Postgraduate Diploma
in Public Management

Apply by:

04 February 2025

To start by:

10 March 2025

Apply by:

30 November 2024

To start by:

13 January 2025

Study a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Management

Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences

Department/School:

School of Public Management and Administration

Plan description: PGDip (Public Management)

Plan code: 07220041

SAQA ID: 115924

Minimum duration of study: 2 years

This qualification has been designed to provide and enhance the service-oriented professional development of aspiring and/or existing senior management service public officials in the field of public management, by acting as agents of change and by playing a meaningful role in policy and strategy formulation and implementation. The qualification aims to regularise the professional development of public officials through a uniform and standardised management and leadership programme aligned to the management competencies, so that they may improve their performance and productivity in the public sector, and contribute to meaningful change. South Africa’s National School of Government, the official training arm of government responsible for the education and training of public officials, gives recognition to this qualification as a public sector-specific qualification.

The qualification will assist students to develop a thorough knowledge of:

Solving public management problems through innovation and creativity for the public good;
Strategic thinking and implementation capability;
Financial management and budgeting according to public service prescripts;
Teamwork, team leadership, and partnership development and maintenance;
Personal responsibility and self-motivation as a characteristic of a senior manager; and
Identifying and addressing ethical issues and behaviour in the public sector.

Prof Michel Tshiyoyo

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Admission Requirements

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Modules & Credits

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Module Information

Fees

Admission Requirements and Closing Dates

You can apply any time of the year to enrol for a UPOnline programme.
UPOnline programmes have 6 start dates throughout the year.
Applications must be submitted at least 2 weeks before the start date. Any applications received after this deadline will be considered for the subsequent start date.
You should complete only one online application per programme. Once you are admitted into the online programme, you will need to register for your first module. After completion of the first module, you will register for the second one, and so forth until you have successfully completed all the required modules.
The relevant departments will process the applications on an ongoing basis.
Qualifications obtained outside South Africa will need to be ratified by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).
Students must be able to dedicate about 15 hours a week to their studies as there are weekly engagements and commitments in each module.

Minimum admission requirements:

Admission into the PGDip Public Management is subject to the University of Pretoria’s General Rules, and the specific requirements for the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, and the School of Public Management and Administration. In addition, the following minimum requirements will apply:

Advanced Diploma in Public Administration (NQF Level 7)
OR
Advanced Diploma in Public Management (NQF Level 7)
OR
Relevant Advanced Diploma (NQF Level 7)
OR
Relevant Bachelor’s degree (NQF Level 7)
AND
A minimum of 3 years’ appropriate work experience in the public sector.

Technical Requirements

To complete your studies successfully, you will need to:

Be computer literate
Own a laptop or desktop computer
Have access to a stable internet connection

UPOnline Annual Increase

Module pricing is subject to change at the beginning of every year without prior notice.
UPOnline tuition fees will increase annually by approximately 5%.
The annual increase will apply from the March intake, which is the second intake of the year.
If the programme fee is paid in full upfront the student is still liable for the difference between the upfront payment and increased amount until the completion of the programme.
All-inclusive total programme cost.

Modules & Credits

Module Code	Module Name	Credits	Weeks*
PMA 707	Governance, Public Management and African Leadership	20	16
PMA 708	Public Sector Transformation and Reform	20	16
PMA 709	Programme and Project Management in the Public Sector	20	16
PMA 710	Advanced Human Resource Management in the Public Sector	20	16
PMA 711	Advanced Public Financial Management and Budgeting	20	16
PMA 712	Public Sector Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation	20	16
Total offering credits and weeks		120	96

* A 16-week module typically consists of 14 weeks of teaching and 2 weeks of recess.

Module Information

The full curriculum is displayed below.

Governance, Public Management and African Leadership 707
Module code	PMA 707
Qualification	Postgraduate
Faculty	Economics and Management Sciences
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.
Module credits	20
Programmes	PGDip Public Management

Public Sector Transformation and Reform 708
Module code	PMA 708
Qualification	Postgraduate
Faculty	Economics and Management Sciences
Module content	Concepts of public sector transformation and reform. Areas of public sector reform. Donor-sponsored structural adjustment programmes and administrative reforms. Administrative reform strategies in selected African and/or Commonwealth countries. Public sector 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 sector transformation and reform in South Africa including gender perspectives.
Module credits	20
Programmes	PGDip Public Management

Programme and Project Management in the Public Sector 709
Module code	PMA 709
Qualification	Postgraduate
Faculty	Economics and Management Sciences
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.
Module credits	20
Programmes	PGDip Public Management

Advanced Human Resource Management in the Public Sector 710
Module code	PMA 710
Qualification	Postgraduate
Faculty	Economics and Management Sciences
Module content	Design of an integrated human resources management plan. Complexities associated with a 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.
Module credits	20
Programmes	PGDip Public Management

Advanced Public Financial Management and Budgeting 711
Module code	PMA 711
Qualification	Postgraduate
Faculty	Economics and Management Sciences
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.
Module credits	20
Programmes	PGDip Public Management

Public Sector Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation 712
Module code	PMA 712
Qualification	Postgraduate
Faculty	Economics and Management Sciences
Module content	Background to planning and value in performance management and monitoring and evaluation. M&E concepts. Key elements in the M&E systems. Result based M&E versus traditional M&E. Stakeholder engagement. Logical frameworks. M&E indicators. Impact assessment. Presentation and use of evaluation findings.
Module credits	20
Programme	PGDip Public Management

Postgraduate Diploma
in Public Management

Study a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Management

Prof Michel Tshiyoyo

Admission Requirements and Closing Dates

Technical Requirements

UPOnline Annual Increase

Modules & Credits

Module Information

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