Postgraduate Diploma in Public Management

Purpose

Public servants play an indispensable role in the administration of the state and the sustainable development and good governance of a country. An overarching principle of the curriculum for this qualification is the embedding of African leadership and indigenisation, foregrounding of the local context, and integrating issues of difference and inclusivity such as gender, disability, race, culture, religion and language.

This qualification provides and enhance the service-oriented professional development of aspiring and existing Senior Management Service (SMS) public servants in the field of public management by acting as agents of change and by playing a meaningful role in policy and strategy formulation and implementation. The qualification aims to regularise the professional development of public servants through a uniform and standardised management and leadership qualification aligned to the SMS competencies so that they may improve their performance and productivity in the public service, and contribute to meeting the national developmental goals of the country. The National School of Government, as the official training arm of government responsible for the education and training of public servants, gives recognition to this qualification as a Public Service-specific qualification.

The qualification will assist learners in developing a thorough knowledge of

• Solving public management problems through innovation and creativity for the public good;
• Strategic thinking and implementation capability;
• Financial management and budgeting according to public service prescripts;
• Teamwork, team leadership and partnership development and maintenance;
• Personal responsibility and self-motivation as a characteristic of a senior manager;
• Identifying and addressing ethical issues and behaviour in the public service.

Rationale

Public Servants are to adhere to the necessary competencies (foundational, practical, reflexive and applied competence, with associated knowledge, behaviours and attributes) to ensure that the fundamental values and principles of public administration. The latter will ensure the effective and efficient delivery of public services to communities and simultaneously meet the country's ambitious national developmental goals. Public servants at the senior level are also required to attend to regional and international governance issues and any challenges that impact on the country as a whole.

The South African Public Service has in place a Senior Management Service (SMS) Competency Framework which sets out the broad skills, competencies and knowledge base requirements for all public servants serving in the senior echelons of the public service. In addition to the specified SMS competencies, senior managers must be able to self-reflect on their attitudes and behaviours to bring about the required transformation of the public service in line with Governments priorities.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Public Management aims to both aspiring and existing senior management service personnel to obtain a registered qualification that provides a more practical and integrated approach towards enhancing their capabilities. The qualification ensures a uniform approach towards the continuous professional development of personnel for SMS positions in the Public Service.

The qualification offers systemic articulation with a professional Master's in Public Administration/Management, subject to a learner completing a research project for non-degree purposes where applicable. Holders of this Post-Graduate Diploma may enrol for a professional Master qualification provided they meet the entrance requirements as laid down by the specific higher education institution.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

RPL applies to the qualification and also in terms of the general RPL policy of the institution. The institution grants RPL for:

1. Learners advanced standing, i.e. granting admission to the qualification to those learners who do not meet the admission requirements; and
2. Credits for learning acquired elsewhere through formal, informal and non-formal learning acquired during the completion of other qualifications and through workplace learning and practice. The awarding of such credits is subject to the current rules and policies of the Council on Higher Education.

Entry requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Bachelor of Public Management, NQF Level 7.

Or

• Advanced Diploma in Public Management, NQF Level 7.

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

Compulsory Modules, 120 Credits

• Governance, Public Management and African Leadership, 20 Credits.
• Public Sector Transformation and Reform, 20 Credits.
• Programme and Project Management in the Public Sector, 20 Credits.
• Advanced Human Resource Management in the Public Sector, 20 Credits.
• Advanced Public Financial Management and Budgeting, 20 Credits.
• Public Sector Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, 20 Credits.

1. Demonstrate an integrated and critical understanding of the different theories, concept and principles of leadership, governance versus government and the relationship between governance, public management and ethics in the public sector.
2. Demonstrate a critical understanding of concepts, theories and paradigms, professional practice and ethical standards in public management and select and apply those relevant and appropriate to the needs of the work situation.
3. Draw on own knowledge, theories, paradigms, techniques and technologies in the field of public management to identify, analyse and address complex and real-life problems in a workplace and to improve the delivery of public services to citizens.
4. Work effectively as part of a team to identify, analyse and solve complex service delivery problems and to take responsibility for outcomes.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Understand and apply the concepts of leadership, governance, government and public management in a particular work environment.
• Evaluate and apply the legislative framework for governance in a work environment.
• Demonstrate a critical understanding of the relationship between governance, public management and ethics.
• Evaluate the implications of the legislative framework towards governance on public management.
• Demonstrate a critical understanding of the ethical and democratic dimensions of administrative activities in state organizations.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Critically reflect upon, analyse and apply various concepts, theories and paradigms in a work environment.
• Understand, analyse, and apply ethical issues emanating from professional practice in the public sector and apply appropriate ethical standards in the work environment.
• Review, critique and evaluate multiple sources of scholarly literature in an intellectually independent manner and make sound theoretical judgements through the use of well-reasoned, theory-driven and evidence-based arguments.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Appropriately apply systems, procedures, processes, skills and techniques to investigate complex, abstract or real-life local, regional or global problems
• Make decisions, findings and conclusions based on information and data. Clearly and coherently communicated orally and in writing to specialist and non-specialist audiences using the resources of an academic discourse appropriately, reliably and accurately.
• Give reasoning, viewpoints, insights and ideas which reflect an acceptable social sensitivity in the learner's relationship and interaction with others and work in the scholarly and public management work environment.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Apply management and leadership skills to a team and takes responsibility for the achievement of service delivery outcomes.
• Produce and communicate academic and professional ideas and texts effectively to a range of audiences, offering creative insights and solutions to public service delivery challenges and problems.

Integrated Assessment

Assessment of this qualification will be done in an integrated manner using a combination of formative and summative assessment tools and techniques. Assessment of assignments and tasks to be carried out in the workplace and supervised by workplace mentors will constitute part of the overall assessment of the learner.