding;
Align local practices with major future agendas, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the digital transformation of local administration;
Enhance local public policies in strategic areas such as land use planning, health, education, social inclusion, and housing, within the framework of administrative decentralisation.

Target Audience

Mayors, Municipal Councillors, and Members of Municipal Assemblies;
Directors and Senior Technical Staff of Local Authorities, Intermunicipal Communities (CIM), Regional Coordination and Development Commissions (CCDR), and other territorial public bodies;
Political advisors and consultants working in local government contexts;
Public and private sector professionals working in urban planning, public policy, procurement, auditing, or sustainability;
Specialists in ESG and public finance;
Staff from academic institutions, think tanks, and civil society organisations;
Candidates for local public office aiming to develop technical and strategic leadership skills.

Curriculum

The Postgraduate Programme includes ten modules, delivered by a distinguished faculty with both academic excellence and real-world experience:

Municipal Governance and Strategic Vision
Territorial Cohesion and Economic Development
Urban Planning, Land Use, Public Works and Housing
Environment and Sustainable Development
Local Social Policies
Local Education Strategy and Policy
Local Government Finance Framework
Municipal Accounting Systems
Public Procurement and Purchasing
Auditing and Internal Control

The final assessment takes a practical approach, focusing on the development of an integrative project that enables participants to translate acquired knowledge into tools for professional use.

What Sets This Programme Apart

Multidisciplinary and applied training, with a learning-by-doing methodology focused on concrete results;
Faculty composed of leading academics and experienced professionals in the key areas of local governance;
Blended learning format—mostly online, with only three in-person sessions—compatible with professional commitments;
Access to a qualified network of decision-makers, academics, and experts in national and local administration;
Special enrolment conditions: 10% discount for IPP members, ANMP members, ISEG alumni, and staff from partner organisations.

General Information

Duration: 120 hours
Dates: 3 March – 5 June 2026
Schedule: Tuesdays and Fridays (18:30–22:30); Saturdays (09:00–13:00)
Format: Blended learning (online + three in-person sessions)
Fee: €3,900

Includes access to the digital platform, supporting materials, coffee breaks, lunches, reserved parking at ISEG, welcome kit, and certificate of completion.