Master of Public Administration

Apply educational knowledge, skills, principles and methods to exercise executive management functions that are of strategic importance to the successful functioning of public service delivery organisations in the South African public sector, non-governmental and parastatal environment.

• Responding to the needs of the community
• Responding to business and industry needs
• In life-long learning and the appreciation of the value of education and society.

Qualifiers will demonstrate knowledge, skills and applied competence in the field of study that provide opportunities for continued personal growth, gainful economic activity and rewarding contributions to society.

Learners who register for this qualification can

• Learn from predominantly written material;
• Communicate what they have learnt comprehensively in the medium of instruction;
• Learn and take responsibility for their own progress.

Extensive public sector related experience.

Recognition of prior learning

The qualification recognises formal and non-formal prior learning (incorporating experiential learning) at a Higher Education and Training Certificate Level 7 or a functional equivalent.

The planned combination of learning outcomes are integrated with critical cross-field outcomes for this qualification

Practical Competency

The demonstrated ability/skill to achieve the major Skills/Applied Competency of the qualification.

Foundational Competency

The demonstrated understanding, by the Learner, of the embedded knowledge that underpins the end result/outcome.

Reflective Competency

The demonstrated ability/skill to integrate or connect our performances and to reflect on, evaluate and adopt the above competencies.

To successfully complete the qualification the learner will have to demonstrate his/her learning via module specific learning outcomes as well as critical cross-field learning outcomes.

Module specific outcomes will include capabilities relating to module knowledge and the understanding thereof within a management leadership context, and capabilities relating to integrated knowledge and skills from a variety of disciplines within the management leadership field.

Critical cross-field outcomes will include those specified in the learning outcomes for approved modules in the certificate and as appropriate to the learner's field of practice.

1. Demonstrating specialised knowledge, analysis and application of

• Economy for public managers;
• The formulation, analysis and implementation of public policies;
• Public financial management;
• Public human resource management;
• Management of public service delivery;
• Executive public management;
• Public management law and politics;
• Organisational analysis and inter-governmental relations; and
• Development sociology.

1. Integrating and applying specialised knowledge and analytical skills from a variety of disciplines within public sector management.
2. Undertaking advanced and more independent research in public affairs and analysing and applying research findings in executive public management.

The learner will be able to analyse and apply the basic principles relevant to the following

1. Initiate the identification of community needs and articulate them in workable policy proposals.
2. Apply executive management knowledge and skills to give effect to public policies.
3. Oversee the preparation of capital and operational budgets and develop strategies to implement them effectively and efficiently.
4. Consult relevant literature, undertake empirical research, draw valid conclusions from the findings and apply the gathered knowledge in addressing the needs of the community.
5. Communicate understandably in writing and verbally.
6. Work effectively and efficiently in groups.
7. Apply their advanced academic insight in practice.

A learner should provide evidence of learning competency (knowledge, skills and attitude) by means of the following

1. Identifying solutions for economic, social, political and technological problems in public service delivery.
2. Developing strategies and financial plans for the improvement of the quality of life of citizens.
3. Practical syndicate projects aimed at problem solving at executive level of public service delivery institutions.

Integrated assessment

Competence is achieved, through continuous assessment by demonstrating the ability to achieve the outcomes of the Qualification

• Written examinations.
• Case studies.
• Verbal presentations.
• Written research assignments.
• Evaluation of a mini dissertation by a panel of examiners.

This will be supported by a module credit system, followed by a final exam on the modules for which credit was not obtained.

Assessment documents are moderated to ensure that

• They conform to the scope and context of the competency as stipulated in the qualification.
• They are constructed in such a way that the Assessor assesses the critical outcomes applied, during the Learners activity performance, towards achieving an outcome.

Assessments are

• To include confirmation of the Embedded Knowledge component to ensure that the Foundational Competency is achieved.
• To be verified by Internal Verifiers to ensure valid, credible, true and fair results.