Institute Of Public Administration

What Institute Of Public Administration does

The Institute of Public Administration (IPA) is an Irish registered charity (Charity No. 20008031, Registration No. 21087) and the country's designated public service learning, development and advisory body, headquartered at 57–61 Lansdowne Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin. It delivers a portfolio of more than 40 accredited programmes spanning undergraduate certificates/diplomas, postgraduate diplomas, master's degrees and a doctorate in governance, accredited by the National University of Ireland (NUI) and offered across NFQ Levels 6–10, alongside professionally certified CIPD qualifications, micro-credentials, and short courses in subjects including public management, governance, climate action, HR, leadership, law, local government, AI, and neurodiversity.

The IPA's technology footprint is a blended learning stack: a Moodle-based learning management system for course delivery, resources and assessments, supplemented by the OneLearning platform for flexible online courses, MS Teams for live webinar delivery, and in-person seminars at the Dublin campus with regional sessions in Limerick, Cork and Tullamore. Recent product launches — Transformation Services, AI workshops delivered with Krisolis, and PRINCE2 Agile — extend the offering into advisory and technology-adjacent training. Content is supplemented by publishing activities: the Administration Journal and the biannual Local Authority Times, distributed to all Irish local authorities.

The IPA generates revenue from four primary streams: tuition and course fees (€310–€8,250 per learner, paid by individuals or organisations via purchase order), publication subscriptions, corporate membership (IPA Corporate Membership 2026), and professional/advisory services including Governance Forum, Pensions Forum, Governance Services, Publishing Management Consultancy, and Transformation Services. Its go-to-market is direct institutional sales targeting Irish civil servants, local government staff and public sector bodies, with bespoke in-house tailored programmes for individual local authorities and government departments, complemented by website-based booking, email marketing and LinkedIn presence.

Name

Institute Of Public Administration

Legal name

Institute of Public Administration

Website

https://ipa.ie

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Institute of Public Administration is Ireland's designated public service learning, development and advisory body, delivering NUI-accredited programmes, professional certifications and advisory services to the Irish civil service, local authorities and public sector bodies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Administration Education and Training

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Civil Service & Public Administration (HR, Org Dev, Workforce Policy) (BPAIAAAD)

Keywords

• Public administration education
• Civil service training
• Public sector advisory
• Governance professional development
• Public management programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Course Fee Revenue: The IPA generates revenue primarily through tuition and course fees charged to individuals and organisations for undergraduate, postgraduate, professional certified, short, and micro-credential programmes. Fees range from €310 per person for half-day workshops to €8,250 per year for postgraduate programmes. Employers frequently pay fees directly via purchase order.
2. Publishing Revenue: The IPA publishes the Administration Journal and Local Authority Times (biannual), which are distributed to local authorities and subscribers. Revenue is generated through subscriptions and distribution of these publications.
3. Membership Fees: The IPA offers corporate membership programmes (e.g., IPA Corporate Membership 2026) providing benefits to member organisations in the public service.
4. Professional Services and Advisory: The IPA offers advisory services including Governance Services, Transformation Services, Publishing Management Consultancy, Governance Forum, and Pensions Forum, generating revenue through consultancy engagements with public sector bodies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Institute of Public Administration (IPA) delivers accredited educational programmes, professional training, and advisory services to Ireland's public sector workforce. Its core offering spans undergraduate, postgraduate, professionally certified (CIPD), micro-credential, and short courses in public management, governance, HRM, climate action, law, leadership, local government, and AI/technology, delivered through blended learning at its Dublin campus and online. It also provides advisory services including Governance Forum, Pensions Forum, Governance Services, Transformation Services, and Publishing Management consultancy, plus publishes the Administration Journal and Local Authority Times for the public sector.

Product overview

The Institute of Public Administration (IPA) is Ireland's premier public service learning, development and advisory organisation, offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programmes and training services. The IPA operates as a platform-plus-modules architecture consisting of: (1) Accredited Academic Programmes spanning Undergraduate certificates/diplomas, Postgraduate diplomas, and Master's/Doctoral degrees across public management, governance, HRM, policy analysis, and local government; (2) Professionally Certified programmes including CIPD qualifications in people practice and management; (3) Micro-Credentials and Short Courses covering climate action, AI/technology (Microsoft Copilot, AI Essentials, Implementing AI Guidelines), leadership, diversity (Neurodiversity Awareness, Unconscious Bias), local government fundamentals, and legislative processes; (4) Advisory Services including Governance Forum, Pensions Forum, Governance Services, Publishing Management, and Transformation Services; and (5) Digital Learning Platforms (OneLearning and Moodle). The IPA serves the Irish civil service, local government, and public sector bodies through blended learning combining online and in-person delivery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CIPD Foundation Certificate in People Practice An 11-day CIPD-accredited programme providing foundational knowledge and skills in people practice (HR and L&D), leading to Foundation Membership of the CIPD. For Irish public sector HR and people management professionals.
• CIPD Associate Diploma in People Management A 14-day CIPD-accredited diploma (UK Level 5 / Irish NFQ Level 7) designed for people management professionals, with a curriculum tailored to the Irish Civil and Public Service. Includes CIPD Student Membership and registration.
• Professional Certificate in Governance
• Professional Certificate in Climate Action and Sustainability Reporting
• Climate Action: Context and Challenges (Micro-credential) A short micro-credential (1.5 days, NFQ Level 9) introducing public servants to climate and sustainability emergencies, challenges facing the public sector, and EU and international frameworks around climate action and policy.
• Climate Action and Sustainability Governance A half-day course exploring practical and governance requirements, opportunities, and challenges of implementing climate action and sustainability obligations across public bodies in line with the Climate Action Plan.
• Master of Arts (Leadership and Strategy)
• Master of Arts (Public Management)
• Master of Arts (Human Resource Management)
• Master of Economic Science (MEconSc) in Policy Analysis
• Postgraduate Diploma in Public Management
• Doctorate in Governance
• Diploma in Public Management
• Diploma in Human Resource Management
• Diploma in Local Government Studies
• Neurodiversity Awareness Workshop A half-day workshop providing an in-depth introduction to neurodiversity in the workplace, covering various neurodivergent types including Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, and Tourette's.
• Unconscious Bias Awareness Workshop
• A-Z of Irish Local Government
• Local Government Fundamentals
• Legislative Process Training Programme
• Unlocking the Power of Microsoft Copilot for the Public Service A half-day workshop helping public service professionals understand and use Microsoft Copilot, covering AI fundamentals, prompting best practices, and ethical governance issues. Delivered in partnership with Krisolis.
• AI Essentials
• Implementing the AI Guidelines
• Artificial Intelligence Masterclass
• Transformation Services An advisory service offering supporting Public Service Reform, providing transformation consulting to public sector bodies.
• Governance Forum
• Pensions Forum
• Governance Services
• Publishing Management Consultancy
• Administration Journal
• Local Authority Times
• OneLearning Platform
• IPA Corporate Membership A corporate membership programme providing benefits to public service member organisations.
• Ireland for EU Enlargement Programme A three-year capacity-building programme delivering training to public servants from EU candidate and potential candidate countries (Albania, Moldova, Montenegro, Ukraine) to support their accession to the European Union.
• Emerging Leaders Graduate Programme (ELGP)

Quantifiable outcome

• 500+ public and civil servants awarded professional Irish qualifications at a national ceremony in March 2026
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Regional School of Public Administration (ReSPA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 September 2025ReSPA is a key strategic partner in the design and development of the 'Ireland for EU Enlargement' programme. This three-year initiative, funded by Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, brings together public servants from EU candidate countries (Albania, Moldova, Montenegro, Ukraine) to support their accession to the European Union. The IPA designed the programme with ReSPA's collaboration.
• Irish Human Rights and Equality CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission collaborated with the IPA to develop the Professional Diploma in Human Rights and Equality programme. This partnership ensures the programme directly addresses the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty obligations of Irish public bodies.
• Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe IPA is a CIPD Approved Centre, delivering CIPD-accredited qualifications including the Foundation Certificate in People Practice and the Associate Diploma in People Management. CIPD sets the international standard for the people profession and provides the qualification framework and accreditation.
• National University of Ireland (NUI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe National University of Ireland accredits many of the IPA's postgraduate programmes including the Professional Certificate in Climate Action and Sustainability Reporting, Master of Arts programmes, and Master of Economic Science in Policy Analysis. Credits from IPA micro-credentials are recognised by NUI.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Cranfield School of Management: UK-based business school with significant executive education programmes for public sector leaders, including leadership, management, and governance courses. Comparable in offering senior public service leadership programmes, though UK-focused rather than Irish.
• University College Dublin (UCD): Leading Irish university offering undergraduate and postgraduate public administration, policy analysis, and HRM programmes that compete with IPA for the same Irish public servant cohort. Direct domestic competitor in postgraduate market.
• Trinity College Dublin: Leading Irish university offering public administration, policy, and management programmes that compete for postgraduate students in the same Irish market as IPA. Strong brand prestige in postgraduate market where IPA also competes.

Direct peers

• European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA): Maastricht-based institute providing training, applied research, and consultancy for European public administration, including EU-focused programmes. Closely comparable mission, similar European government clientele, and overlapping focus on EU accession and public management capacity-building.
• Civil Service College (Singapore): Singapore's dedicated national training institution for public servants offering customised programmes, leadership development, and policy training. Direct functional parallel as a government-aligned, national-scope public service training body.
• Canada School of Public Service: Canadian federal institution providing learning and development for public servants across all departments, including executive education and mandatory training. Directly comparable as a designated national public service training body with similar blended-learning delivery model.
• Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA): UK chartered body for public finance professionals providing accredited qualifications, training, and advisory services for the public sector. Highly comparable as a designated UK professional body in the same public sector training market IPA serves.
• Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA Australia): Australian professional association for public administration providing professional development, training, executive education, and policy advocacy for the Australian public sector. Near-exact name and mission match to IPA Ireland, making it the most direct international peer.
• Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG): Joint venture between Australian, New Zealand governments and leading universities providing executive education and tailored programmes for senior public servants. Closely comparable focus on senior public service leadership and governance, with similar government-backed operating model.

Broad incumbents

• Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD): UK-based chartered body for HR and people development, of which IPA is an approved centre delivering CIPD-accredited qualifications. Broader scope than IPA, but directly comparable as a credentialing partner and overlapping in HR/L&D training for public sector.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institute-of-public-administration-ireland

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Institute Of Public Administration