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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Master of Public Management 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
96782  Master of Public Management 
ORIGINATOR
Central University of Technology, Free State 
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  Generic Management 
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
Registered-data under construction  EXCO 0324/24  2024-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2027-06-30   2029-06-30  

Registered-data under construction

The qualification content is currently being updated for the qualifications with the status “Registered-data under construction” or showing “DETAILS UNDER CONSTRUCTION” to ensure compliance with SAQA’S Policy and Criteria for the registration of qualifications and part-qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) (As amended, 2022). These qualifications are re-registered until 30 June 2027 and can legitimately be offered by the institutions to which they are registered.

 

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.  

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The primary purpose of the Master of Public Management is to provide an advanced qualification in Public Management in order to equip Master learners with the necessary knowledge, skills and values in public management to pursue a career in the Public Sector and related fields with a view of providing them to function in middle to senior executive echelons.

The research Master qualification will enable learners to become specialists in Public Management and administration by gaining in-depth, abstract knowledge in a complex area of study. Consequently, the qualification seeks to produce learners who can operate on all three government spheres in South Africa as specialists who can exercise executive management functions that are of strategic importance to the successful functioning of public service delivery organisations. Learners will demonstrate:
  • Specialised leadership.
  • Self-reflexivity and adaptability and play an innovative role as leaders in the public sector.

    Another purpose of the qualification is to provide South Africa with qualifying learners who can synthesise information autonomously in specialised fields of study to provide public sector leaders who can handle contradictions and evaluate complex problems independently. The qualification is a research-based qualification involving the writing of a dissertation with guidance from a supervisor(s), the setting of a hypothesis or research question and the testing or answering thereof, respectively. Learners must be able to:
  • Deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively.
  • Design and critically appraise research.
  • Make sound judgements using data and information at their disposal.
  • Communicate their conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audience.
  • Demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems.
  • Act autonomously in planning and implementing tasks with a theoretical underpinning advance their knowledge and skills within the public sector context.

    Rationale:
    The rationale of the general Master's Degree is to educate and train researchers who can contribute to the development of knowledge at an advanced level. The Master's Degree by dissertation focuses on a single advanced research project, culminating in the production and acceptance of a dissertation. The Master of Public Management learners must be able to reflect critically on theory in the field of study and its application in the public sector. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    Learners who do not meet the admission requirements as stipulated, but who can demonstrate experiential or work-based learning at an equivalent level may be considered for admission provided a thorough assessment of the prior knowledge has been conducted, and the correct procedures have been followed. The process will be implemented strictly following the institution's assessment policies and procedures.

    Entry Requirements:
    The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • Bachelor of Arts Honours in Public Management and Governance, Level 8.
    Or
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Public Management, Level 8. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of a compulsory module at NQF Level 9 totalling 180 Credits.

    Compulsory Module, Level 9: 180 Credits:
  • Dissertation, 180 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Identify, critically analyse and solve convergent and divergent problems in the public sector by using critical and creative thinking in the field of Public Management. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Demonstrate his or her proficiency to conduct independent research that leads to the production and acceptance of a dissertation.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Learners must submit a dissertation containing the report of their research. The dissertation has to meet all the standards and requirements of a Master's dissertation. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The qualification has been compared to similar Public Management/Public Administration qualification in other countries to ensure that the South African qualification is comparable to those qualifications in terms of the learning outcomes, competencies developed and the standard of performance demanded of graduating learners. Countries whose qualifications and qualifications were looked at included amongst others, Africa, and Australia:

    Country: Namibia.
    Institution: University of Namibia.
    Qualification Title: M.Admin.

    The Master's Degree by research is done on a part-time basis and should be completed within three years. The core curriculum includes the following:

    Year 1, Semester 1: Resource Management, Economic of Public Finance, Public Management Administration, and Academic Writing for Postgraduate Learners.

    Year 1, Semester 2: Research Methodology, Regional and Local Government Management, Public Policy Process and Analysis.

    Year 2, Semester1: Research Paper.

    Year 2, Semester 2: Dissertation.

    Country: Ghana.
    Institution: University of Ghana.
    Qualification Title: Masters of Public Administration.

    The qualification is offered over two years. The core curriculum includes topics on Public Policy Analysis, Public Sector Human Resource Management, Export Management, Public Enterprises and Privatisation, Advanced Entrepreneurship and Strategic Management. In the second year, in addition to qualifications in public administration and other areas, learners also write a two-semester extended essay under supervision. The MPA qualification is also available during the weekend for busy workers who cannot enrol for the regular MPA qualification. It is structured the same way as the proper MPA qualification.

    Admission Requirements include a good first Degree (at least a Second Class Lower) from a recognised university with at least three (3) years relevant work experience.

    Country: Zimbabwe.
    Institution: African University.
    Qualification Title: Masters of Public Sector Management (MPSM).

    Learners with a suitable Master's Degree in Public Administration or an equivalent professional qualification obtained by formal study and examination and recognised as a degree equivalent by the university and four years relevant post-qualification work experience will be accepted. Preference will be given to learners recommended by those governments or state enterprises which make an explicit commitment to provide the successful graduates with the requisite institutional environment including appropriate incentive systems that would enable them to make good use of their newly acquired skills and competences in the collective pursuit of sustainable development and poverty reduction on the African continent.

    Country: Australia.
    Institution: University of Sydney.
    Qualification Title: Masters of Public Administration.

    The core units of study cover public policy, public sector leadership, strategic administration, managing public expenditure, and a capstone unit Practical core unit in workplace learning. Learners must complete 48 Credit points, including:
  • 24 Credit points of core units of study; and
  • A six-credit point work-based or internship project; and
  • Eighteen credit points of elective units of study.

    Learners must complete all units of study to the value of 24 Credit points per semester as prescribed for the qualification. Learners must maintain a credit average result or above, generally over at least the first four units of study, to qualify for admission to the dissertation units of study.

    During the international comparisons, it was found that most of the Masters of Public Management qualifications offered by International institutions, are qualification-based qualifications and not necessarily a Master's Degree by dissertation or research-based Master qualification. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows possibilities for vertical articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Master of Arts in Public Relations Management, Level 9.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Doctor of Public Management, Level 10. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    When qualifications are replaced, some (but not all) of their learning programmes are moved to the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replaced 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. Central University of Technology, Free State 


    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.