University of Cape Town
Public Management and Governance
Address the values, ethics, and competencies related to public administration in developing countries.
Start date
11 April 2022
Enroll by 05 April 2022
Course duration
8 weeks
Excluding orientation
Language
English
Access resources from start date
Effort
7–10 hours per week
Self-paced learning online
Course overview
A key priority laid out in the Department of Public Service and Administration’s Strategic Plan.
DPSA (Nd). Accessed 10 Jan 2020.
“There is no greater challenge and there is no greater honour than to be in public service.” – Condoleezza Rice, Former US Secretary of State
No Higher Honor (2011).
Duration: 8 weeks (excluding orientation)
The University of Cape Town (UCT) Public Management and Governance online short course is practically focused, addressing the need for ethics training while still teaching you the theory and skills essential to impactful government service. On this course, you’ll learn to lead teams and effectively manage situations unique to the context of the public sector. Develop your policy and evaluation expertise, explore real-world case studies and practical applications, while networking with a cohort of peers.
Under the guidance of a leading public management expert, and with personalised support, you’ll improve your ability to influence others towards positive change. Meet the increasing demand for well-qualified, public-oriented officials who can manage service delivery ethically and earn the university certificate you need to compete for a management or leadership role in the public sector, and contribute to a healthier administration that best serves the country.
Is this course for you?
This course is aimed at busy senior government professionals looking to improve their performance in their current leadership role, or those working towards their next promotion by adding to their capabilities. It’s particularly valuable if you want to develop expertise in human resource, policy, and decentralised service management, or are aiming to advance into a management position. The course will also benefit private sector professionals with business ties to government or the public sector looking to refocus their service to deliver what the public really requires.
Course overview
Introduction
Duration: 8 weeks (excluding orientation)
The University of Cape Town (UCT) Public Management and Governance online short course is practically focused, addressing the need for ethics training while still teaching you the theory and skills essential to impactful government service. On this course, you’ll learn to lead teams and effectively manage situations unique to the context of the public sector. Develop your policy and evaluation expertise, explore real-world case studies and practical applications, while networking with a cohort of peers.
Under the guidance of a leading public management expert, and with personalised support, you’ll improve your ability to influence others towards positive change. Meet the increasing demand for well-qualified, public-oriented officials who can manage service delivery ethically and earn the university certificate you need to compete for a management or leadership role in the public sector, and contribute to a healthier administration that best serves the country.
Is this course for you?
This course is aimed at busy senior government professionals looking to improve their performance in their current leadership role, or those working towards their next promotion by adding to their capabilities. It’s particularly valuable if you want to develop expertise in human resource, policy, and decentralised service management, or are aiming to advance into a management position. The course will also benefit private sector professionals with business ties to government or the public sector looking to refocus their service to deliver what the public really requires.
What will set you apart
An understanding of the complexities surrounding the interrelationship between politics and administration in public management.
Key insights into governance in order to assess the relationship between ethical, values-based leadership, and public management actions.
The ability to analyse decentralised service delivery, human resource management, and policy.
A certificate from Africa’s leading university as proof of your commitment to advancement in the public sector.Course curriculum
Orientation module
Welcome to your Online Campus
Module 1
Introduction to public management
Module 2
The political-administrative relationship
Module 3
Public finance management
Module 4
Policy management
Module 5
Policy monitoring and evaluation
Module 6
Organisational behaviour and human resource management
Module 7
Decentralised service management in local government
Module 8
Ethics and governance
Get course prospectus
What past students
think
Lusani Mulaudzi
Actuary
This was a very useful course for me. I wanted to immerse myself in the world of public administration so that I could learn the language of government. The course is well structured, and I was able to complete every module in the allocated time. I enjoyed doing the course and learning. I like the good balance in the types of activities provided as part of the course. The discussion posts from fellow students were very interesting, and I learnt lots from them. I highly recommend this course – even for board members serving in government agencies.
Course Convenor
Robert Cameron
Professor of Public Administration in the Department of Political Studies, University of Cape Town
About the certificate
Learn to lead teams in the public sector and earn an official certificate of completion from the University of Cape Town.
Assessment is continuous and based on a series of practical assignments completed online. In order to be issued with a certificate, you’ll need to meet the requirements outlined in the course handbook. The handbook will be made available to you as soon as you begin the course.
Get a course brochure
Want to know more?
Why choose GetSmarter?
GetSmarter, powered by 2U, is an online learning expert with over 10 years' experience in developing premium online short courses from the world’s leading universities and institutions. We are powered by 2U to support you in unlocking your potential through life-changing learning with an immersive and high-touch experience.
We deliver market-led courses that equip working professionals with the expertise required to upskill, reskill or kickstart a completely new career. Through a data-driven approach, we analyze future skills requirements and ensure all courses address this need. We ensure that leading universities and institutions are your expert guides and our people, technology, and resources are your engine – together we power more than just education, we power your potential.
Find out more about GetSmarter’s approach to digital learning, course design, and online delivery here.
Payment options
You can pay your course fees before the course starts, or you may opt for a split payment plan on courses that are nine weeks and shorter. For courses 10 weeks and longer, there is a three-part payment plan available. To find out more about payment options please visit our Payment and Financing page, or contact an Enrollment Adviser, to find out which option you qualify for.
Manage your time
GetSmarter's learning model is designed to help you, as a working professional, improve your skills without compromising on work and family responsibilities. The course work is broken up into weekly, manageable bite-sized modules, with incremental deadlines, designed to help you pace yourself over the duration of the course and allow you the legroom to work when it suits you best.
At the beginning of each module you'll be presented with the course content and assignments necessary for completion. You also have access to your Success Adviser who will help you manage your time, and support you with any administrative or technical queries you might have.
Seek employer assistance
By improving your skills and industry knowledge, you'll have an influence on the success of your organization. Why wouldn't you ask your boss to help you fund your studies if it's going to have an impact on the way you do business?
Of our past students, 37 percent have received financial assistance from their employers. You can ask for help, too. Here is a guide to show you how to request financial assistance from your employer.
If you are a Learning & Development (L&D) manager, or involved in training and upskilling for an organization, you can request information regarding our corporate offering on our GetSmarter for business page.
How to change your start date
As part of our commitment to your professional development, GetSmarter offers you a two-week period to change your course start date or request your money back if you’re not fully satisfied.
To qualify for a deferral of your course start date, or to cancel your enrollment and receive a refund of your course fee, your request would need to reach our Success Advisers before the release of Module 2. For more information, please read our Terms and Conditions.
Discover the Online Campus
The Online Campus will be your virtual classroom for the duration of your course. Through its easy-to-use interface you'll have access to a diverse variety of course content formats including: interactive videos, module notes, practice quizzes, presentations, assignment briefs, and additional web resources.
On the Online Campus, you'll also be able to ask questions and interact with your fellow students and teaching team through the discussion forums. If you are looking for your Online Campus login, please see the list of university partner login pages here.
Financing options
We've recently partnered with financial services firm, FeverTree, to offer you another convenient way to finance your short course education. Find out how you can apply for a short-term loan below.
How do I apply?
- You have the option of applying for a full course-cost loan agreement with FeverTree (South African citizens and short courses only)
- FeverTree works with GetSmarter to ensure your studies are financed right away, giving you the chance to join the soonest presentation
- You can find out if you pre-qualify in seconds. Send an SMS with your “Name*Surname*ID Number*Gross Salary” to 30082
- FeverTree’s application process is simple and quick – expect a 15-minute turnaround to find out if you’ve been successful with your loan application
- Even if you aren’t successful in your FeverTree application, you’ll still be eligible for the payment plan options with GetSmarter
