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The World of Public Administration (PADM90007)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville) and Online
Please refer to the return to campus page for more information on these delivery modes and students who can enrol in each mode based on their location.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
February
Overview
Availability | February - Online July - On Campus |
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Fees | Look up fees |
This subject sets out the foundations of public administration and explores how the theory and practice of public administration has adapted over time to address the challenges faced by policy makers and managers.
The subject will particularly focus on understanding management and administration and the strategic environment in which managers operate. Students will develop an understanding of administration and management in the public sector, the strategic environments that shapes the operations of public sector agencies, and the capabilities managers need to deliver on the public policy challenges of the 21st century.
The subject will explore the following questions:
- How do public managers balance the demands of politics, administration and delivering value?
- How do managers marshal and organise organisational resources to deliver the best outcomes for citizens?
- How does the public sector ‘join up’ to address complex societal issues, reduce costs or deliver better outcomes?
- What drives public sector reform and how has the practice of public administration adapted to meet these reform challenges and drivers?
Intended learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this subject will:
- Understand the foundations of public administration and management
- Identify and apply major traditions, trends, and challenges in public sector administration to individual practice;
- Demonstrate knowledge of contemporary issues in performance management and the increasing significance of strategic management in the public sector;
- Understand how the public sector interacts with other sectors to deliver outcomes; and
- Demonstrate an understanding of changes in public administration and the impact of the broader environment in which the public sector operates.
Generic skills
On successful completion of this subject students should have:
- A comprehensive understanding and appreciation of the interconnectedness and complexity of the fields of public management and administration, and the strategic environment in which managers operate;
- A sound understanding of politics, economics and the law as they are connected to key ideas in public administration;
- A high-level ability to combine theory and practice in a meaningful way in order to address managerial challenges and analyse contemporary issues of administration in a global environment;
- A high-level ability to combine professional managerial and administrative skills with discipline-based expertise and to apply this complex synthesis to professional practice;
- 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, in particular in decision-making, providing advice and collaborating across sectors.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
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
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Assessment Task 1: Practice application paper where students write up a practical issue related to key themes in the subject
| Due the week prior to the start of classes | 20% |
Assessment Task 2a: Syndicate project: Group presentation
| Scheduled during class time (duration of presentations will be confirmed in the Reding Guide) | 20% |
Assessment Task 2b: Syndicate project: Individual paper exploring key aspects of the group presentation
| Due 2 weeks after completion of classes | 20% |
Assessment Task 3: Case paper where students apply key concepts from the course to the practical issue from assessment task 1
| Due four weeks after completion of classes | 40% |
Hurdle requirement: Students are required to attend a minimum of 100% of classes in order to pass this subject, and regular class participation is expected | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Additional details
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- February - Online
Principal coordinator Maria Katsonis Mode of delivery Online Contact hours Delivered online as an intensive over five days - Monday 22 February to Friday 26 February. Total time commitment 170 hours Pre teaching start date 1 February 2021 Pre teaching requirements Students will be required to access the LMS and the subject materials in order to prepare and submit the first assessment task. Note: the first assessment task is due BEFORE classes begin. Students will be able to contact the subject coordinator for support during the pre-teaching period. Teaching period 8 February 2021 to 26 February 2021 Last self-enrol date 2 February 2021 Census date 19 February 2021 Last date to withdraw without fail 12 March 2021 Assessment period ends 29 March 2021 February contact information
- July - On Campus
Principal coordinator Maria Katsonis Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Delivered as an intensive over five days; Monday 26 July - Friday 30 July Total time commitment 170 hours Pre teaching start date 5 July 2021 Pre teaching requirements Students will be required to access the LMS and the subject materials in order to prepare and submit the first assessment task. Note: the first assessment task is due BEFORE classes begin. Students will be able to contact the subject coordinator for support during the pre-teaching period. Teaching period 12 July 2021 to 30 July 2021 Last self-enrol date 6 July 2021 Census date 23 July 2021 Last date to withdraw without fail 13 August 2021 Assessment period ends 30 August 2021
Time commitment details
170 hours
Additional delivery details
Please note: 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 to enrol in this subject.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Readings will be provided online via the LMS 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.
Last updated: 3 November 2022