Yearbooks

Programme: PGDip (Public Management)

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Code Faculty Department
07220040 Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences Department: School of Public Management and Administration
Credits Duration NQF level
Minimum duration of study: 1 year Total credits: 120 NQF level:  08

Programme information

Please note that this is a completely online programme.

The Postgraduate Diploma consists of compulsory modules at NQF level 8.  The modules are worth 20 credits each. The student must complete all the compulsory modules to meet the 120 credits requirement for the qualification.

Admission requirements

1.         Advanced Diploma in Public Administration

or

Advanced Diploma in Public Management

or

relevant advanced diploma at NQF level 7

or

relevant bachelor’s degree

and

2.         A minimum of 2 years appropriate work experience in the public sector

Additional requirements

Any prospective student wishing to make claims of equivalence will have to produce written evidence of their competence to undertake a programme at this level (written entrance assignment set by the University) in accordance with the University’s RPL Policy and rules.

Other programme-specific information

Students cannot be registered on the programme more than two years.

Examinations and pass requirements

  • Continuous assessment is used for all modules and final module marks are calculated according to assessment summaries presented at the beginning of each module.
  • There are no additional opportunities and should a student not be successful in a module, the whole module will have to be repeated when presented again.

Pass with distinction

Obtain a Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 75% (not rounded) and the Diploma must be completed within the minimum period of time.

Minimum credits: 120

Core modules

  • Module content:

    • The concepts of leadership, governance, government and public management are understood and applied in a particular work environment. 
    • The legislative framework for governance is evaluated and applied in a work environment.
    • A critical understanding of the relationship between governance, public management and ethics is demonstrated.
    • The implications of the legislative framework towards governance on public management are evaluated.
    • A critical understanding of the ethical and democratic dimensions of administrative activities in state organizations is demonstrated.
       

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  • Module content:

    • Concepts of Public sector transformation and  reform
    • Areas of public service reform
    • Donor-sponsored structural adjustment programmes and administrative reforms
    • Administrative reform strategies in selected African and/or Commonwealth countries
    • Public service transformation, the state and civil society in South Africa
    • Influences of Global, African and regional positions on the local (SA) transformation context
    • The South African constitution and the legislative framework for governance, and its transformational outlook
    • Issues in public service transformation and reform in South Africa including gender perspectives
       

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  • Module content:

    • Theories and issues shaping contemporary Public Programme and Project Management
    • Programme and Project-based Public Management 
    • Appropriate department arrangements to support programmes and projects
    • Procedures to manage risks in programmes
    • Ways to get buy-in to public service projects by top-level political authority and other relevant stakeholders
    • International trends in Programme Management
    • Translation of policy programmes into projects
    • The value of Project Management in Government
    • Sponsoring of multiple projects to support project goals
    • Planning, monitoring and evaluation of specific projects
    • Project risk management
       

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  • Module content:

    • Design of an integrated Human Resources Management Plan 
    • Complexities associated with diverse workforce
    • Management of intellectual human capital
    • Analysis of a high turn-over of staff and staff retention strategies
    • Coaching and mentoring
    • Leadership Development Management Strategic Framework for SMS in the public service
    • Improvement of health and wellness of employees
    • Performance management 
    • Labour relations
    • Role of, and relationship between, the employer (the state), the employee and unions in shaping healthy labour relations
       

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  • Module content:

    • Principles of public finance management
    • Regulatory framework in the management of an area of responsibility
    • Process of the financial cycle in the South Africa public sector.
    • Link between planning and budgeting in the South African public sector
    • Costing of goods and services
    • Principles of performance management and budget expenditure
    • Internal control and monitoring budget implementation
    • Risk management
    • Supply chain and asset management in the public sector
    • Financial reporting requirements of the public finance management regulatory framework
    • Basic analysis of financial information, annual financial statements and audit report
       

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  • Module content:

    • Background to planning and value in performance management and M&E
    • Monitoring and evaluation concepts 
    • Key elements in the M&E systems
    • Result based monitoring and evaluation versus traditional monitoring and evaluation
    • Stakeholder engagement
    • Logical frameworks
    • M&E indicators
    • Impact assessment
    • Presentation and use of evaluation findings

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The regulations and rules for the degrees published here are subject to change and may be amended after the publication of this information.

The General Academic Regulations (G Regulations) and General Student Rules apply to all faculties and registered students of the University, as well as all prospective students who have accepted an offer of a place at the University of Pretoria. On registering for a programme, the student bears the responsibility of ensuring that they familiarise themselves with the General Academic Regulations applicable to their registration, as well as the relevant faculty-specific and programme-specific regulations and information as stipulated in the relevant yearbook. Ignorance concerning these regulations will not be accepted as an excuse for any transgression, or basis for an exception to any of the aforementioned regulations.

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