Master of Public Administration (MC-PA) // Attributes, outcomes and skills

Intended learning outcomes

Students who complete the Master of Public Administration should:

• understand the challenges that confront leaders from the community, corporate and public sectors;
• appreciate the interconnected nature of these challenges, and the power of applying interdisciplinary approaches to them;
• understand the strategic environment in which leaders operate and the relationships they develop to deliver on complex public policy goals; and
• explore the local, national, regional, and global factors that impact on these leaders and their environment.

Generic skills

Knowledge

Graduates should have:

• A critical understanding of the operation of governments in Australia, the Asia-Pacific region and across the world;
• A comprehensive understanding and appreciation of the interconnectedness and complexity of the fields of public management and administration;
• A sound understanding of politics, economics, law and science, as they apply to public administration and management processes and decisions.

Skills

Graduates should have:

• A high-level ability to combine theory and practice in a meaningful way in order to address managerial challenges, analyse contemporary issues of administration, and reflect critically on one’s own professional practice;
• A high-level ability to combine professional skills such as decision making, media and communication management, ethics, project management, strategic management, leadership and negotiation with discipline-based expertise in political science, law and economics, and to apply this complex synthesis to professional practice;
• A highly-developed capacity to adapt to new situations and reflect upon professional practice in order to most effectively address challenges;
• Well-developed interpersonal and communication skills necessary to a range of professional activities including report writing, workplace discussions, negotiation and management and lobbying strategies;
• Flexible communication skills with a highly attuned sensitivity to a diverse audience, and to the issues specific to cross-cultural communication; and
• The ability to draw upon an extensive repertoire of advanced professional skills including skills in leadership, negotiation, decision analysis and strategic management and to apply these skills with an awareness of the ethical implications of strategies and decisions.

Graduate attributes

Graduates of the Master of Public Administration will have acquired the following attributes:

Academic Distinction

• An in-depth knowledge of the disciplinary foundations of public administration and new perspectives on the field;
• The ability to develop creative and pragmatic solutions to a range of challenges;
• Skill of persuasion built on evidence, research, and analysis.

Active Citizenship

• A knowledge and appreciation of issues at local, national and global level and their impact on communities;
• An ability to work with others, and to lead in challenging environments;
• A commitment to making a difference.

Integrity and Self-Awareness

• Independent thinkers who can work in diverse groups and appreciate alternative perspectives;
• Ethical individuals who operate with a sense of personal and professional integrity and encourage others to do the same;
• Passionate problem solvers who seek out new knowledge.