Businesses who trade overseas have a responsibility to be mindful of their expanding global footprint and environmental impact. Now, more than ever, as the climate change conversation continues to grow, to be sustainable, companies must try to minimise their carbon emissions, reduce waste, and conserve natural resources in their business practices.

Many consumers are also concerned with the sustainability of the products and services they purchase, so it makes good business sense for companies to try to be as environmentally sustainable as possible, to increase their market share and be competitive.

In this blog, we’ll explore what companies can do to be more sustainable, outline the World Trade Organisation’s sustainability goals, and discuss how greener trade policies can address climate change issues.

What is international trade policy?

International trade policy is a government’s rules and regulations which guide and control how trade is done with foreign countries. Each country sets out its own international trade policy, so each country has the means to adopt and implement environmentally sustainable goals for their domestic producers who import and export goods.

What can companies do to be more sustainable?

There are many ways companies can adopt more sustainable practices into the way they do business. Some of these include:

• renewable energy use
• eco-friendly packaging
• responsible supply chain management
• mitigate environmental harm
• sustainable transportation
• support initiatives preserving biodiversity and ecosystems.

The World Trade Organization’s sustainability goals

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted by all United Nations members in 2015. The Agenda created 17 world Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which put emphasis on the role that trade plays in promoting sustainable development. The World Trade Organization (WTO) is central to achieving this Agenda. Below are the SDGs it is focusing on.

No Poverty

Evidence suggests that good trade policy initiatives can positively impact sustainable poverty reduction. Global trade can higher living standards through greater productivity, increased competition and better prices in the marketplace.

Zero Hunger

Subsidies can cause distortions in agricultural markets. Eliminating these leads to a more competitive market, which helps farmers and consumers and contributes to food security globally.

Good Health and Well-being

A WTO agreement makes it easier for developing countries to have a secure legal pathway to affordable medicines in line with this goal.

Gender Equality

Export sector jobs tend to have better pay and conditions, while providing jobs for women in developing countries. In this way, trade creates opportunities for women’s employment and economic development.

Decent Work and Economic Growth

Sustainable development relies on trade-led inclusive economic growth which can enhance a country’s income-generating capacity.

Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Open markets are key for trade and investments between developing and developed countries. This allows for the transfer of technologies, resulting in more industrialisation globally.

Reduced Inequalities

Changes in development globally have been decreasing inequality between countries. WTO tries to reduce the impact of existing inequalities by offering flexibility and a focus on capacity constraints for developing countries.

Life Below Water

WTO members have been negotiating global rules to curb harmful fisheries and work is continuing on issues where further technical work is needed.

Partnerships for the Goals

The targets under this goal call for: 

• Countries to promote a universal, rules-based, open, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system
• The increase of developing countries’ exports and doubling the share of exports of least-developed countries (LDCs)
• The implementation of duty-free and quota-free market access for LDCs with transparent and simple rules of origin for exported goods.

The WTO is the key channel for delivering these goals.

Are global value chains (GVCs) sustainable?

GVCs are when the production of products happens through multiple countries with manufacturing and assembly happening on a global production line. Each step of the process, and each country involved, adds value to the end product.

A research article published in the Journal of International Management explored the link between international business sustainability and GVCs. They found that ‘GVCs, under world-systems theory, recognised the social relations of international actors within a chain. This resulted in the emergence of sustainability as a significant theme within the GVC analysis, including the social, environmental, and governance dimensions of value creation processes.

How do trade agreements between countries impact global economic growth in developing countries?

Being able to trade internationally enables countries to expand their markets and access goods and services which may not have been available domestically. Expanding products into international markets makes the market more competitive, resulting in more competitive pricing and cheaper products for the consumer.

How greener trade policies can address climate change issues

International trade promotes economic efficiency by expanding job opportunities, knowledge sharing, and goods and services into other countries. It may also be able to disseminate green technologies and expertise by capitalising on the connections between countries. Transitioning to a greener world is only possible by applying climate goals to global trade rules, otherwise climate issues could shift between countries.

Trading countries can use forums like the WTO to promote international environmental cooperation, and can also seek green bilateral and multilateral trade agreements, as well as take unilateral steps. However, in order for it to work, all countries need to be mutually agreed and committed to climate issues.

To punish the countries who don’t commit to addressing climate issues, importing countries are able to implement environmental tariffs (or eco-tariffs). This is a tax on products which are imported from countries with inadequate environmental pollution controls. 

Become an expert in trade sustainability strategy

There is a high demand for professionals who can improve global trade policies and practices. They would focus on environmental issues and create an action plan to promote sustainability in international trade.

On the University of York’s 100% MPA Public Policy and Management, you will have the opportunity to create a positive difference in carbon reduction, equipping you with the skills to manage stakeholders across industries.

Whether your goals are in environmental policy, economic sustainability issues, sustainable procurement, or working in a company committed to continuous improvement in reducing its carbon footprint, you will develop the skills and knowledge to succeed in this sector.

While public services and public administration is largely the purview of government, the real-world application of its planning, orchestration and development and performance can be a far larger, and more-complex, affair. Prospects, a specialist in graduate careers, estimates that there are 5.6 million individuals working in the public sector in the United Kingdom. Add this to the number of people working in public administration-adjacent capacities outside the public sector, and the number is far higher still.

In our daily lives, we may be unaware of the sheer scale of service provision, but those working both at the frontline and in behind-the-scenes capacities perform critical roles that have an effect on our individual livelihoods and that of wider society. But what does public administration involve – and what careers are available to those interested in working in public affairs and public management?

What is public administration?

Public administration refers to the sector – which, depending on the country, may be governmental, public sector, private sector, non-profit organisations and local agencies – that works to meet the needs of the public, and maintain a civil society through public policy and programme coordination. A wide-ranging field, it encompasses the planning, organising, directing, coordination and control of national and local government operations.

In the UK, the term civil servants refers to those who are employed by ‘His Majesty’s Civil Service’.and, collectively, the Civil Service “helps the government of the day develop and implement its policies as effectively as possible.” An independent body – but one that is overseen and managed by the prime minister – its work spans various agencies, central government departments and non-departmental government bodies (NDPBs). The Civil Service does not include: individuals working for the National Health Service (NHS); the police; the British Armed Forces; government ministers or officers of local government or NPDBs; or those working for the Royal Household.

The Civil Service adheres to four overarching standards.

• Integrity: the obligations of public service must come before personal interests.
• Honesty: the Civil Service must be truthful and open.
• Objectivity: advice and decisions must be rigorous and evidence-based.
• Impartiality: the Civil Service must act according to the merits of the case, and equally serve governments of all political parties.

What does public administration involve?

Public service is a complex, fast-paced and changeable environment, characterised by the pressure to deliver in critical areas of need but often with limited resources. It requires individuals with the ability to navigate complicated policy issues – grounded in multiple, competing contexts – and improve service performance.

It has a broad remit, generally encompassing law enforcement, education, health and social care, all levels of government, business administration, and more. As such, its responsibilities are equally broad, although the specifics of public administration vary from country to country. Responsibilities are likely to include, for example:

• public safety
• social policy
• community development
• crisis management
• sustainability
• environmental management

The individual roles of public servants vary considerably. While policy making and policy analysis dictates much of the overall work, examples of wider roles may include:

• political risk analyst
• company secretary
• education administrator
• equality, diversity and inclusion manager
• government social research officer
• intelligence analyst
• statistician
• health service manager
• environmental health practitioner
• corporate treasurer
• diplomatic service officer

Public administration in a business context

Management practice in public service and governmental environments continues to be shaped by concepts regarding government – from its leadership, performance and efficacy to its efficiency, organisation and drivers.

There is much to learn from public administration trends and activities.

• How is performance measured and improved?
• What accountability mechanisms are built into the process?
• What is the nature of leadership and how can it impact societal and cultural change – both within, and external to, a services context?
• How is evidence gathered and used as a basis for effecting change, influencing policy, making decisions and developing solutions?
• What can it teach us about fiscal management, wider reforms, working within tight constraints and enhancing performance?
• How do government policies impact the way business is conducted?

Pursuing a career within public administration

While there is no specific path to a career in the public administration field, the vast majority of positions require a university degree and, often, skills across business and management.

Depending on the career ambition – and which level, or either seniority or experience a role requires – it may be useful to undertake specific undergraduate or postgraduate study for that area. There are plenty of higher education institutions to choose from, and course focus is wide-ranging. You can choose courses tailored to your professional development needs, for example across fields such as public policy, labour relations, programme development or public finance. Master’s degrees are generally required for management-level positions and roles that directly develop and implement public programmes.

Work experience and other professional experience can help to set you apart from other graduates, as well as giving you valuable insight into the workings of the sector. It may be helpful to have an academic background in social science or political science, but it is not essential. Entry requirements, part-time and full-time study options, tuition fees and other details vary by provider – for further information, ordering prospectuses or attending open days can help you to make an informed choice.

Gain the skills to enact meaningful change in the challenging public administration sector

Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of citizens and their communities? The University of York’s online Master of Public Administration (MPA) programme aims to equip you with the insight and know-how to pursue senior leadership positions in this changeable, critical field.

Our flexible MPA degree offers an in-depth, holistic and contemporary view of the decision making, strategic planning, financial management and leadership involved in effective public administration. Expand your knowledge through specialist modules as you discover a multi-dimensional approach to administration which spans policy process, organisational and human contexts, and the wider environment that dictates public service demands and limitations. 

Public finance is the term used to discuss income, spending, and debt within the public sector. 

In the United Kingdom, the public sector is formed of governments at all levels – including national and local governments – as well as their publicly funded institutions and services, such as the National Health Service (NHS), the police and armed forces, and welfare benefits such as state pensions. This means that the economic resources that the public sector generates, allocates, and manages are public money and assets. 

It is one of the key functions of government to appropriately manage its public finances and effectively allocate its resources. Governments and other public institutions are accountable to the people they represent and serve for the decisions they make, whether it’s how they generate revenue, how they determine their public expenditures, or how they manage public debt.

The scope of public finance

Setting taxes 

In the United Kingdom, only the government can propose legislation to raise public revenue through taxation, or to use public funds to pursue policy objectives. These proposals are made to Parliament, which then needs to approve the legislation. Once approved, government ministers can carry out their policies within their relevant departments. HM Treasury, meanwhile, is responsible for overseeing the individual department budgets that are allocated from the central budgets it administers. 

What is the difference between public finance and taxation?

Public finance is often conflated with taxation, but while they’re indelibly linked, the two are not the same. Taxation is a method of generating public finance funding. For example, in the UK, taxation can include levies such as personal income tax, national insurance contributions, corporation tax, and the value added tax (VAT) on goods and services.

Public finance, on the other hand, considers how best to use and invest the funds raised through tax revenue – as well as through other government revenues, such as investments, borrowings, commercial enterprises, and partnerships – in the interest of individuals, businesses, and wider, macroeconomic stability.

Choosing what to spend public money on

Decisions on how public money is spent are made by ministers appointed by the Prime Minister. Ministers – each have a direct responsibility for a governmental department andare responsible for the public policy direction and business within their departments. They are, effectively, the most influential policymakers in government, but are also required to heed the advice of their accounting officers with regards to conducting public business, and must gain parliamentary approval for government spending.

It’s worth noting that ministers’ policies are typically aligned with the direction, priorities, and – more generally – their party’s policy platform or manifesto. Crucially, the party that forms the government is democratically elected by citizen voters on the basis of its manifesto.

Other potential influencers of policies and public spending include:

• think-tanks
• unions
• the media
• special interest groups
• wider public opinion

Determining how best to fund and deliver public services

Ministerial departments have considerable control over how they distribute and allocate their budgets. However, while they are largely free to organise, manage, and spend their resources, they are also subject to:

• parliamentary standards
• the direction of their ministers
• adequate controls and reporting arrangements

Within each ministerial department is a departmental board, chaired by the senior minister, that leads on how to fund and deliver public services. These plans are then put into motion by departmental staff and civil servants. 

Additionally, HM Treasury is tasked with ensuring that departments raise revenue and spend resources only within agreed limits, and for setting the ground rules for the administration of public money.

Distributing income

Income distribution occurs when public funds are transferred from one group or area to another. For example, money raised through taxation can used to fund:

• state pensions
• public education
• infrastructure projects
• healthcare
• initiatives for tackling climate change
• benefits programmes such as Universal Credit

Distributing income in this manner works to alleviate income inequality and ensure a good quality of life for all people. Economists typically explore income distribution through the lens of a country’s total gross domestic product (GDP), and how this is distributed among its people.

Stabilising the economy

Well-managed public sector finance is credited with helping to ensure economic stability and even economic growth.

For example, it can contribute to:

• stable prices – rather than inflation – in key markets
• lower interest rates
• increased private investment and savings
• reduced public debt, budget deficits, and associated interest
• robust social programmes and social services that enhance health and well-being, and in turn allow for spending reductions in areas such as social care and healthcare in the long term

What are the principles of public finance?

The UK government’s HM Treasury outlines its principles for managing public resources in its Managing Public Money publication. These principles are:

• honesty
• impartiality
• openness
• accountability
• accuracy
• fairness
• integrity
• transparency
• objectivity
• reliability

The document goes on to say that these principles are carried out in the spirit of – and to the letter of – the law, as well as in the public interest, to high ethical standards, and achieving value for money. It also notes complementary guidance in the Financial Reporting Council’s (FRC) UK Corporate Governance Code, which applies to central government departments. Among others, the code’s principles include:

• promoting long-term, sustainable success that contributes to wider society
• ensuring that necessary resources are in place to meet objectives, and measuring performance against them
• establishing frameworks for prudent and effective controls so that risk can be assessed and managed
• effective engagement with, and encouraged participation from, stakeholders
• workforce policies and practices that are consistent with agreed values

Finally, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) represents 14,000 members who work in public finance. CIPFA’s Standard of Professional Practice on Ethics is based on five principles:

1. integrity
2. objectivity
3. professional competence and due care
4. confidentiality
5. professional behaviours

Help shape the future of public administration

Develop the skills to demonstrate public finance leadership with the 100% online Master of Public Administration (MPA) at the University of York.

One of the core modules on this flexible master’s degree is public finance, so you will examine how the decisions that governments make about public financial management – the revenue they raise and how this revenue is allocated in the form of public spending – are one of the core functions of government. An appreciation of this function is crucial for a full understanding of the role of government and the management of public services. Studying this module, you will develop an understanding of public finance decision making, including an examination of tax avoidance and public debt as major contemporary challenges.

The democratisation (or, ‘co-production’) of public services is the process of developing and delivering public services and policies in partnership with citizens.

It is, effectively, a more democratic way of designing services within the public sector and civil service. Through co-production and participatory policy-making, citizens can help shape the services they use and that affect their lives, rather than simply being passive beneficiaries of schemes and programmes. Citizens work with public sector professionals, often from a variety of civil services and policy areas, to help create these enhanced services.

Public involvement can occur, partially or completely, in virtually all stages of the collaborative, democratic public service process, including during:

• commissioning
• design
• delivery
• service implementation, including governance and public management
• assessment and improvement

What are the benefits of democratisation of public services?

There are a number of positive potential outcomes when democratising public services and service delivery. For example, it can:

• reinforce the idea that every individual can have an impact within a civil society, and can help reduce citizen apathy
• shine a brighter light on large-scale issues such as inequalities, human rights, sustainability, and other topics that are better understood through the lived experience of individuals
• reduce corruption in public services, according to the World Bank.

Other benefits can include the following.

Better relationships

Co-production can strengthen the relationships between frontline public service providers, such as the police, educators, and healthcare professionals, with the public and local communities that they serve. This can help reignite public servants’ passion for their jobs, and can also help humanise them for the everyday people who might otherwise see civil servants as simply their impersonal job descriptions or yet another cog in the machine of central government. 

Better programmes

The democratisation of public services can help iron out any potential wrinkles in public policies and services before they’re implemented. This is because public servants who aren’t on the receiving end of the services they provide can, at times, have trouble spotting issues that might be quickly apparent to service users with an experienced point-of-view. 

Better processes

Breathing new life into existing services through the input, experiences, and ideas of new voices is a huge benefit to the process of developing new public services and policies. The National Organisation for Local Economics (CLES), for example, argues that organisations, individuals, trade unions, and so on, don’t have to be part of the government to be passionate about public services – and they can offer new and different methods for realising social, economic and environmental value within new programmes and policies.

Better value

According to the Civil Service College, co-production can be more cost-effective than conventional methods of service design and delivery. This is because money is less likely to be wasted on ineffective services that fail to meet people’s needs. The college  also argues that by ensuring all services offered are effective and genuinely helpful, this has a knock-on, preventative benefit that further reduces costs. This is particularly noticeable in the health sector. As an example, it points to effective addiction services. If these services are readily available and effective, over time this will decrease the demand – and cost – for overdose treatments.

What role does the government play in the democratisation of public services?

Governments at all levels – from local government to the national level – can harness the power of citizen participation in their service provision.

The New Economics Foundation (NEF), for instance, worked with local authorities to develop a model for co-production, with the aim of supporting the design and delivery of social services that:

• focus on commissioning for long-term outcomes that make a real, positive impact on people’s lives
• promote co-production by working in partnership with service users to bring in new resources and create more effective services
• promote social value, with the triple bottom line – social, environmental, and economic outcomes – placed at the heart of service commissioning.

NEF also provides detailed guidance to governments on its approach to co-production. This includes support with:

1. 1. Insight. Developing outcomes that are important and helpful to people can be supported by identifying people’s needs and aspirations, as well as the assets and resources that are required.  
   2. Planning. Creating support and activities that meet people’s needs requires an appropriate framework and process. 
   3. Delivery. This includes monitoring and evaluating the value of public services, creating service assessments with the people who use services, and gathering insight and data to improve – and adapt – public services. This can happen through coaching, peer assessment, mystery shopping, customised self-reflection tools, and so on.

What is the difference between democratisation and privatisation?

Democratisation is an increasingly attractive option for governments in recent years. It safeguards the public interest and offers a more democratic alternative to the privatisation of public services.

When privatising public services or other assets of public ownership, governments have a number of options. For example, they might sell public assets to private owners outright, or decide that outsourcing the development and management of public services to a contracted, private third party – rather than managing the service publicly in-house – is preferable.

Privatisation is often the option of choice for governments looking to save – or make – money, but it also creates a gap between the democratic government, the public service, and the service users. 

Democratisation, on the other hand, puts people at the heart of the public service process. While privatised public services might be required to consult the public on new or amended services through forums, social media, or other methods of generating respondents, democratised public services understand their public value, and have the public embedded within the process every step of the way.

What is the difference between the public and private sector?

The public sector consists of all of the organisations that are managed by the government. In the UK, this includes institutions such as the NHS, the police and armed forces.

The private sector consists of organisations that are owned and managed by businesses or individuals. Everything from Amazon to local pubs are private sector organisations.

While co-production is more relevant to the public sector, it’s worth noting that third sector organisations – such as charities and community associations – can also democratise their services, and even private sector organisations can apply the principles and interventions of co-production within their processes and practices.

Help democratise public services

Explore the different facets of public service democratisation, including its benefits, obstacles, and problems, with the 100% online Master of Public Administration (MPA) at the University of York.

One of the core modules on this flexible master’s degree is about the co-production and democratisation of public services, so you’ll have the opportunity to learn more about how citizens can be enabled to influence public policy decision-making around public services, and how to ensure that the delivery of services meets the demands of users – both critical objectives in a democratic society.

You’ll also learn about public-private partnerships in public services, and how the delivery of public services involves a partnership between the public and the private sector, which creates both opportunities and challenges.

Modern governance is good governance achieved with modern tools. By utilising new technologies and methods, governing bodies can gain deeper insights and develop new processes that deliver better governance and better overall results for their organisations.

Effective use of new technology

Whether it’s through automating processes or utilising new systems and platforms, governing bodies that undergo a digital transformation can often gain a competitive advantage or establish themselves as a leader in their fields or sectors.

Making the most of information and data

Modern governance relies heavily upon good data to spot issues, challenges, and new categories in terms of trends and market directions. Good data should also help inform decisions, strategies, policies, and responses in times of crisis or disruption.

Greater transparency

One of the most significant aims of modern governance is transparency. Information is easily accessible and understandable. Communication and conversations are two-way, and reporting is conducted regularly and objectively.

Robust risk and compliance management

Modern governing bodies are focused on safeguarding against a multitude of risks – no easy task in today’s complex world. Through policies, procedures, and other controls, modern governance works to mitigate cyber risk and cyber-attacks; protect strategic, financial, operational, and reputational functions; and, ensure all potential issues are identified, analysed, mitigated, monitored, and reported on. There is also a strong focus on compliance, with internal audits, quality assurance practices, and strict adherence to legislation – and other relevant codes – all firmly cemented within the organisation.

Inclusive environments

Diverse, inclusive, and collaborative environments are a growing necessity in modern governance. From the governing body itself, through all levels of an organisation, good modern governance calls for diversity in race, gender, and age, but also in terms of backgrounds and skills – and research continues to show that diverse organisations are more creative and more decisive.

What is good governance?

Good governance should be an important area of focus for any organisation, whether it’s a public body, an international not-for-profit organisation, or a private business or corporation. Through good governance, an organisation maintains and safeguards its integrity and ethics, its policies and procedures, and its reputation and performance.

Good governance informs decision-making, enables strong relationships with stakeholders, and sets the organisational or corporate culture. It also ensures that funds are used appropriately, employee standards – and human rights – are respected, and operations are free from corruption and fraud.

Good governance in the United Kingdom

In the UK, corporate good governance is ensured through the Financial Reporting Council’s UK Corporate Governance Code. The code steers relationships between companies, shareholders, and stakeholders, and “promotes the importance of establishing a corporate culture that is aligned with the company purpose, business strategy, promotes integrity and values diversity.”

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development also offers a number of resources and guides on the topic of good corporate governance.

Finally, the Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland works to ensure “effective and efficient governance and administration of commerce, industry and public affairs”.

Examples of best practice in governance

Transparency

Petition and social change non-profit website Change.org has been lauded for its transparency. The organisation shares its financial information, roadmaps, and strategy in its annual impact report, and also publishes details about its diversity and inclusion.

Diversity

Inclusive Companies, an organisation that aims to drive inclusion through innovation and best practice, recently awarded Capegemi UK its top prize in the Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers List. Contributing to this win was Capgemini’s active inclusion programme, which engages all of its staff “in a conscious culture and mindset change for inclusion.”

Risk management 

CIR Magazine’s Risk Management Awards recently awarded AECOM, a multinational infrastructure consulting firm, and the West Midlands Combined Authority, with a Public Sector Risk Management Award, recognising the organisations’ collective and collaborative commitment to risk management.

What is a governance deficit?

Governance deficits occur when those governing – whether it’s a company, organisation, government, or another body – are not equipped to cope with the myriad challenges it faces, and cannot govern effectively. This deficit can look like a lack of:

• information, which should inform everything from an organisation’s environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) to its marketing efforts
• technology, which can facilitate transformational change in everything from everyday business processes to C-Suite (the name for leadership teams made of a CEO, CFO, COO, and so on) leadership
• adaptability, whether it’s responsiveness to a crisis or an emerging trend in the market
• security, from cyber safety to financial health
• connectivity or collaboration, such as consultation on white papers, governance practices, or even participation in industry events, podcasts, and so on
• visibility, whether it’s of board members or corporate directors within the organisation, or even an online presence – for example, on social media applications such as LinkedIn.

Deficits in areas such as these can have serious consequences, such as increased risks – and increased costs.

In fact, the Diligent Institute has reported that “governance deficits across over 12 public companies have cost shareholders more than $490bn (US Dollars) in value in the year following the financial crisis. At the same time, good governance has equipped companies to surpass their peers by 15%.”

Modern tools and resources to support good governance

Diligent.com

Diligent is a digital modern governance tool. Effectively an app for boards and board members, it aims to promote good governance by managing risks, supporting audits, enabling compliance, and so on. It is the world’s largest governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) software-as-a-service (SAAS) provider, with one million users across 25,000 organisations and 130 countries. Diligent CEO Brian Stafford says that there is “a gap between people in the middle of the organisation who are data experts, and people at the top who want the right information at their level, to be able to help with pressure testing. We’re putting that all together for our clients.”

The Modern Governance Summit

The Diligent Corporation recently hosted a hybrid in-person and virtual event for governance, risk, compliance, audit, and ESG professionals.

Free data tools, such as Google Analytics

Data and information is key for organisational leaders, boardrooms, and anyone in an executive role. While some of this data may require market research or dedicated system providers, some of it is easily obtained for free. Website data, for example, is a crucial area of information for organisations and can be accessed for free in real time via Google Analytics.

Communication platforms, such as Slack or Microsoft Teams

Open communication supports transparency, inclusive environments, and information-sharing – all important elements of good governance. 

Help shape the future of good governance 

Help embed good governance within the public sector with the 100% online Master of Public Administration (MPA) programme from the University of York. Designed for professionals in public and non-profit organisations, this flexible MPA programme will equip you to make a positive impact on improving public service provision and public life.

As part of your studies, you’ll explore good governance. For example, one of your key modules is in regulatory governance – an inevitable part of modern governance that many businesses undermine, but is crucial in delivering on social protection, safety, and quality assurance standards.