Bachelor of Administration in Local Government
Business, Commerce and Management Studies - Public Administration
Purpose and Rationale
Qualification Overview
Purpose: This qualification is designed to provide learners with the managerial insight and knowledge necessary for careers in both public and private sector organisations, as well as for independent business activities. The primary goal is to enhance and fortify existing leadership within these sectors. The qualification offers fundamental training in critical areas related to local government, such as work behavior, human resource management, public administration, politics and administration, labor relations, policy interpretation, and consumer behavior, all of which are central components in the public and private sectors of our economy.
Rationale: The lack of suitable professional knowledge and skills within public offices is a significant issue in South Africa. This deficiency jeopardizes the effective management of public resources, which ultimately impacts the citizens of the country. This qualification aims to address this gap by producing a skilled workforce proficient in public finance management, human resource and labor relations management, and public policy analysis and application. Graduates will possess a comprehensive understanding of the developmental needs and political landscape of a developing South Africa. The demand for expertise in public administration is reinforced by the South African Government's introduction of the White Paper on the Transformation of Public Service and the White Paper on Transforming Public Service Delivery. This qualification targets learners interested in enhancing public service efficiency in alignment with the principles of Batho Pele and those keen on administration, policy, and politics. Graduates are trained to excel in roles such as Administrative Officers, Organisational Development Officers, Administrative Clerks, Administrative Managers and Directors, and Business Administration Experts.
Outcomes
- Demonstrate an integrated knowledge of Public Administration as applied in both private and public management contexts.
- Use management techniques based on suitable methodologies of enquiry in the field of administration to solve problems.
- Integrate new knowledge into administration practice, inclusive of context and systems.
Assessment Criteria
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
- Ability to apply and evaluate key terms, concepts, facts, principles, rules, and theories of administration in the public and private sectors.
- Contextualize Public Administration practices in the context of public policies in the South African landscape, particularly in local government.
- Integrate knowledge of Public Administration and local government as applied in the public and private enterprise economies.
- Distinguish the functions of government and local government through the identification of the various arms of government.
- Knowledge of the role of Public Administration institutions within the society's policy landscape.
- Identify the socio-economic development issues and challenges in South Africa.
- Apply the skill of contextualizing Public Administration and local government knowledge in the context of political and global challenges.
- Distinguish the processes of government through the identification of the various functions and structures of government.
- Show comprehension of the debate relating to bureaucracy vs. development administration.
- Explain the relationship between Non-governmental Organizations and Development.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
- Ability to conceptualize concepts such as Local economic development, Public Administration theories and development, and Integrated Development Planning.
- Propose suitable strategies of inquiry to research challenges faced in specific operational areas of deployment in organizational administration.
- Engage in administrative problem-solving, demonstrating the ability to identify, analyze, evaluate, critically reflect on, and address complex problems, applying evidence-based solutions and theory-driven arguments in the field of administration and local government.
- Appropriate application of ethics in taking decisions and acting ethically and professionally.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
- Demonstrate information literacy in respect of validating sources of information and evaluating and managing information relevant to the field of administration and management.
- Communicate effectively in the administrative and local government environment.
- Show adaptability to different situational challenges and work environments in unfamiliar and variable contexts.
- Apply the fundamentals of public policy making and analysis in generating an understanding of their scope and applicability to specific fields of operation.
- Integrate theory and practice related to public policy analysis, research, and consultancy in different contexts.
- Manage own process of learning while demonstrating accountability for own decisions and actions.
Integrated Assessment
- Both Formative and Summative assessments are used with a 60:40 weighting respectively.
- A combination of tests, assignments, and presentations are used to prepare the students formatively while theoretical exams are used summatively.
Qualification Details
- Type
- National First Degree
- NQF Level
- 07
- Min. Credits
- 360
- SAQA Source
- More Information
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This page includes information from the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) . Builtneat Pty Ltd trading as Study Start, has modified all or some of this information. SAQA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.