University of the Witwatersrand Diploma Courses

Welcome to the Postgraduate Diplomas in Management in the fields of Public and Development Management (PDM), Security (S) and Public and Development Sector Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E). 

Now available as a modular online programme: POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA IN PUBLIC MANAGEMENT MANAGEMENT

Entrance Criteria and Applications

Our criteria

• Applicants require a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent and preferably two years of relevant work experience in the public, parastatal or NGO sectors. 
• The pass mark for these programmes is 50%. Students who achieve an average mark of 65% or more may proceed to the Masters programme.

Applications

Apply now online

You will need to attach

• A copy of your CV
• Certified Academic transcripts
• Certified Certificates
• Motivation letter
• R200 application fee

Application deadlines for studies in 2021:

PDM-Public and Development: 30 April 2021

PDM-Security and PDM-Monitoring and Evaluation: 28 February 2021 

Public and Development Management (PDM-PDM)

The PDM-PDM is a one-year programme aimed at enhancing the knowledge and skills of current public sector administrators and development practitioners from across the continent. It enables them to advance their careers and contribute to good governance and effective development in their organisations and communities. It provides them with an opportunity to explore new ideas, expand their analytical and managerial skills, interact with leading academics and practitioners, and reflect on their values, goals and careers.

It is also aimed at recent graduates with some work experience who wish to embark on a career in public administration or development, equipping them with the skills they need to become effective public administrators and development practitioners.

Lastly, it provides a solid foundation to students who wish to proceed to the Masters programme.

Participants wanting to register for a Masters degree in Public and Development Management who do not have a solid academic grounding at Honours level in public management will be required to complete the PDM courses before embarking on the requirements of the Masters Degree.

Content and Course Structure

For the PDM, you are required to complete the following compulsory courses structured around the three foundational knowledge areas relating to policy and governance, socio-economic development, and service delivery and operations. 

PADM 5243 Governance, Leadership & Public Value

This course deals with contemporary conceptions of state and society. It seeks to provide students with a thorough understanding of the government functioning and administration, government relations with the private sector and civil society, and government interaction within local, national and regional contexts. It examines the public sector and the complex challenges surrounding public administration, as well as the impact of different models of governance and leadership on the distribution of economic and other resources and creation of public value.

PADM  5247 Analytical Methods

The course covers the analysis and interpretation of secondary quantitative data on a variety of topics in the public sector. Students make decisions and communicate their strategies based on statistical methodology and appropriate graphics in MS Office and statistical software.

PADM 5248 Development

This course reviews different conceptions of and current debates about development, including the role of states and markets in development. It deals with the roles of local communities, global actors, and the private and NGO sectors, as well as the impacts of marketisation and economic deregulation. It also highlights challenges to managing development in emerging economies such as South Africa, including social and economic exclusion, inequality, and skewed gender relations.

PADM 5249 Economics for Public Managers

This course introduces students to basic economic concepts and improves their understanding of the functioning of modern economies. Aspects include macroeconomics, including economic growth, unemployment, and inflation; microeconomics, including costs, production and consumption, and supply and demand; fiscal and monetary policy; the role of the state in economic management; and economic policy in South Africa since 1994.

PADM 5245 Public Policy

This course interrogates conceptual and theoretical frameworks of public policy, examines models of public policy making; offers a framework of public policy analysis and explores policy contexts in  South Africa, Africa and globally.  The course provides students with an understanding of the special challenges facing policy development and implementation and how to overcome them. This includes technical and skills requirements for evaluating policy, managing vested interests, consultation and public relations, monitoring and evaluation, and the management of inter-departmental coordination and relations.

PADM 5244 Public Finance

This course introduces students to key concepts in public finance and public sector economics and then analyses public finance issues in the South African context. Key topics include the role of the state in the economy; public expenditure and its impact on economic growth; taxation; fiscal policy; key areas of social policy, including education, health, and social security; and intergovernmental fiscal relations.

PADM 5246 Strategic Public Management

This course deals with managerial systems, strategies and cultures; organisational management; human resources management; performance monitoring; and organisational development and change. It focuses on how bureaucracies should be managed to ensure effective policy implementation, and examines the research and analysis needed for making effective decisions in organisational settings. The course also covers the development and validation of operational plans for effective and efficient service delivery.