Public Procurement Law and Policy PGCert

To meet the need for in-depth training in this area, this unique, part-time programme provides a 'gold standard' for education in this field.

Overview

Developments over the last two decades have made public procurement law one of the most exciting and rapidly evolving areas of law. Given the extent to which legal rules now govern the day to-day conduct of most procurement activity, knowledge of procurement law has become vital for anyone working in public sector procurement.

This programme is open to those with a legal background and those without, and does not require a law degree. It is designed in particular for:

• procurement officers whose role demands an understanding of the legal rules
• policy makers responsible for designing and implementing legal rules on procurement
• lawyers advising on public procurement
• those seeking to undertake research or teaching in public procurement

It provides a thorough understanding of:

• the nature of law and legal process
• the principles and rules of public procurement law
• the application of these rules in key national and international systems/models, including UNCITRAL, the WTO, the World Bank, the EU and the UK
• how to implement best practice in the context of a legal framework

Careers

The acquisition of this postgraduate qualification demonstrates knowledge in this specialist field of public procurement regulation that is both high level and spreads across the whole field, as well as advanced skills in the law for those who have no prior legal training.

The vast majority of students on the programme are already working the field of public procurement, often in a very senior capacity, whether as lawyers (in-house or in private practice), procurement practitioners in the public/utility sectors, consultants, policy makers or (in a few cases) suppliers. For these students the specialist knowledge and understanding of procurement law gained from the programme greatly enhances their ability to perform their roles, as is evidenced by the numerous testimonials received to this effect.

Students have also used their qualification to move on to more senior roles in their current organisations or other organisations, as well as to move into new sectors - for example, from working in EU procurement law to working in development procurement, or from procurement practice to consultancy - as is again evidenced in testimonials. Many students also report that their professional performance has benefited significantly from the contacts made during the programme with other high-level specialists across the field.