Higher Certificate in Public Administration and Management

Purpose

The Higher Certificate in Public Administration and Management qualification is designed with a specific focus on influencing learners' knowledge and approaches in the domain of public service policy development and implementation via service delivery in South Africa.

In addition, this qualification also provides for a module on enterprise risk management that entails, among others, the devolvement of risk management from top to lower levels of operations that will enable employees to individually identify operational risks at their initial stages and to mitigate such risks. This practice will lead to integrating enterprise risks with core business processes that will enhance the potential for public service employees and managers to achieve strategically set business process outcomes.

This qualification also focuses not only on the principles of public management but also on the principles of public financial management to enhance the holistic development of public servants. The purpose of the module on public finance management is to equip learners with critical important applied knowledge on financial aspects of among others, the theory of public financial management, financial infrastructure, the public financial legislative framework, budgeting, and expenditure as well as financial accountability. Learners are also presented with the development of some twelve different and important soft skills for personal and employment success.

Upon completion of this qualification, a qualifying learner will be able to

• Demonstrate evidence of conceptual and applied knowledge of related contemporary fundamental principles, and key terms in the field of public administration and management.
• Demonstrate the awareness and ability to discern, evaluate and interpret appropriate strategies and principles that would contribute to effective and efficient public administrative and management practices in South Africa.
• Demonstrate the understanding and awareness of typical characteristics and challenges within the national public sector environment of service delivery and policy application with specific reference to the relevance of successfully establishing South Africa as a democratic developmental state for enhanced economic development.
• Demonstrate the analytical ability to identify signs of problems occurring in the context of the public sector service delivery and related managerial actions to identify the fundamental actual sources causing the problems for effective remedial action.
• Demonstrate the ability to highlight the nature and importance of ethics in public administration and management, and how to maintain ethical conduct in public service.

Rationale

The academic and political domains of public administration and management in Southern Africa, and specifically South Africa, have become acutely aware of the construct of the democratic developmental state and the quintessential features of autonomy and accountability; growth and redistribution; consensus and inclusiveness that such states, in especially East Asian countries, portrayed after decolonisation.

A successful democratic developmental state requires political will, long-term vision and a determination by the country's political elite to drive a broad-based and inclusive industrialisation and development project.

It is further stated that the ideals of the democratic developmental state are also embedded in the mandate of the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA), which is at the centre of Government.

Considering the above, contemporary approaches to practices in public administration and service delivery, the rationale of the qualification, Higher Certificate in Public Administration and Management can be explained, among others, to present:

• contemporary public service theory to the domain of public service, and
• promoting meaningful delegations of authority and ensuring accountability in the public service, and
• promoting public service as a career of choice, ensuring efficient and effective management and operations systems in the public service, and increasing the responsiveness of public servants.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The College's RPL policy makes provision for all three formats of RPL, namely, RPL for Alternative Access, RPL for exemptions and for Advanced Standing. The sources for the College's RPL Policy are SAQ's and CHE's RPL Policies, respectively.

Three different formats of RPL will be applied

RPL for Alternative Access

This assessment process is based on a Portfolio of Learning (POL). POL is a compilation made by the candidate on pre-selected competencies, which are set against learning outcomes of the qualification preceding the qualification the candidate wishes to be measured against. The assessment for this format of RPL is available to candidates on an online facility available at the Campus of the College or from any other online source via the Internet.

RPL for credit of exemption purposes

This process is based on measuring applied competencies against curriculum-related learning outcomes.

RPL for Advanced Standing

This process is based on a similar process that features in RPL for credit awarding.

The above-mentioned processes are all compliant with National criteria on RPL and Credit Accumulation and Transfer of Credits as promulgated by SAQA and the CHE.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• National Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4, without endorsement for Higher Certificate studies

Or

• National Senior Certificate Vocational, NQF Level 4, minimum endorsement for Higher Certificate

Or

• Non-traditional applicants may gain admission via RPL for Alternative Access assessment

And

• Non-traditional applicants may gain admission via Senate discretionary admission.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 5 totalling 125 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 5, 125 Credits

• Democratic Developmental States in Southern Africa, 10 Credits.
• Developing soft skills for success, 10 Credits.
• Enterprise Risk Management, 15 Credits.
• Public Administration, 15 Credits.
• Public Finance 101, 15 Credits.
• Public Finance 102, 15 Credits.
• Public Management 101, 15 Credits.
• Public Management 102, 15 Credits.
• Work Integrated Learning, 15 Credits.

Exit Level Outcomes

1. Demonstrate evidence of conceptual and applied knowledge of related contemporary fundamental principles and key terms in the field of public administration and management.
2. Demonstrate the awareness and ability to discern, evaluate and interpret appropriate strategies and principles that would contribute to effective and efficient public administrative and management practices in South Africa.
3. Demonstrate the understanding and awareness of typical characteristics and challenges within the national public sector environment of service delivery and policy application with specific reference to the relevance of successfully establishing South Africa as a democratic developmental state for enhanced economic development.
4. Demonstrate the analytical ability to identify signs of problems occurring in the context of the public sector's service delivery and related managerial actions to identify the fundamental actual sources causing the problems for effective remedial action.
5. Demonstrate the ability to highlight the nature and importance of ethics in public administration and management, and how to maintain ethical conduct in public service delivery and management.
6. Demonstrate knowledge to interpret and coordinate guidance on public services delivery related knowledge of the content of various legislative directives relating to data, information, information management, and knowledge management, as well as administrative law.
7. Demonstrate the ability to communicate related legislative, administrative and strategic information, reliably and accurately to public administrative officials and teams as well as to senior management.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 1.

• Identify, describe and explain the core values, origin and history of the scientific study underlying public administration and management.
• Identify, describe and explain the concept of a state, the three dimensions of a state, and the international and national influences that may have an effect on these dimensions.
• Define and contextualise the key elements of democracy in the South African milieu.
• Describe and explain the legislation that guides South African public officials to serve in a democracy and the required values, norms and principles.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 2.

• Describe and explain the value of strategic planning approaches and management tools for public organisations.
• Explain and categorise the different forms and applications of strategic management in government.
• Define and apply the relationship between policy and planning, budgeting and implementation structures.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 3.

• Define and apply the key concepts, terms, techniques, processes, approaches, and frameworks concerning public policymaking in a public sector context.
• Apply theory and practice in public policymaking.
• Apply strategies to promote efficient and effective governance in the national, provincial, and local spheres of government under supervision.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 4.

• Define and explain the public service environment including the institutional framework for public service delivery.
• Explain the need for trust and professionalism in service delivery.
• Describe and explain the place of information communication technologies in public service delivery.
• Explain the concepts of electronic government, electronic and mobile governance.
• Discuss and evaluate the application of ICTs by the South African government in service delivery.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 5.

• Define and explain key concepts and accountability applicable to morality and the public interest.
• Apply theories of ethics in life situations and the workplace. > Explain and apply the South African Constitution from an ethical point of view.
• Manage information and discuss challenges relating to the implementation of e-government.
• Identify and discuss the values and principles guiding public administration and management.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 6.

• Apply understanding of the public service delivery knowledge.
• Describe data, information, information management and knowledge management knowledge to interpret and coordinate guidance on public service delivery.
• Apply understanding of the required values, norms principles and legislation that guide South African public officials to serve in a democracy.
• Explain the role of government in terms of financial legislation, policy and controls.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 7.

• Apply basic communication principles and concepts of Professional and Business Communication to public administrative officials and teams as well as to senior management.
• Apply principles and concepts of strategic information in a public sector environment.
• Describe the various forms and media of communication.
• Select appropriate media for the transfer of information, whilst under supervision.
• Described various categories of barriers in communication.
• Effectively apply verbal and written communication skills.

INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT

The assessment approach followed with this qualification is aligned with the teaching and learning strategy of the College that is based on the taxonomy of learning of declarative (conceptual) knowledge and procedural knowledge (applied knowledge), respectively.

Formative Assessment

Formative assessment will focus on the conceptual knowledge of learners provided by prescribed textbooks

Assessment will be based on the assessment of a portfolio of evidence (POE) in the format of either hard copy or electronic.

Learners will be assessed on

Reports by learners on discussions with employees within the public sector on preferably middle or higher levels of management in functional areas relating to the themes A-E appearing in the Section of Content of Module

The knowledge mix of the module refers to the two domains of learning which are declarative/conceptual and procedural/applied. The percentage breakdown is as follows:

Declarative/conceptual: 50%

Procedural/applied: 50%

Summative Assessment

Summative assessment will assess the procedural knowledge of learners.

• Assignments would represent integrative assessments during which learners are expected to express knowledge from multiple modules into a single assignment.
• Work Integrated Learning (WIL) represent pure applied knowledge.

Monitoring

Individual lecturers, assessors and programme co-ordinators are responsible for monitoring the progress of students and for introducing curriculum interventions to address challenges as and when these arise.