A new course aimed at increasing collaboration between the public and private sectors has been launched by The University of Queensland and the Queensland Futures Institute (QFI).
On the public sector side, the Executive Public Sector-Industry Program has been designed for policy professionals, program managers, administrators and regulators across the Queensland Government.
In private enterprise, it will target senior managers, operational managers and directors who collaborate with government.
The course will have a particular focus on infrastructure, resources, health, tourism, agriculture and not for profit.
UQ Director of MBA and Executive Education Nicole Hartley said Queensland’s future economic and social growth would depend on effective collaboration between the public, private and not-for profit sectors.
“The Executive Public Sector-Industry Program has been developed with QFI to bring these sectors together to support change,” she said.
“This program includes a suite of short courses designed to help you develop a deeper understanding of the interests and drivers of each sector to negotiate more effectively and achieve greater outcomes.”
Associate Professor Hartley said effective collaboration also contributed to effective policy making that was inclusive, supportive and mutually beneficial.
QFI CEO Steve Greenwood said a move into the learning environment was an important next step for the organisation.
“Our wheelhouse has always been thought leadership on those matters that relate to the economic growth and societal development of Queensland,” he said.
“Earlier this year we celebrated our 10th birthday and. as part of that, undertook a strategic review of what we were about and whether we should be doing anything differently.”
As a result of that review:
- There was strong support for the QFI to continue its work in thought leadership – deepening those activities wherever possible.
- There was also very strong support for the QFI to initiate activities to accelerate economic growth.
“QFI has always been a platform for collaboration” Mr Greenwood said.
“It has been a place to bring diverse parties together to consider new ideas and to consider new solutions.
“In testing various ideas with our members and stakeholders, there was very strong support for the QFI to move into learning activities but, very importantly, doing so in partnership with our education and training members.”
Mr Greenwood said the Executive Public Sector-Industry Program was likely to be the first of a number of such collaborations.
The Director General of Premier and Cabinet Mike Kaiser, who attended the launch, said a lack of understanding between the private and public sectors could be a brake on progress.
“The public sector often doesn’t appreciate that capital isn’t patient, time is money and regulation impacts confidence,” he wrote on LinkedIn.
“The private sector (often) doesn’t understand that spending taxpayers’ money creates necessary bureaucracy, public consultation takes time, and regulation is often the result of poor private sector behaviour.”
Course details can be found on the QFI website.
