Postgraduate Diploma in Public Management

Purpose

Public Management is seen as an important contributor to the realisation of South Africa as developmental state. The qualification will help providers in higher education to establish appropriate curricula in Public Management related fields. During the design of the curriculum, consideration was given to specialisations and career opportunities in the field with specific reference to the Senior Management Service Competency Framework. Successful completion of the qualification will further prepare learners from the South African Public Service sector for study on Master's level.

On completion, learners must be able to

• Demonstrate integrated knowledge and critical understanding of, as well as engagement in, different theories and principles applicable within the field of Public Management.
• Apply a range of different Public Management skills and scientific methods of inquiry to investigate, reflect on and then address complex or abstract problems, thereby contributing to positive change within practice.
• Engage with and address ethical issues pertaining to the academic environment, Public Management practice and society to effect change in conduct and adaptation where necessary.
• Deliver an accurate, coherent, appropriate and creative presentation and communication of innovative and new professional ideas, methods and research findings to policymakers, practitioners, other role players and academics within the field of Public Management.
• Work effectively as part of a team to solve discipline-related problems and to take responsibility for task-specific outcomes and appropriate use of relevant resources.

Rationale

The National School of Government (NSG) expressed the need for a postgraduate qualification that is aligned to the Senior Management Service (SMS) Competency Framework. Such a postgraduate qualification will assist in meeting the sector-specific management and leadership competencies (skills and knowledge) required and alleviate capacity constraints that confront the broader South-African Public Service.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Public Management 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.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The institution accepts the principle underlying outcomes-based, source-based and life-long learning, in which considerations of articulation and mobility play a significant role, and subscribes to the view that recognition of prior learning (acquired through informal or non-formal experience) is an indispensable element in deciding on admission to and awarding credits in an explicitly selected teaching-learning programme of the University. Eligibility for RPL at the institution is outlined in its Recognition of Prior Learning Policy.

The following stipulations in the RPL Policy regarding eligibility are specifically relevant to this qualification

• Learners who have accumulated experience through their time spent in a career may seek exemption for some modules or levels or status for a whole qualification that would enable them to further their studies.
• Learners who want to fast-track progression academically by way of exemption for modules or levels in consideration of informal or non-formal learning accomplished.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entrance requirements are

• A relevant Bachelor's Degree completed at NQF Level 7.

Or

• An Advanced Diploma.

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

• Strategic Planning and Management, 20 Credits.
• Leadership for Good Governance, 20 Credits.
• Project and Programme Management, 20 Credits.
• Strategic Human Resource Management, 20 Credits.
• Policy Formulation and Implementation, 20 Credits.
• Financial Management and Budgeting, 20 Credits.

1. Demonstrate integrated knowledge and critical understanding of different theories and principles applicable within the field of Public Management.
2. Apply a range of Public Management skills and scientific methods of inquiry to investigate, reflect on and then address complex or abstract problems, thereby contributing to positive change within practice.
3. Engage with and address ethical issues pertaining to the academic environment, Public Management practice and society to effect change in conduct and adaptation where necessary.
4. Deliver an accurate, coherent, appropriate and creative presentation and communicate innovative and new professional ideas, methods and research findings to policymakers, practitioners, other role players and academics within the field of Public Management.
5. Work effectively as part of a team to solve discipline-related problems and to take responsibility for task-specific outcomes and appropriate use of relevant resources.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Information in the field of Public Management is collected, analysed, organised and critically evaluated.
• Theoretical principles, judgements and legislation in the field of Public Management are applied.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Applicable methods and suitable strategies to collect, analyse and interpret information to investigate Public Management problems are chosen.
• Political, economic, social and environmental problems are identified, investigated and solved.
• Problems in the field of Public Management are solved.
• A detailed analysis of a given problem scenario is performed.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Suitable ethical values and attitudes to effect change in any work contexts are critically reflect upon and applied.
• Ethical and sustainability issues relevant to the Public Management context are identified and addressed.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• The reasons why an idea or solution is suitable or not suitable for a given problem scenario are identified and communicated.
• A comprehensive presentation is created and presented to a wide range of possible audiences with different knowledge and expertise.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• An appreciation of the roles and relationships between different members of the team/group is demonstrated.
• Strategic leadership to a team is provided and the responsibility for the mastering of the outcomes of given tasks is owned.

Integrated Assessment

Assessment practices are open, transparent, fair, valid, and reliable and ensure that no learner is disadvantaged in any way, so that an integrated approach to assessment is incorporated into the qualification. Furthermore, learning, teaching and assessment are inextricably interwoven. Whenever possible, the assessment of knowledge, skills, attitudes and values shown in the qualification will be integrated.

Opportunities for both continuous formative and summative assessments are imbedded in the learning design of this qualification. Learners are assessed on the application of learned skills in order to assure that theory evolves into effective practice. Exit Level Outcomes are assessed in an integrated manner by means of group work projects as well as written assignments, wherein not only the learner's evidence of the mastering of discipline-specific knowledge and skills are assessed, but also writing and communication skills, computer literacy and ability to critically analyse and effectively evaluate work-place related problems.