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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Master of Public Administration 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
115323  Master of Public Administration 
ORIGINATOR
University of Fort Hare 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Master's Degree  Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies  Public Administration 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  180  Not Applicable  NQF Level 09  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered  EXCO 0821/24  2021-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2031-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The purpose of this qualification is to:
  • Create a knowledge area in which learners are able to engage and critique current research and new trends in Public Administration towards contributing new knowledge to the field.
  • Develop learner's abilities to not only produce research but to be research consumers with an ability to interrogate multiple sources and processes of knowledge and knowledge creation respectively in Public Administration.
  • Mould a corps of public sector Public Administration specialists who are able to demonstrate an ability to identify, analyse and address complex Public Administration and governance problems drawing on the body of knowledge of the discipline and their specialised area (through the mini-dissertation).
  • Produce public sector employees with ability to identify and address critical ethical issues through a systematic assimilation of critical reflection skills in deciphering complex ethical issues.
  • Produce graduates with the ability to present and communicate academic ideas and critically review information and data gathering, analysis and management processes on critical problems in the Public Sector.

    Rationale:
    Transformations in the public and development sector have, and continue to pose both exciting and challenging times for the field of Public Administration in general, and for the institution. South Africa and Africa's leadership, governance and developmental needs require effective and capable cadres to drive policies and interventions. The increasing need for evidence-based state interventions to promote development and the need for more effective state institutions are imperatives that also place demands on educational institutions to significantly play their critical role in human resource development and public administration discourse globally.

    Calls for innovation and rigour in ensuring sustainability and relevance of academic departments in institutions of higher learning. This is coupled with the socio-economic and political contexts within which institutions the institution operate, characterised by high levels of societal developmental needs, skills shortages, unemployment, government service delivery challenges on one hand, increased need for access to higher education on the other.

    Changes in government funding models have meant that, more so for the humanities and social sciences, resource issues and not just teaching, research and intellectual development, have become an integral part of strategic consideration for planners. The changing education and training needs of society and its institutions now requires not only the educating of 'traditional' students but also specifically targeted interventions aimed at institutional capacity development, calling for innovative responses from institutions of higher learning to effectively address the needs of academic, research, public and development sector institutions, hence this departmental self-review process map.

    The Master of Public Administration (MPA) will attract policy makers and officials who may be qualifying learners, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), government departments, and any other related public institution. It seeks to impart the required skills towards contributing to the implementation of the government policies and programmes on development assistance towards ensuring innovative ways of solving complex governance and service delivery challenges through skills acquisition and research. The qualification aims to engage learners toward decisively dealing with complex problems through an analytical and systematic application of information and knowledge in the management of public institutions and resources. To this end the curriculum aims to expose students to the theoretical foundations of the discipline that will enable the application of skills, techniques and innovation in modern administrative and management practices towards the achievement of organisational and public service goals. Moreover, recent developments in South African governance and Public administration have been targeted on ways to make government work through improved government planning and monitoring systems as well as greater concentration on local government administration as the locus of services, towards a better life for all. To this end, the qualification has been adapted to respond to the need for highly competent, ethical, qualified manager and senior managers equipped with both technical and ethical aptitude to tackle the growing demand for good governance, leadership and service delivery in South Africa and the rest of Africa. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    The admission requirements also promotes access and equal opportunity to tertiary education at all levels through the RPL policy. RPL will be applied in terms of granting admission to the qualification by learners who do not meet the admission requirements. This will involve the application of institution's RPL policy which adheres to clearly stipulated criteria in line with the institution's admission policy. As such, learners will be expected to provide portfolios on work experience and continuing education and/or short courses which will be assessed by the institution's RPL Committee.

    Entry Requirements:
    The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • Bachelor of Public Administration Honours, NQF Level 8. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 9 totalling 192 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules, 120 Credits:
  • Research Methodology, 16 Credits.
  • Administrative Theories, 16 Credits.
  • Public Policy Analysis, 16 Credits.
  • Public Leadership Management, 16 Credits.
  • Mini-dissertation, 96 Credits.

    Elective modules, 32 Credits (Select two of the following):
  • Local Government and Administration, 16 Credits.
  • Public Sector Monitoring and Evaluation, 16 Credits.
  • Public Human Resource Management, 16 Credits.
  • International Administration, 16 Credits.
  • Public Finance and Fundraising, 16 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Apply knowledge of leadership and management theories, styles, models and systems to solve contextual leadership challenges within the global, national and local governance context.
    2. Apply research skills to identify, conceptualise, design and implement methods of research inquiry to address/solve complex and challenging problems in Public Administration and the public sector context.
    3. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the field of Public Administration, including the political context, the ability to produce and communicate information for public sector programmes and preparation for the sustainability of public sector programme implementation in different contexts.
    4. Apply knowledge and concepts in Public Administration to solve public sector policy problems.
    5. Demonstrate the ability to make interventions at an appropriate level within a system, based on an understanding of public sector monitoring and evaluation frameworks and Government-Wide Monitoring and Evaluation. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Understand the principles and concepts associated with governance, good leadership and good governance in international, national, and local contexts.
  • Develop innovative, creative strategies for leadership and management roles and functions as in dealing with various situations and challenges within governance contexts.
  • Craft a distinct governance accountability profile in the discharge of public sector functions.
  • Demonstrate interactional acceptable leadership, governance and ethical principles through applications in practical operations within the public sector.
  • Identify, analyse and evaluate leadership propensity needed to challenge the prevailing leadership, governance, and ethical practices within organisations and boost tenacity to hold on to international acceptable leadership, governance, and ethical practices.
  • Map out organisational strategies on how to deal with ethical and compliance issue in public administration and management contexts.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Evaluate and apply research methodologies, within various epistemological orientations and problems in the social sciences and in Public Administration.
  • Demonstrate the ability to apply research designs, selecting, planning and proposing research projects.
  • Select appropriate philosophies of the social sciences, to inform methodology, methods and research designs.
  • Select appropriate sampling, research designs, identify, and formulate research problems.
  • Operationalise the research problem, data collection methods, data analysis and interpretation.
  • Compile a scientific research report.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Correlate theory and practice in Public Administration.
  • Identify and apply administrative theories that are relevant to the study of Public Administration.
  • Critically assess complex public sector policy and programme implementation challenges and proffer sustainable solutions at the international, national and local levels.
  • Communicate information reliably, accurately and coherent in writing, verbally and the ability to reflect universal conventions in copyright and plagiarism.
  • Build critical arguments and meaningful and critical discourse with officials and actors in policy development and implementation in the public sector.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Apply specialist knowledge, techniques and principles to identifying/engaging, managing, monitoring and solving public sector policy issues.
  • Demonstrate in-depth knowledge and awareness of the issues and concepts in public policy and policy analysis.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the complex nature of policy development, policy analysis, policy implementation, and policy application.
  • Critically evaluate the role of policy analysis players.
  • Demonstrate sensitivity to ethics and policy analysis.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • Application of monitoring and evaluation frameworks in the public sector work environment.
  • Develop programme and project development plans for specific projects or programmes aimed showing understanding of specific public sector programmes.
  • Evaluate the development of monitoring and evaluation as a discipline.
  • Assess organisational practices for monitoring and evaluation in Public Administration.
  • Develop work plans and reports reflecting on effective participatory monitoring and evaluation, Government-wide Monitoring and Evaluation and tools for monitoring and evaluation in the public sector.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Theory and practice are integrated in assessment through case studies of which simulate managing a system based on an understanding of the roles and relationship between elements with wider governance and administrative systems. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The Master of Public Administration is benchmarked with other University offerings in terms of associated standards in teaching, research and mode of delivery. Below is a focus on two qualifications:
    The Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA) in the United States of America, offers the Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA) qualification.

    The EMP qualification much like this degree provides learners grounding in public administration knowledge, research, communication and analytical skills needed to solve complex real world 21st century problems. This qualification is similar to the EMPA Capstone project, by ensuring that the learner produces a mini-dissertation designed to help the learner integrate the learning with practice. Learners are allocated supervisors who guide them through research design, data collection and the analysis and discussion or evaluation of data results.

    The University of Birmingham (UB) in the United Kingdom offers Masters of Public Administration (MPA). The qualification is also designed as a taught continuing professional development programme offered to career civil servants. The qualification is much like the institution's qualification as it is targeted at public managers, and other individuals involved in public sector policies and services, to gain foundation of knowledge on Public Administration developments and trends in terms of the evolution of the theory and practice of Public Administration. This qualification is similar to the qualification offered by the above country in terms of the core and elective modules with a final dissertation on critical topics in the subject area of Public Administration. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Master of Arts, NQF Level 9.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Doctor of Public Administration, NQF Level 10. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. University of Fort Hare 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.