CPA Parliamentary Academy
CPA Parliamentary Academy

Affiliated Courses

In 2017, the CPA established its CPA Fundamentals Programme on Parliamentary Practice and Procedure. Following the decision of the Executive Committee to transfer the former Fundamentals courses into the new CPA Parliamentary Academy, the Secretariat has sought to work with new and existing partners and associated organisations to offer a portfolio of academically rigorous accredited programmes independently.

For general information about our affiliated courses, click the + buttons next to each course below.

To apply for a place on one of these courses, scroll down to find out which courses are currently open for registration.

Professional Development Certificate in Parliamentary Governance (for MPs) | McGill School of Continuing Studies

 

Also known as the CPA Fundamentals Programme on Parliamentary Practice and Procedure, the McGill Professional Development Certificate in Parliamentary Governance continues to be delivered by McGill University’s School of Continuing Studies through its partnership with the CPA. 

This award-winning professional development certificate programme is designed for newly-elected Members of Parliament and seeks to provide participating parliamentarians with greater depth of knowledge of parliamentary practice and procedure and practical knowledge of international good practice.

The programme is delivered through online learning and a one week residency programme at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. In 202, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the course was delivered entirely online. 

Download the course brochure ->
Visit the course website ->

 

Professional Development Certificate in Parliamentary Management (for parliamentary staff) | McGill School of Continuing Studies

 

This second programme is also delivered by the McGill School of Continuing Studies in partnership with the CPA.

The Professional Development Programme in Parliamentary Management is a fully online non-credited programme for clerks and parliamentary staff. In 2020, the programme was completed online and the curriculum utilised the latest e-learning technologies, including interactive video conferencing, pre-recorded lectures and discussion forums. The programme consists of six moderated online courses of 6-weeks.

 

The course seeks to aid parliamentary staff and officials to:

  • support the work of parliamentarians
  • contribute to strengthening parliamentary governance in your country
  • apply successful research and policy analysis methods while contributing to the legislative process
  • exchange best practices with parliamentarians from around the world.

 

Download the course brochure ->
Visit the course website ->

 

From Backbencher to Minister | Civil Service College

 

In October 2020, the CPA Headquarters Secretariat signed an agreement with the Civil Service College to expand our portfolio of support to Members through a new residency-based course aimed at newly appointed Ministers and aspiring Parliamentarians.

The five-day programme, developed jointly by the CPA and the Civil Service College, aims to equip new ministers with a skill set and tools in managing a department comprising of hundreds of public servants and a budget of billions.

<a href="https://www.freepik.com/photos/education">Education photo created by standret - www.freepik.com</a>

The programme will cover a combination of classroom engagements and experiential learning through study/field visits.

The course is delivered once a year in London, UK, beginning in 2022.

"This new programme, that the CPA is supporting in partnership with the Civil Service College, will provide a unique opportunity for professional development for Government Ministers and bring new skills and tools to the role. As a former UK Government Minister myself, I know the effectiveness of individual Ministers can depend on their skills and so this programme is likely to have a significant impact on their effectiveness."

Stephen Twigg, CPA Secretary-General

 

Find out more ->

 

Advanced Parliamentary Theory and Practice Programme for Parliamentary Staff | King’s College, London

 

The Advanced Parliamentary Theory and Practice course by the International School for Government, King’s College, London is a fully online, credited course for clerks and parliamentary staff. This shorter, 50-hour course is aimed to introduce participants to the functions that parliamentary officials are required to perform and utilises a range of interactive online activities to support learning. The course was launched for the first time on the margins of the 64th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Kampala, Uganda.

Find out more ->

 

Advanced Certified Course on Post-Legislative Scrutiny | IALS-UoL and WFD

 

Delivered by the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies of the University of London (IALS-UoL) and the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) the Advanced Certified Course on Post-Legislative Scrutiny explores in-depth the theory and practice of post-legislative scrutiny as an oversight tool. The course adopts a holistic outlook that places post-legislative scrutiny in the legislative cycle. 

The course covers:

  • Introduction to PLS
  • PLS in context: PLS, the law-making process and executive-legislative relations
  • PLS within the parliamentary system
  • Triggers for PLS, including sunset and review clauses
  • Consultation, public engagement and data collection in the context of PLS
  • Thematic approaches to PLS
  • PLS and Sustainable Development Goals
  • PLS as a tool for CSO’s

The course is delivered online and is aimed at:

  • Members of Parliament and senior staff of Parliaments worldwide
  • Parliamentary development practitioners, legal and governance experts
  • Academics and researchers from universities across the Commonwealth and beyond
Agora Portal Online Courses

 

The AGORA eLearning Portal for Parliamentary Development was established initially as part of a partnership led by UNDP and supported by the CPA. Originally created to act as an international repository of learning materials, the Agora Portal has expanded into eLearning. In partnership with the Inter Pares Project: Parliaments in Partnership is the EU’s Global Programme to Strengthen the Capacity of Parliaments the courses include:

  • Parliamentary Oversight
  • Climate Change and Environmental Protection
  • Legislative Drafting
  • Comparative Law-making

Access to these free to use courses can be found here and are available to Inter Pares stakeholder legislatures.

Apply for a Course

Browse courses that are currently open for registration

 

Professional Development Certificate in Parliamentary Governance (for Members of Parliament)

Organiser: McGill School of Continuing Studies

Dates: Various in 2024

Location: Online / McGill University, Montréal, Canada

Who can apply: Members of Parliament

 

McGill School of Continuing Studies Logo

 

Course Description:

This non-credit Professional Development Certificate program is designed for newly elected Members of Parliament. The program focuses on the fundamentals of parliamentary governance, including an overview of the three arms of government, different parliamentary models around the globe, the core functions of parliament (legislation, oversight, and representation), executive-legislative relations, the role of an MP, as well as contemporary issues in parliamentary governance. Combining theory and practice, the program uses a blended learning methodology and gives participants the flexibility to personalize their learning based on their specific responsibilities as MPs.

Fees

Full information on fees is available on the course website. Commonwealth Parliamentarians are eligible for a 15% CPA discount on tuition fees.

Download the flyer ->
Apply now ->

 

Professional Development Certificate in Parliamentary Management (for parliamentary staff) 

Organiser: McGill School of Continuing Studies

Dates: Various in 2024

Location: Online / McGill University, Montréal, Canada

Who can apply:

  • Mid-level parliamentary staff, who have the potential to reach the highest levels of parliamentary management
  • Priority will be given to procedural staff, research staff, and administrative staff involved in the corporate governance of parliament

 

McGill School of Continuing Studies Logo

 

Course Description:

This non-credit professional development certificate program is designed for mid-level parliamentary staff who have the potential to reach the highest levels of parliamentary management. Emphasis is placed on international best practices in parliamentary management focusing on their application to parliamentary settings within different political systems and cultures. Combining theory and practice, this program uses a blended learning methodology and gives participants the flexibility to personalize their learning based on their role in parliament.

Fees

Full information on fees is available on the course website. Commonwealth parliamentary staff are eligible for a 15% CPA discount on tuition fees.

Download the flyer ->
Apply now ->

Courses will be added to this section when they open for registration.

McGill Course Advanced Standing Credits

Those students who complete eight online courses within the CPA Parliamentary Academy are entitled to receive advanced standing credit towards McGill’s YCBS 250 Introduction to Parliamentary Governance course (3 Continuing Education Units).

To be entitled to receive these credits, any of the following eight courses should be completed and passed:

  • 101. Induction for New Parliamentarians
  • 102. Legislative Process
  • 103. Scrutiny, Accountability and Oversight
  • 104. Representation, Advocacy, and Education
  • 201. Advanced Course for Speakers and Presiding Officers
  • 01. Administration and Management of Parliament
  • 02. Committee System
  • 03. Parliamentary Procedure: The Basics
  • 04. Building Relationships
  • 05. Strategy, Business Planning Monitoring and Evaluation
  • 401. Effective Women’s Parliamentary Caucuses
  • 601. The Sustainable Development Goals: A Parliament’s Role

In addition, students must complete a final essay assignment for YCBS 250 describing their parliament drawing upon what they have learned in the CPA Parliamentary Academy courses. A pass grade of a minimum of grade B-(65%) must be achieved.

The objective is to provide an opportunity to learners, who are interested in applying to McGill’s Professional Development Certificates in Parliamentary Management and/or Parliamentary Governance, to accelerate completion of the above mentioned McGill programmes.

Application Procedure

To request advanced standing, when applying for admission to McGill Professional Development Certificates in Parliamentary Management and/or Parliamentary Governance the applicant must e-mail the McGill Admissions office and provide the required supporting documents (a proof of completion of the above-mentioned courses offered by the CPA within the last 5 years). CPA learners should send the e-mail and supporting documents to admissions.scs@mcgill.ca.

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