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The Nature of Governing (PADM90005)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Winter Term
Overview
Availability | Winter Term |
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Fees | Look up fees |
The Nature of Governing is one of the core subjects in the Melbourne Master of Public Administration. The Melbourne MPA is an interdisciplinary, globally-focused degree program for managers that work within or with government. This subject sets out the foundations of governing for public outcomes and examines how government and governing institutions have evolved over time and in various settings to meet political and policy challenges, and the implications of this for public managers.
This subject provides students with the theoretical concepts and analytical tools to understand the nature and practice of governing and government in a globalizing world. Its focus is on the relationship between political institutions, actors, ideas and public administration. It draws mainly from the disciplines of political science and international relations, and from related disciplines such as sociology and political economy. Its core objective is to help participants to understand how the political environment (comprised of institutions, ideas and actors) and the practice of politics, constrains and facilitates the work of public managers in delivering public policy. This political environment is simultaneously local, national, international and global and includes elections and appointment procedures, interconnected policymaking institutions, multiple accountability mechanisms, delegation and independent agencies, interest groups, civil society and public opinion. The subject explores the great diversity of these political processes, actors and institutions and assesses how the practice of politics shapes the work of public managers across a range of practical and topical policy domains. The international dimension of this political environment has become ever more important and particular attention will be paid to the influence of international negotiations and agreements, international organizations, global standard setting bodies, international policy learning and diffusion, transnational private sector and civil society actors on the work that public managers do.
Intended learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this subject should:
- Understand how the political environment constrains and facilitates the work of public managers in delivering public policy and governing;
- Acquire knowledge of the theoretical concepts and analytical tools needed to analyse this evolving political environment;
- Understand the relationship between political institutions, actors, ideas and public policymaking and administration;
- Appreciate the expanding impact of the international dimensions of policy, including how this environment shapes and enables the work of public managers within countries; and
- Understand the potential and pitfalls of international policy diffusion and learning.
Generic skills
On successful completion of this subject students should have:
- A critical understanding of the operation of governments in Australia, the Asia-Pacific region and across the world, and of the way in which the political environment affects the work of public managers;
- A cross-cultural and interdisciplinary understanding of the complexity of international relations, and an ability to collaborate effectively with other domestic and international actors and institutions;
- A high-level ability to combine the theory and practice of governing in order to address the managerial challenges that result from the operation of government;
- A high-level ability to connect professional skills in public administration with discipline based expertise in political science, international relations and cognate disciplines;
- Well-developed interpersonal and communication skills necessary to a range of professional activities including report writing, workplace discussions and lobbying strategies; and
- Flexible communication skills with a highly attuned sensitivity to a diverse audience, and to the issues specific to cross-cultural communication.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Students must be admitted to the Master of Public Administration, Master of Public Administration (Enhanced), Graduate Certificate in Public Administration (Advanced) or Specialist Certificate in Public Administration.
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Previous study in public policy, political science, management, law, business, economics, international relations, non-profit management or cognate area.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Additional details
- Group presentation (20 minutes) (10%): held during teaching period (hurdle)
- Literature review (1,500 words) (25%): due two weeks after end of teaching period (hurdle)
- Policy Analysis (3,500 words) (65%): due six weeks after end of teaching period (hurdle)
- Students are required to attend 100% of classes in order to pass this subject and regular class participation is required (hurdle)
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- Winter Term
Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 35 hours total: 5 day intensive Total time commitment 170 hours Pre teaching start date 1 July 2019 Pre teaching requirements Pre-teaching Period Requirements: Students will be required to access the LMS and the readings provided in order to prepare for the first assessment task, which is due in the first week of the teaching period. The first week of the teaching period does not involve face-to-face classes. Students will be able to contact the subject coordinator for support during the pre-teaching period. Teaching period 15 July 2019 to 19 July 2019 Last self-enrol date 3 July 2019 Census date 15 July 2019 Last date to withdraw without fail 26 July 2019 Assessment period ends 9 August 2019 Winter Term contact information
Time commitment details
170 hours
Additional delivery details
Delivery mode:
Intensive, and with a pre-teaching period.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Readings will be provided online through the subject's LMS site prior to the commencement of the subject.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
Subject coordinator approval required
Last updated: 3 November 2022