Master of Public Management in Municipal Management

Purpose

The Master of Public Management in Municipal Management is intended to prepare learners for a course work based postgraduate studies in the area of local government. It serves to consolidate and deepen a learner's knowledge of local government and public service in general and to develop research capacity in its methodology and techniques. In view of the modular offering focus in the qualification, the primary purpose is therefore to educate researchers and professionals who can independently or collectively contribute to the knowledge and practice in local government and public service through direct scholastic support. The qualification intends to increase the knowledge and skills in research on issues that need high level local government interventions in society and practice in particular. The qualification will provide learners with scientific knowledge that should add value to existing status quo in the state and nature of local government management in order to develop it to a higher level in terms of its practical application to conditions and situations of service delivery. In terms of research capacity development, the qualification is a preparatory process for learners who wish to proceed to doctoral studies through a mini-dissertation and therefore will motivate its learners to aspire and be motivated for further studies in their specialisation within municipal management and the field of public management in general.

In view of the above qualification purpose and capacity building of the qualification, the expected outcomes on the learners will include analytical skills, ability to plan and implement research a qualification, write research reports through compiling a mini-dissertation that has potential for publication of results that can contribute to solutions to national, regional and international social, political, cultural, linguistic, and any other challenges that can influence access to and achievement in education.

Exposure of learners to knowledge on the current developments in local government management and emerging implications on institutional frameworks, service delivery and best practices will develop articulation towards professionalism. The degree further intends to equip learners with skills and competencies required to take the role as policy makers, heads of departments and directors working in local authorities in a manner that reflects strong commitment to service provision to citizens as customers by demonstrating high degree of professionalism. An applicant has to prove proficiency in both oral and written English and should have a minimum background studies in Public Administration, Political Science, and Sociology, local government Management, Education and Law will be preferred.

Rationale

South Africa and the Southern African region is in need of highly qualified and professionally trained municipality officials, municipal councillors, policy makers and public servants in general. The qualification will therefore provide an opportunity for learners who wish to develop their capacity within specific areas of local government. Local governance is experiencing a variety of challenges that require qualified researchers and practitioners. There is need for having professionals in local government with developed levels of analysis in the areas of local governance who could improve the level of intervention in both academia and practice.

As a national requirement, the qualification meets the national requirements for NQF level 10 as per SAQA level descriptors to provide enrolled learners with the knowledge and skills on theoretical and methodological techniques in Municipal Management. It will serve to consolidate and deepen learners' knowledge in the field of Municipal Management and to develop research capacity in its methodology and techniques. The qualification includes conducting and reporting on research under supervision of highly qualified academics/researchers.

Qualifying learners from this qualification may enrol for doctoral qualifications or as researchers and academics in their fields and practice in the country.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

RPL assessment practices are guided by institution's RPL policy. To be admitted to the qualification, a learner must be employed in the public service and have a basic undergraduate qualification. Experience in the practice of public administration and the term of service should be confirmed by the employer. The service should be continuous for a period of more than five years, and the learner should be employed in a managerial position.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirements for this qualification are

• Bachelor of Administration Honours in Public Management, NQF Level 8.

Or

• Postgraduate Diploma in Municipal Management, NQF Level 8.

This qualification comprises of compulsory and elective modules at NQF Level 9 totalling 201 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 9, 156 Credits.

• Municipal Law, 18 Credits.
• Research Methodology, 15 Credits.
• Municipal Service Delivery, 15 Credits.
• Ethics and Accountability, 15 Credits.
• Policy and Policy Making, 15 Credits.
• Financial Management, 18 Credits.
• Mini Dissertation, 60 Credits.

Elective Modules, Level 9, 45 Credits (Choose Three Modules)

• Productivity and Performance, 15 Credits.
• Municipal Government, Reconstruction and Municipal management, 15 Credits.
• Municipal Committee Management, 15 Credits.
• Municipal Electoral Systems, 15 Credits.

1. Relate theoretical issues with practical experiences and use such relationship to analyse critical issues and problems in public administration within municipal management context;
2. Take managerial roles in the public domain through equipped competencies required in proactively developing better strategies in municipal management;
3. Design and implement a strategy for the processing and management of information, in order to conduct a comprehensive review of leading and current research in an area of specialization to produce significant insights;
4. Use the resources of academic and professional or occupational discourses to communicate and defend substantial ideas that are the products of research or development in an area of specialization;
5. Develop own learning strategies, which sustain independent learning and academic or professional development; and can interact effectively within the learning or professional group as a means of enhancing learning;
6. Operate independently and take full responsibility for own work, and, where appropriate, to account for leading and initiating processes and implementing systems, ensuring good resource management and governance practices.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 1

• Display an appropriate understanding of policy formation that underpin municipal management.
• Understand various theories that are applicable within the landscape of municipal management.
• Put in place ethical values and behaviours that are required in municipal management.
• Professionalise municipal management.
• Enhanced service delivery.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 2

• Apply fundamental and specialist knowledge by bringing critical theoretical methods and analysis within municipal management.
• Communicate concepts, ideas and theories with the aid theoretical dispositions.
• Stimulate career advancement.
• Professionalism is developed.
• Use techniques, principles and laws of municipal management in at least one specialist area.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 3

• Demonstrate knowledge of varied strategies to process information.
• Manage research information and also process it to get useful insights.
• Apply defendable ways of collecting and analysis of the information gathered.
• Articulate the insights derived from the information and the data collected.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 4

• Use resources be it academic, professional or specialized knowledge of Chemistry Education to develop a dissertation or thesis and even publish the work.
• Communicate at different levels to differing audiences the products of research, as in conferences, schools or institutions, journal articles.
• Communicate with audiences with differing knowledge of the aspects of research.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 5

• Use time profitably whereby it leads to widening his/her area of knowledge and expertise through reading journals, e-books, resources from scholarly websites and other online resources.
• Ability to improve own learning through starting online or face to face groups so as to encourage and develop learning to self and others.
• Contribute to learning in academic and professional groupings.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 6

• Take responsibility for what is done through studying contexts and theoretical foundations leading to being confident of what is delivered.
• Demonstrate underlying theoretical processes to what is being worked on.
• Account for effective distribution of resource allocation and management.
• Demonstrate knowledge of governance positions with reference to systems being implemented or being put in place.

Integrated Assessment

Assessments in the degree are in the form of both formative and summative. The formative assessments are conducted during the lecturer block contacts. The requirement is that each subject must have the minimum of 40hrs block contact per semester.

Summative assessments are conducted through compulsory tests and assignments. The summative assessments are spread on the ratio of 60:40 for qualifying to write the examination. Learners must have all the credits of taught courses in order to proceed to the writing of a mini-dissertation.

For the mini-dissertation examiners will be nominated and approved by the Board of the Institute. An internal examiner and an external examiner who will assess the mini-dissertation are nominated. Each of the examiners shall comment on the mini-dissertation in writing, and give a clear breakdown on how they arrived on the final decision on the mini-dissertation.