Postgraduate Diploma in Public Administration

Purpose

The Postgraduate Diploma in Public Administration aims to prepare senior managers for their roles in managing complex problems in the public sector. It is aimed at persons at the management levels in public service. The qualification contains modules covering the core functions of management, namely leadership, governance, strategy, finance and people management.

High level problem solving, systems thinking and innovation are threads that run through each of the modules. In the final compulsory module, the Integrated Public Service Project, learners are required to use all the knowledge and skill acquired in earlier modules to identify a real-world problem and to critically review information gathering, synthesis of data, evaluation and management processes in this specialised context in order to develop a creative response to the problem identified.

The qualifying learner will

• Apply relevant theories and concepts in the fields of management, leadership, finance, human resources and strategy to solve complex problems in a public sector setting.
• Manage the conceptualisation and implementation of strategies, policies and plans in a public sector environment with due regard to national and global contexts.
• Promote ethical decisions on complex institutional issues with sensitivity and awareness of consequences in an autonomous manner.
• Collect, interpret and process data and information in order to make informed decisions.

Rationale

The rationale of the qualification is to enable working professionals to undertake advanced reflection and development by means of a systematic survey of current thinking, practice and research methods in an area of specialisation. The qualification will meet the requirements of a specific niche in the labour market, namely that of managers in the public sector. Successful completion of the qualification will serve to strengthen and deepen the learner's knowledge in senior public management.

The public sector in South Africa is facing serious challenges. To this end a number of Government departments (such as the Gauteng City Region Academy (GCRA) have recently started development qualifications with the aim of delivering a competent cadre of employees and non-employees through high-quality and cutting edge educational interventions. The sector needs senior managers across all spheres of government who can operate with a high level of theoretical engagement and intellectual independence in order to identify and address the complex problems troubling public service delivery. Graduates of this qualification will be able to use their advanced knowledge of management and administration to act as change managers in the system.

The qualification also contains an integrated public service project that requires the identification of a real problem in the public service sphere, some research on its origin and similar problems in other sectors, proposing an innovative solution, and proposing a brief strategy and project plan to address the problem.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

For access to the qualification, RPL will be allowed for mature age applicants and applicants with non-South African school-leaving qualifications or previous tertiary education experience, may be considered. However, RPL assessment will be considered only on condition that it is assessed to a 360-Credit Bachelor qualification. A formal RPL process will be applied.

Applicants who have completed related work experience, relevant short courses or who have completed part of a related qualification, can apply for credits to the qualification. The necessary documentary evidence will have to be provided and a formal RPL process will be applied.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Bachelor's Degree in Public Administration, Level 7, 360 Credits.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory and elective modules at Level 8 totalling 120 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, 103 Credits

• Strategic Public Management and Governance, 17 Credits.
• Public Sector Leadership, 17 Credits.
• Strategic Public Sector People Management, 17 Credits.
• Programme Monitoring and Evaluation, 17 Credits.
• Public Financial Accountability, 17 Credits.
• Integrated Public Service Project, 18 Credits.

Elective Modules, 17 Credits (Choose/Select one)

• Development Economics, 17 Credits.
• Public Policy Management, 17 Credits.

1. Apply relevant theories and concepts in the fields of management, leadership, finance, human resources and strategy to solve complex problems in a public sector setting.
2. Manage the conceptualisation and implementation of strategies, policies and plans in a public sector environment with due regard to national and global contexts.
3. Promote ethical decisions on complex institutional issues with sensitivity and awareness of consequences in an autonomous manner.
4. Collect, interpret and process data and information in order to make informed decisions.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Develop a strategic plan for a business unit/department in the public sector.
• Apply appropriate leadership models and theories to solve concrete, complex and abstract problems to public governance contexts.
• Apply appropriate people management techniques.
• Apply different types of financial management techniques in a public sector setting.
• Devise and present recommendations to address a complex problem in a specified context.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Examine and clarify concepts and issues in relation to overall government strategy, objectives and priorities.
• Initiate actions in order to position the public sector organisation to respond to changes in the environment.
• Formulate operational objectives.
• Apply integration and coordination with regard to the successful implementation of goals and strategies.
• Align human resource strategies to overall departmental strategies.
• Manage diversity in the public sector context.
• Demonstrate insight into the use of performance and incentive management as strategic levers.
• Devise and implement risk management plans.
• Communicate implementation objectives, priorities and processes to relevant stakeholders.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Apply the principles of ethics to the financial management function.
• Make and motivate ethical leadership decisions.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Build quantitative and qualitative skills in formulating, managing, monitoring and evaluating development interventions.
• Formulate a research question; and select and apply appropriate methods for data collection and interpretation.
• Analyse data is analysed and interpret results in order to formulate recommendations.
• Accurately measure outputs and outcomes of interventions.
• Compile a project based on informed recommendations.

Integrated Assessment

The quality of the assessment is vital in order to provide credible certification and recognition of achievement. The institution makes every effort to ensure credibility in assessment through the application of clear and rigorous procedures and practices. These procedures and practices are controlled by the principles of fairness, validity, reliability and practicability. By implementing these principles, all parties concerned (including learners, employers and learning institutions) may be assured of the credibility of the assessment process. It is in this way that accurate information about the learner's performance against the assessment criteria may be provided.

Integrated assessment is used extensively across the qualification, particularly in case studies. Self- and formative assessment takes place through case studies, assignments, including the writing of a proposal and executing a project. Summative assessments are integrated into the learning in that they take place at the end of each of the constituent modules of the qualification.