About the Programme
Our PGDPA is for managers who wish to enhance their capabilities within the senior echelons of the public sector, and for those who work full-time and cannot afford extended periods away from work.
The Postgraduate Diploma in Public Administration prepares senior managers to handle complex public sector problems. The curriculum covers core management functions, including leadership, governance, strategy, finance, policy analysis, developmental economics, and people management. High-level problem-solving, systems thinking, and innovation are integral to each module.
In the Integrated Public Service Project, students apply their acquired knowledge and skills to address a real-world problem, critically reviewing information-gathering, data synthesis, evaluation, and management processes to develop a creative solution.
Programme Structure
- Integrated Public Service Project
- Strategic Public Management and Governance
- Public Sector Leadership
- Strategic Public Sector People Management
- Public Financial Accountability
- Programme Monitoring and Evaluation
Development Economics
This module introduces the macroeconomic challenges of developing countries, such as inequality, growth, poverty, and international trade. It focuses on developing analytical skills for economic policy analysis, development, implementation, and monitoring. Students explore development management challenges and their impact on long-term socio-economic prospects, with a focus on emerging economies like South Africa. The roles of local communities, global actors, and the private and non-governmental sectors in national development are also addressed.
Public Policy Management
This module provides a comprehensive overview of policy management, examining conceptual and theoretical frameworks, models of public policymaking, and a framework for policy analysis. It explores policy contexts in South Africa, Africa, and globally.
