SAQA 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.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Master of Public Administration 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
111737  Master of Public Administration 
ORIGINATOR
University of Limpopo 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-   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 train and equip learners with knowledge that will enable them to serve as managers in the executive arm of local, provincial and national government, and that focuses on the systematic study of executive organisation and management. Includes instruction in the roles, development, and principles of public administration; the management of public policy; executive-legislative relations; public budgetary processes and financial management, administrative law; public personnel management; professional ethics; and research methods.

Rationale:
The institution strategic plan indicates that it strives toward the identified national priority through improving the effectiveness and efficiency of national, provincial, and local government structures in successfully implementing basic service delivery qualifications and maintaining governance levels marked by professionalism and integrity. It does this through the provision of qualifying learners with a deep and comprehensive theoretical and applied knowledge of a field or specialised area of Public Administration. It strives to equip qualifying learners with the ability to evaluate critically the literature of the field, challenge orthodox theory, redefine existing knowledge, handle contradictions and make defendable judgments. Further, to instil mastery of relevant research techniques, including independent analyses and evaluation of data, using appropriate and applicable methodology. Qualifying learners will be good communicators in spoken and written English, to both scientific and non-scientific audiences. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is guided by the institutional policy and is aligned to the objectives of the NQF. Entry into the qualification is possible via RPL as well as indicating advanced standing, provided that it is aligned to the institutional policy and that the applicant is evaluated by a qualified RPL assessor in a manner that is free from any form of discrimination. RPL practices also include standard Credit Accumulation and Transfer (CAT) practices of equivalent modules that may have been achieved in the course of the applicant's studies.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • Bachelor of Administration Honours in Public Administration, Level 8.
    Or
  • A qualification in a similar.
    Or
  • related discipline, Level 8. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of the following compulsory and/or elective modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 9 totalling 200 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules, 184 Credits:
  • Mini-dissertation (Public Administration and Management), 100 Credits.
  • South African Public Management, 12 Credits.
  • Public Management Theories, 12 Credits.
  • Research Methodology, 12 Credits.
  • Public Financial Management, 12 Credits.
  • Organisation Theory, 12 Credits.
  • Ethics and Accountability in Public Administration, 12 Credits.
  • Public Policy Analysis, 12 Credits.

    Elective Modules, 16 Credits (Choose/Select one):
  • Human Resource Management, 8 Credits.
  • Local Government and Administration, 8 Credits.
  • Intergovernmental Relations/Cooperative Governance, 8 Credits.
  • Strategic Management Techniques, 8 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Ability to demonstrate specialist knowledge, be able to critique, and evaluate current research or practices.
    2. Demonstrate a command of and the ability to design, select and apply appropriate and creative methods, techniques, processes or technologies to complex practical and theoretical problems.
    3. Solve problems that plague the Public Administration Profession.
    4. Access, manage and produce information ethically in the context of the public administration practitioner's profession.
    5. The learner is sensitive to and understand context and systems of the profession
    6. Manage his or her own learning and takes accountability for his or her own work. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Discuss a historical perspective, social, political, economic and other factors and their influence on the system of government.
  • Provide a definition of Public Administration and difference with public administration.
  • Describe approaches to study Public Administration.
  • Explain the principle of making institutional strategy the focus of all institutional activities.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Discuss the constitutional and administrative frameworks within which the public manager functions i.e. Characteristics of a state, legislative institutions, political executive institutions, constitutional supremacy, and public administration and management principles.
  • Analyse the monitoring and evaluation of implementation process (from input, throughput to output).

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • The learner demonstrates the ability to use a wide range of specialised skills in identifying, conceptualising, designing and implementing methods of enquiry to address complex and challenging problems within the field of Public Administration.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • The learner demonstrates the ability to design and implement a strategy for the processing and management of information, in order to conduct a comprehensive review of leading and current research in Public Administration to produce significant insights.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • The learner demonstrates the ability to make interventions at an appropriate level within a system, based on an understanding of hierarchical relations within the system, and the ability to address the intended and unintended consequences of interventions.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
  • The learner develops his or her own learning strategies, which sustain independent learning and academic or professional development.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Assessments are based on formative assessments, which are in place to assure continuous learning and feedback to learners. Summative assessments which ensure a judgement of learning at exit level outcomes. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The qualification is comparable to the coursework Master of Public Administration Program of the University of Manitoba, in Canada, which is also coursework qualification covering modules in Governance and Administration, Public Policy Process and Issues, and Theories and Issues in Public Administration, with the principal difference that there is a major paper as part of the Capstone Seminar. The qualification is further compared to the Master's in Public Administration offered by the University of Canberra in Australia which offers a one-and-a-half year full-time Masters by coursework. Topics include Governance in Business and Government, Advanced Policy Analysis, Governing by the Rules and Government in a Market Economy. The Australian qualification has a research component that flows from a Work Integrated Learning, which is lacking in the South-African qualification. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation.
    Horizontal Articulation:
  • A Master's qualification in the field of administration, Level 9.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Doctor of Administration, 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.
     
    NONE 


    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.