About this qualification
The Higher Certificate in Public Administration and Management programme is intended for public officials and elected political leaders involved with service delivery activities and strategic-level objectives for communities.
This type of programme contributes to the development of management skills for political executives, executive managers, and other role-players who contribute to the development of improved service delivery in the public sector. The knowledge and skills will equip students to function in the highly complex and dynamic public arena where state, market forces, and civilians interact in the shaping of society.
8 credit-bearing modules
- 1 year full time/2 years part time
10-20 hours / week
- Lecture-support online distance learning
MODE:
Fully Online
NQF LEVEL:
5
SAQA ID:
118443
CREDITS:
120
DURATION:
Flexible payment options available
Programme syllabus
This qualification contains 8 credit-bearing modules and offers an industry-relevant curriculum aimed at developing skills and applied competencies for the public administrative sector including: service delivery excellence, human resource management, ethical public sector approaches and public organisation and development practices, to enable graduates to participate in national and provicial government, in a variety of roles.
Kickstart your studies with an introduction to higher education, covering topics such as the essential elements for student success, study methods to best suit your learning style and practical approaches to academic reading and writing methodologies.
Grow your knowledge of government functions, systems, structures, processes and power relationships as you explore the complex environment of governance in the administration of public activities, in South Africa.
Gain an understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of public management and public administration, as well as the impact of such theory on practice, in the executive arm of government responsible for policy implementation.
Combined with learnings from the Foundations of Public Administration, Public Management and Governance module, enhance your ability to apply knowledge of practices surrounding budget, operational, human resource and strategic management processes, in the public sector.
Deepen your knowledge of the requirements to achieve service delivery excellence through an indepth look at the Batho Pele principles, the Integrated Talent Management model, the E-Government approach to service delivery, and much more, to equip you to provide excellent service to communities across the country.
Buiit on a strong legislative base, explore various issues related to the management of recruitment, training, development, performance management and labour relations practices in the public sector, to enhance and build professionalism and quality supervision in the management of the human capital of government.
Conclude this programme with learnings related to knowledge and insight regarding the theories and principles in public organisational design and development so that public sector organisations can be effectively utilised to optimise service delivery objectives.
- Total Credits: 120 | NQF Level: 5
Quick links:
More about this qualification
Upon successful completion of this programme you should be able to:
- Utilise the required academic knowledge and skills to function optimally at the entry level of higher education learning;
- Provide knowledge and insight regarding the meaning, nature, scope of the state and government as well as the different stakeholders in the public sector. This includes an overview of power relationships, functions, systems, structures and processes within the state and government;
- Explain the theoretical underpinnings of Public Administration and Management (PAM) that impact the executive arm of government responsible for policy implementation;
- Critically discuss the requirements for effective public sector management which are relevant to management applications, skills and competencies;
- Address the dynamic nature of service delivery in government and types of services as well as the government’s machinery to successfully render essential services;
- Explain the significance of sound labour relations and healthy human resource management in the public sector to improve productivity, teamwork, and the quality of supervision;
- Identify ethical issues and critically analyse ethics management and a code of conduct within the public sector and propose ways to strengthen ethical practices and evaluate a code of conduct accordingly; and
- Provide knowledge and insight regarding the theories and principles in public organisational design and development so that public sector organisations can be effectively utilised to optimise service delivery objectives.
- During this programme you will complete various types of assessments, namely formative and summative assessments.
- Each module contains a minimum of two formative assessments which combine to contribute 30% towards your final mark, and one summative assessment which contributes 70% towards your final mark.
- Assessments within this programme are aimed towards the practical demonstration of skills acquired during the course of the semester.
A lecturer is assigned to each module in this programme. As the mode of delivery is distance education, all instruction will take place via our Virtual Campus online learning platform. Your module lecturer will provide a teaching and learning plan for the duration of the module. Students are required to adhere to this schedule to ensure you don’t miss out on any opportunities to learn.
All learning content will be made available on the Virtual Campus learning platform. Lecturers will also host regular online live classes to discuss module content and prepare for assessments. The content covered in each class will be in line with the module schedule and weekly activities.
Between classes you can engage with lecturers should you require additional support.
The following learning activities form part of your overall learning path:
- Self-directed reading and activity completion
- Multimedia activities such as lecture video clips and podcasts
- Completion of quizzes and continuous assessment opportunities on the Virtual Campus
- Self-reflections
- Case studies
- Online/Live classes using Microsoft Teams
- Assessment activities and compulsory submission of formative and summative assessments per module
Is this qualification right for me?
The Higher Certificate in Public Administration and Management is intended for both individuals who are already employed in public sector institutions or who aspire to work within the public sector. The programme effectively merges theory and practice and equips students with academic knowledge and skills at a National or Provincial level. Therefore, this programme is relevant to individuals in a variety of roles such as:
- Public Sector Administrators
- Public Sector Managers
- Public Sector Officials
- Local Government Officials
- NPO Administrators/Managers
- Politicians
This programme is grounded in sound curriculum design and teaching and learning principles, which place the student at the forefront of the teaching and learning experience, to ensure maximum value.
Graduates of this programme will be able to understand and apply sound practices in any local or national government sector or position related to managing service delivery, human resources and organisational development and change management within an ethical framework nested in the Batho Pele principles of public management.
After an extensive industry review, the programme content and assessment strategy allow for constant practice and preparation and are aligned to the job role competencies required of a Local Government professional.
Upon successful completion of this qualification, students can pursue exciting career paths such as:
- Government officials
- Managers and advisors in Government Departments
- Public Sector Administrators
- Public Sector Human Resource Officer
Programme Admissions
Academic requirements:
- National Senior Certificate (NSC), or Senior Certificate (NC), or National Certificate Vocational (NCV level 4)
- At least 30% in the language of teaching and learning
- Candidates of a mature age may also be considered for entry, based on their experience in a managerial/supervisory capacity.
- Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): Candidates may apply for admission through the process of RPL
Any of the following completed iQ Academy Short Course programmes:
- Introduction to Public Administration
- Local Government Leadership and Management
- Good Governance, Sustainability and Resilience in Africa
- Public Finance Management
Institutional requirements:
- At least 18 years of age
- Ability to read and write in English, which is the language of instruction
- Students should also possess a basic level of digital literacy skills
- If candidates do not meet the minimum requirement, they may still enrol based on relevant work experience or mature age exemption
South African citizens:
- Certified copy of Grade 12 certificate [NSC, NC, NCV (NQF Level 4)]
- Certified copy of Identity Document/Card
- Students without Grade 12 are required to prove 12 months of relevant appointment
Non-South African citizens:
- Copy of highest school qualification
- Copy of passport
- Copy of study permit and copy of SAQA evaluation
At iQ Academy, we offer all our programmes exclusively through online learning. Students must have regular access to a device and a stable internet connection, whether via a mobile device or any other means.
Don’t worry about course materials, as they are all available online and can be downloaded to your smartphone, PC or tablet for offline use. We do not provide printed textbooks. If you prefer printed materials, you can easily download and print them yourself.
Our teaching and learning activities occur 100% online so you can participate in online classes and learning activities. If you require more information, please feel free to enquire now.
- A PC, Tablet or Smartphone
- Access to a reliable internet connection
- An active email account
- At least 1GB of data per month
Programme Semester Dates
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Expert support
Dedicated programme lecturer and specialised academic support.
Structured learning
Weekly lesson plans, regular live classes and special webinars.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, all qualifications are registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). You can find the SAQA ID listed on our website for each of the qualifications we offer. You can also search for a qualification on SAQA at: https://pcqs.saqa.org.za/search.php?cat=qual
iQ Academy is registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training as a Private Higher Education Institution (PHEI) under the Higher Education Act, 1997. Learn more about our accreditations.
An iQ Academy Higher Certificate Programme is an industry-ready qualification that is offered through the convenience of online distance learning. All Higher Certificate courses are on NQF level 5 and are registered with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and accredited by the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC) and Council on Higher Education (CHE).
Our qualifications are lecture-supported. The mode of delivery for our qualifications is distance learning, and all instruction takes place via the Virtual Campus, our online student platform. Your lecturer will provide a teaching and learning plan for the duration of the module, at the start of the semester.
Students are required to adhere to these schedules. Lecturers will also host regular live online classes. The content covered in each class will be in line with the module schedule and weekly activities.
Between classes you can engage with your lecturer directly should you need additional assistance.
The following learning activities form part of your overall learning path:
- Self-directed reading and activity completion
- Multimedia activities such as lecture video clips and podcasts
- Completion of quizzes and continuous assessment opportunities on the Virtual Campus
- Self-reflections
- Case studies
- Online/Live classes using Microsoft Teams
- Assessment activities and compulsory submission of formative and summative assessments per module