Muniversity: Advancing Municipal Leadership in the 21st Century

Brochure -- large file | Registration Form

What is Muniversity?
Mayors, reeves, councillors and senior municipal staff can begin an innovative new municipal officials development program that is designed to help municipal leaders learn more about dealing with the diverse challenges of leadership at the municipal level. The Muniversity program is being offered in a series of one-day sessions in various locations to fit into the busy schedules of municipal officials.

This one-of-a-kind program is structured around modules that provide the foundation for strong local government leadership and to address other important issues. Each day of instruction covers two modules. The program will be delivered over a three-year period in various locations across Alberta to allow for easier access. Municipal officials who participate in a total of three days of instruction will receive a program certificate from the University of Alberta.

This new program is the result of a special partnership between the University of Alberta, the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties, the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association, and Alberta Municipal Affairs.

What are the benefits of attending?
Muniversity aims to give senior municipal officials the opportunity to further develop the skills required to lead their organizations into the future. Participants will discuss leadership challenges and local government issues with experts in the fields of management and local government. The interactive sessions will also be supported by access to on-line session summaries.

Municipal officials who participate in a total of three days of instruction will receive a program certificate from the University of Alberta

Who can attend?
The program is open to senior municipal officials from across Alberta. Mayors, reeves, councillors and municipal managers will discuss local government issues with colleagues, fellow practitioners and senior faculty members. This program will provide participants with excellent learning and networking opportunities.

How much does it cost?
Each day of instruction will cost $95 per participant. This cost includes two half-day instruction modules, all program materials, food and refreshments.

When and where will the sessions take place?
The complete schedule has now been finalized, and blocks of rooms will reserved at every hotel venue. Hotel details will be posted on this page as soon as they are finalized.

Session 9 - Edmonton - March 5, 2004

• Topics: Leading and Managing Change with Don Cummings; Managing Organizational Performance with John Rop
• Venue: University Extension Centre, Room 3-40, 83 Avenue & 112th Street, Edmonton
• Accommodations: Out-of-town attendees must arrange their own accommodations. However, a very convenient hotel three short blocks away is:
  Campus Tower Suite Hotel
  11145 - 87th Avenue
  (780) 439-6060 or 1-800-717-1277
  www.maclabhotels.com

How can I register for sessions?
You can register in 3 ways:

Phone: Call us at 780-492-5832

Fax: Download the registration form, and fax it to 780-492-1432.

Mail: Download the registration form, and mail it to:

Centre for Executive and Management Development
203 TELUS Centre
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2R1

What will I learn?
The program is intended to help provide municipal leaders with the strategic skills required to lead their organizations into the future. The following modules are intended to provide the foundation for strong local government leadership:

• Economic Environment
  The session will include an overview of key global trends related to globalization and trade management issues, the information revolution, and the implications of demographic change, how these trends affect North American, Canadian and Alberta economies, and the key strategic issues within the Alberta economy that will confront municipal officials.

• Local Government Context
  The session will look at social, demographic, and other factors driving change in western Canada and at various issues and trends in local government -- legislative, functional, financial, and structural. It will also look at the strengths and weaknesses of the Alberta municipal system.

• Governance
  Understand public policy and how to develop quality policy options; discuss the components of effective decision-making; and define roles and positive council/staff relations.

• Strategic Management
  Analyze systems thinking and the strategic planning process; learn how to translate plans into action and achieve results; and discuss the balancing of resource utilization with program demands.

• Improving Leadership Abilities
  Learn how to inspire a shared vision and foster collaboration by creating common goals and building trust; analyze modeling behaviour and improvement strategies; and recognize the concept of individual contributions to the success of the whole.

• Communications and Public Consultation
  Address the promotion of citizen involvement; learn how to deliver powerful messages related to policy directions, and explore how flexibility and responsiveness can be built into implementation design.

• Working with Other Levels of Government
  Examine the roles of the provincial and federal governments and their relationship with municipalities; explore how changes in policies at other levels of government affects the development of local government policy; and discuss how to work with and influence other levels of government.

• Service Delivery
  Analyze service targets and the evaluation of delivery options; explore how to pursue strategic alliances and develop successful partnerships; and discuss the components of essential services and discretionary programs.

• Managing Organizational Performance
  Explore management control systems and their role in performance measurement; address risk management; and discuss the implementation of business plans and the use of financial and managerial information.

• Leading and Managing Change
  Examine the strategic issues that confront public managers when dealing with change; investigate how social, economic and technological forces are changing the structure of government organizations in order to more efficiently and effectively deliver public services; explore how officials can effectively manage change and what processes help in the successful implementation of organizational change.

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