Abstract:

Corporate governance in public enterprises has become increasingly complex in the context of administrative innovation, digital transformation, and evolving regulatory frameworks. While significant efforts have been made to improve governance performance, limited attention has been given to how these processes can be effectively structured within professional education and training.

This paper proposes a research-based learning approach to teaching corporate governance innovation, grounded in the development of a postgraduate professional training programme for adult learners (continuing education) aimed at updating knowledge and skills in corporate governance by integrating innovation as a catalyst for improved performance.

The proposed programme is aligned with the Romanian Methodological Framework for Postgraduate Professional Training Programmes for Adults, approved by Order of the Minister of Education no. 4148/2025, issued under the Higher Education Law no. 199/2023. The curriculum design is informed by a mixed-methods research approach, combining comparative analysis of OECD practices, case studies of public enterprises, and empirical data collected through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Training needs are further refined based on insights derived from the annual reports of the Agency for Monitoring and Evaluating the Performance of Public Enterprises (AMEPIP) in Romania.

Preliminary results indicate that this approach contributes to the improvement of competencies of board members in public enterprises, particularly in areas such as strategic decision-making, performance evaluation, and accountability. Furthermore, it supports the integration of specific forms of governance innovation, including data-driven decision-making, digital tools, and adaptive governance practices.

The paper proposes a conceptual and methodological framework for integrating research into professional training, demonstrating how research-based learning can enhance both theoretical understanding and practical competencies. The study concludes that this approach strengthens the link between education and research while supporting the development of innovation-oriented governance capacities in the public sector.

Keywords:

Corporate Governance, Public Enterprises, Administrative Innovation, Research-Based Learning, Public Sector Education, Research Methodologies.