For further information, students should contact the relevant Divisional Office. The Master of Public Administration course is based mainly on coursework and is usually taught by Division staff members, supplemented where necessary by visiting lecturers. The course is presented in a combination of lectures, seminars and workshops. The philosophy of teaching at the masters degree level is to develop the basic intellectual and technical capacities needed to be effective top level managers and executives. Students will acquire a repertoire of knowledge, attitudes and practical skills in areas such as public administration, economics, financial management, human resource management, policy analysis, politics, organisational analysis and industrial relations.
Information technology is now a part of the curriculum.
The aim of the course is to provide graduates with the knowledge and skills required in major areas of public management. Candidates learn about diverse organisational and policy problems and processes which are applicable to the increasingly complex managerial and political context in which they operate. They will also study contemporary issues in managing the changing public sector, and are expected to be able to relate course material to their work-place situations. For policy analysts the course offers both public policy and managerial contexts. A key feature of the course is the wide range of options provided for persons seeking a specialisation in their chosen topic of study.