PAD102: INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

The course examines the nature and scope of Public Administration as a field of study and provides a basic understanding of the key processes and institutions involved in the formulation and implementation of public policy. This is accomplished through an introduction to key concepts of Public Administration as well as examining the nature, types and models of public organizations and bureaucracy.

PAD201: ORGANISATION THEORY AND BEHAVIOUR I

This course examines the theories and principles that help to explain the nature, structure and dynamics of organisations. Emphasis is laid on the historical evolution of organisation theory from the classical school of thought to modern perspectives. One of the major assumptions of the course is that modern organisations have been shaped by the continuous development of organisation theory and its application. It is held that modern organisations exhibit the value and contribution of these theories to some variable extent.

PAD202: ORGANISATION THEORY AND BEHAVIOUR II

The course deals with the management of organisations and particularly the people who serve as members of the organisations.

The fundamental premise of this course is that theories of organisations are essentially theories of human nature, hence organisational behaviour. Understanding and appropriately managing the behaviour of the individuals in organisations is seen as a critical component to achieving the organisation’s goals and objectives. Harmony between the structure of the organisation, the individuals and the environment are seen as critical areas in the management of organisations.

PAD203: PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION IN AFRICA

The course examines key issues and concepts in Public Administration with particular reference to African countries. Using a comparative approach, the course examines the role and function of key structures and institutions of government, the nature and complexities of public administration and management; the challenges confronting policy makers and the various policy options for addressing them. Topics covered include: the political setting of public administration, administrative reform and the changing role of the state, new approaches to public management occasioned by the New Public Management, public sector performance, service delivery, relations between the government and the market, the challenge of governance and leadership in Africa, function of public service commissions, integrity in public administration and role of oversight bodies.

PAD204: ADMINISTRATION OF PUBLIC ENTERPRISES

The course examines the theories, nature and management of public enterprises in African countries in general and Eswatini in particular. Topical issues include the genesis and justification for public enterprises; reasons for their poor performance in the developing countries and measures that can be taken to improve their performance.

PAD205   ADMINISTRATION OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

The course examines the centrality of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in the socio-economic development of countries. NGOs have risen in significance in the past few decades and it is now generally accepted that they are important and permanent institutions in the implementation of development programmes and projects. The course provides a thorough understanding of the nature, types, management, development role, strengths and weaknesses of NGOs.

PAD206    ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND MANAGEMENT

The course proceeds from the premise that the environment is a trans-national subject. Ecological problems such as carbon emissions, global warming, water shortage, deforestation or desertification and rising sea levels, often transcend national boundaries. Inevitably, the environment is one of the most contentious subjects in the world today. 

The course takes a critical look at the contending discourses and the actors behind them on environmental management, its degradation and its sustainability. It explores themes such as the impact of economic globalization on the environment, poverty and the environment, monitoring and enforcement mechanisms of environmental policies and regimes.

PAD301: PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS I

This course offers an introduction to the theories and approaches to the study of public policy. The course examines the nature, scope and characteristics of public policy. Among other areas of study, the theories, actors and instruments of public policy are examined. The generally held assumptions about the roles and efficacy of the actors in the public policy process are interrogated.

PAD302: PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS II

This course offers useful tools for the analysis of government policies. It begins by analysing in detail the public policy cycle. The roles and efficacy of the role-players in the policy process are investigated with particular reference to the various stages of the policy cycle. The role and utility of public policy analysis is also examined. The various models and methods of objective analysis of public policies are then discussed.

PAD303: ADMINISTRATION OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

The course examines various concepts and interpretations of rural development and analyzes the phenomenon and causes of poverty, underdevelopment and dependence in the Third World in general and Africa in particular. The course also examines rural development strategies, policies, programmes and projects. Topics discussed include merchant capitalism, slave trade, colonialism, neo-colonialism, imperialism and dependency theory.  In addition, the course examines the dynamics of peasant political economies the process of commoditization, the relationship between capital and the peasantry, including role of the state in improving the living standards of the rural population, agricultural extension, credit facilities and institutions, agricultural co-operatives, women and rural development, the role of government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in rural development.  Administrative, socio-political and economic problems and challenges in the implementation of rural development programmes and projects are analyzed, with particular emphasis on the Rural Development Areas Programme (RDAP) in Eswatini.

PAD304: PUBLIC HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

The course introduces students to human resource management (HRM) and highlights the strategic importance of HRM for modern organisations. It examines the theories and techniques of HRM, covering the whole range of functions and strategies that assist in improving decisions concerning staff recruitment, deployment, utilisation and development. In this course special premium is given to human resource management in the public sector. Topics covered include recruitment and selection, financial compensation and benefits, job analysis and evaluation, performance management, human resource planning, internal staffing, training and development.

PAD305: GOVERNANCE: PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE

The course examines the principles and practice of governance. Governance is seen as the exercise of economic, political and administrative authority in the management of a country’s affairs at all levels. In this course the structures and mechanisms for the realization of the goals of good governance are examined. The themes that are covered include: transparency, accountability, efficiency and independence of public institutions, oversight institutions, corporate governance, sound financial and economic management, decentralization, human-rights and the rule of law, civil society participation in economic and political decision-making processes, democracy and electoral politics.

PAD306: CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 A series of events over the last two decades have placed corporate governance at the top of the agenda for governments, the international business community and international institutions. The perception of good corporate governance is an important ingredient of the image of an organization, whether public, private, or non-profit. The course deals with the complex set of relationships between the organisation whether public or private and its board of directors, management, shareholders, and other stakeholders. It will do this by examining definition of corporate governance and the influences that have led to its development; sources of corporate governance; composition and selection of the board of directors; board duties and responsibilities; functioning of the board; board committees; officers of the company; and the compensation of chief executives,  financial reporting and communication; risk management and financial control; the role and influence of institutional investors the rules governing takeovers, internal and external audits; implementing good corporate governance.

PAD307: PRIVATIZATION OF PUBLIC ENTERPRISES

Due to the weakening of the global economy in recent decades, all states have had to consider reducing public sector expenditure while strengthening the economy by improving the private sector. Privatisation of public enterprises has been one of the major means employed in furtherance of this goal. It has been argued that some developing countries have a huge public enterprise sector that is poorly performing and, as a result, requires regular subvention from the state.

This course examines the various means that can be used to privatise public enterprises and the challenges thereof. There is a deliberate bias towards developing countries and African countries in particular.

PAD309: PUBLIC RELATIONS

The course explores the approaches and techniques of establishing and maintaining public relations. Students learn the strategic and tactical communication skills necessary for the practice of communication and public relations in organisational settings, including the public sector. The course exposes students to the history and theory of public relations, strategic communication processes, and the role of the public relations practitioner as a specialist in communications. It actively engages students in the acquisition of communication tactics such as media relations, public relations, community relations, investor relations, employee communications, and online communications.

PAD401: PUBLIC FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

 The course provides theories, concepts, and principles associated with public financial management. It addresses how the principles and practices of public financial management differ within capitalistic, social welfare and economic welfare systems. In addition, the course provides a better understanding of the relationships and responsibilities of executive, legislative, and administrative branches and the roles they play in decision-making, implementation, oversight and monitoring of public expenditures. The course incorporates taxation approaches (e.g.; income, property, consumption) to provide insights regarding how governments fund public services as well as how taxation is equitably distributed among members of society.  The course also addresses the political, economic, managerial, and public policy implications of the government budget, including discussions relating to the budgetary process, procedures and controls. In addition, the course discusses the financial operations of government in terms of effective cash management, inventory controls, procurement methodologies, and public debt management practices.

PAD402: LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION

The course examines the theories and models of decentralization and examines the role of local government in governance and development. It considers key management aspects of local government such as local government finance and planning. Other topics that are covered include: evolution, structure and functions of African local government, challenges and reforms of local government in Africa, the rationale for and models of central-local government relationships, accountability, responsiveness and transparency in local government. The course ends with case studies from Eswatini and other countries.

PAD403: ADMINISTRATION OF DEVELOPMENT

The course examines the root cause of the socio-political, economic and administrative paralysis that characterizes the Third World in general and African countries in particular.  The course focuses on the theory and practice of development planning, planning systems and approaches, budgetary and administrative reform with emphasis on Eswatini’s, socio-political, economic and development experience.  Topics discussed include theories of development, development administration, direct foreign investment (DFI), and multinational corporations (MNC’s), international economic relations, including the nature, origins and dynamics of the African development crisis. Other topics examined include globalization of the world economy, economic structural adjustment programmes (ESAPs), regional economic integration, the politics of development in post-apartheid Southern Africa, HIV/AIDS and its impact on development in sub-Saharan Africa.

PAD404: LABOUR RELATIONS IN ESWATINI AND SOUTH AFRICA

This course examines the various theories of labour relations and their application to the labour relations arena in Eswatini and South Africa. The course exposes students to the administration and management of employer-employee relations and explores key concepts such as the nature of the labour relationship, the legislative framework governing the employment relationship, the contract of employment, collective bargaining, discipline and disciplinary procedures, grievance-handling, dispute resolution and the role of the International Labour Organizations (ILO). From a comparative perspective, the course considers the significance of labour law, particularly the Industrial Relations Act of 2000 as amended (Eswatini) and the Labour Relations Act of 1995 as amended (South Africa) and their impact on the employment relationship.

PAD406: ORGANISATIONAL CHANGE AND DEVELOPMENT

This course is premised upon the assumption that modern organisations exist not only in dynamic and ever-changing environments but most importantly that the organisational environments pose a consistent threat to the effectiveness and survival of organisations. It is therefore of paramount importance that organisations establish and maintain a system of planned change to remain effective, efficient and competitive despite their volatile environments. This course therefore examines the theory and practice of planned change programmes that aim not only at keeping organisations afloat but ensuring that appropriate diagnosis of the challenges is made to ensure effective change programmes.   The course also examines strategies of empowering organisations to rely on internal expertise and resources to diagnose problems and effect the required changes.

PAD407: CONFLICT RESOLUTION

The course examines the issue of conflict in society. Conflict is a pervasive phenomenon and occurs at the organizational, regional, national and international levels. The course explores the use of different fora to address difficult problems within and between countries given that it is necessary to create appropriate structures to deal with conflict in order to reduce its negative impact on our societies. It will explore traditional and new approaches to social and political negotiations and mediation and attempt to locate these within an expanded global security agenda. Dialogue will be canvassed as one of the mechanism for resolving conflict at the organizational, regional, national and international levels.

PAD409 :  INTERNSHIP IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

This course requires that Public Administration majors undertake an 8-week-attachment in an organization approved by the Department.  The attachment takes place during the long vacation at the end of the third year of study. The purpose of the attachment is to: give students an opportunity to relate theory and practice; expose and sensitise students to administrative/management problems that managers encounter daily; avail an opportunity for students to learn public administration from a practical view point;  and assist students to acquire some administrative/management skills. The students are required to write a report, which is assessed, at the end of the internship.

PAD411: ETHICS AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

This course is concerned with ethics and accountability in public services. While the scope is general, in that the students are exposed to the experiences of both developed and developing countries concerning the ethical dimension of public administration, a deliberate bias is on the Developing World. This bias is informed by the general assumption that African public services, more than their counterparts in the Developed World have been saddled with unethical behaviour, lack of accountability and corrupt practices that have become both entrenched and institutionalised. The course interrogates the causes and possible remedies of this state of affairs.

PAD499: INDEPENDENT RESEARCH PROJECT IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

This course requires students to undertake research in an area of their interest in the discipline of Public Administration.  At the beginning of the fourth year, students identify research areas and come up with a title of their Project.  This is done under the guidance of the lecturer who has been assigned by the Department to supervise the student. During the first semester, the students present their research proposals in a seminar that is conducted by the Department.  After the seminar, the students proceed to write the Project Reports, which are examined at the end of the academic year.