Bachelor of Public Administration
The Bachelor of Public Administration (BPA) program is ideal for executives in the public service as it can standardize knowledge base and enhance better approaches to service delivery to urban and rural populations in Papua New Guinea.
The BPA program is offered in flexible learning mode. Students take two units a semester and complete the program in two years. Students are required to participate in a two-week residential component each semester. Students usually have their own personal laptop.
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MN406: Strategic Planning and Monitoring
Study Period: Semester OneThe unit provides students with an overview of key roles of executive managers and techniques for effective performance in the public service. The unit covers six areas: (1) becoming a better manager; (2) planning; (3) handling and motivating people; (4) leading people and organizations; (5) organizing; and (6) monitoring. Application of learning to real-life workplace contexts and roles of students is central to the learning process.
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MN425: Public Sector Leadership Values & Ethics
Study Period: Semester OneBased on Christian principles and values, this unit is designed to train public servants to be responsible for ensuring the highest standard of ethical conduct in public service. It includes promoting ethical standards, respecting human rights, assisting staff to avoid conflict of interests and cultural biases hence fostering integrity of conduct in decision making and workplace practices.
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MN410: Public Sector Policies & Legislations
Study Period: Semester TwoStudents explore important policies and legislations such as the Public Service Management Act and Public Finance Management Act. This unit provides students with information they need to actively perform their roles within the Government Jurisdiction. It provides students with the knowledge and skills to undertake initial assessments on major government policies, and the roles and responsibilities of public servants to implement and monitor those public policies effectively and efficiently. Students will be expected to share experiences and strategies for coordinating and implementing government policies.
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MN430: Program Evaluation for Policy Development
Study Period: Semester TwoImpact evaluations of development projects and programs are a growing trend especially in developing countries. There is also growing understanding of the importance of evaluations into policy decision-making process, even in the presence of political and administrative constraints. The unit introduces students into the concept of and steps in policy and program evaluations. It also provides an overview of evaluation methods and various evaluation designs. Students are taught how to develop an evidence-based policy brief.
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MN408: Public Sector Financial Management
Study Period: Semester OneThis unit provides students with an understanding of the Public Sector Financial Management and Government Accounting. Students will be able to establish how a financial statement communicates the financing, investing, operating activities and decision making for public sector managers who are users of accounting information. This unit develops students’ managerial capacity by exploring financial information for decisions making.
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MN426: Managing Human Resources in the Public Sector
Study Period: Semester OneThis unit develops students’ capacity for personnel management focused on the human resource element in the government public sector. The topics will discuss current reforms and means to link theory and practice to government’s vision 2050. Most of the discussions will be delivered through lectures, video presentations, case studies and class discussions. Techniques and skills of leadership and supervision will be emphasized throughout the residential sessions.
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MN429 Managing Public Sector Procurements and contracts
Study Period: Semester TwoProcurement has become a key part of the planning and coordinating process across projects in the public sector. This unit will assist students to manage costs, increase quality and reduce risk in managing procurement processes. Participants will be introduced to some of the tools and constraints associated with managing both small and large project contracts including procurement approaches.
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MN431: Government and Principles of Governance
Study Period: Semester TwoThe unit oversees essential functions of government and the principles of governance such as values, policies, rules and practices are implemented and coordinated by authorities within the governing processes. Students develop critical assimilation through constructive investigation into the mechanics of powers and the institution of the governance structures where practices of good governance will be ensured, where demarcation of duties and responsibilities will be clearly identified, supervised and managed to facilitate optimal outcomes.
Admission requirements
Applicants should hold a diploma in public policy or management related fields and have a minimum of three years’ workplace experience.
