Master of Public Management

This qualification has been developed for the public and development sector and it will allow a learner to obtain a nationally recognised qualification.

The qualification aims to address the management capacity development needs within public sector that relates to policy management, public financial management, public human resource management and project management. These needs are expressed by employers and employees and they are documented in various public service transformation policies and skills development strategies.

Rationale for qualification

As a result of past legacies many public servants were denied management education, training and development opportunities. Also, the current and future transformation processes of the public sector emphasise management training and education as one of its key pillars.

The Masters Degree in Public Management based on unit standards will allow learners to develop their management skills, knowledge and values, which will consequently contribute positively towards improving public service delivery and development of the country. The qualification provides the learner with accessibility to be employed within the public and development sector.

It is assumed that a learner entering a programme leading to this qualification has achieved the following

• NQF level 7 or equivalent qualification
• Relevant working experience
• English communication skills

Recognition of prior learning

Any learner may arrange to be assessed for recognition of prior learning. This qualification may be achieved in part or completely through the recognition of prior learning, which includes formal, informal and non-formal learning and work experience.

N/A

On achieving this qualification a learner will be able to

• Find solutions to a situation or context that is characterised by chaos
• Identify and solve problems in which responses demonstrate independent meta-analytical, critical and creative thinking.
• Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation, or community
• Organise and manage her/himself and her/his activities independently to meet defined outcomes
• Independently assess and apply the different approaches to lead, manage, motivate and improve effective performance of individuals and teams
• Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of inter-related systems by recognising that problem-solving and affirmative enquiry contexts do not exist in isolation
• Respond in an ethically acceptable manner in interpersonal and research situations
• Display a meta- and critical understanding of the challenges facing public and development sector organisations in their transformation to becoming more responsive, flexible, cost-effective, transparent and accountable institutions.
• Think strategically and critically about work related problems and find solutions in a participative manner
• Conduct comparative studies of local and international management, governance and sustainable development experiences in order to proactively find solutions to public and development sector organisational problems
• Familiar with key macroeconomic and development issues and debates
• Conduct applied research and develop organisational development intervention strategies that contribute to original knowledge to the field of study

The outcomes are specified in terms of a combination of specific and critical cross-field outcomes as defined in the different unit standards.

The following are issues that assessors should consider

• Learner's ability to consider a range of options and make decisions related to their context of work
• Assessment balance of practical and theoretical aspects of the learning programme
• Using variety of assessment methods to enable learners to display their understanding and skills according to their preferred communication / demonstration method

Integrated assessment

The assessment process will comprise of formative and summative assessment methods. Integrated assessment will provide learners with an opportunity to demonstrate practical performance and understanding of concepts and theory across unit standards to achieve competence in relation to the purpose of the qualification.