Justification of the Programme

With the rapid expansion of the private and public sector in Uganda (especially with the recent increase in local governments, central government department department and non-governmental organizations), there is a need for well qualified administrators and corporate secretaries. These cadres need to be equipped with both theories and practical skills to enable them undertake their roles and responsibilities in higher competitive working environment. The Bachelor of Public Administration and Management (BPAM) has been designed to train specialized cadre of man power with up-to-date practical skills and knowledge in Public Administration and Management to meet with the growing demands of both the public and private sector, including the non-governmental organizations.

General Objectives of the Programme

Today the economy at national, regional and indeed at an international level, is changing rapidly and requires individuals with specific public administration knowledge and skills to deal with the major governance issues, how public-sector regimes, agencies, programs, and activities are organized and managed to achieve public purposes and competition in the job market. The BPAM has been designed with this in mind and the graduate of the programme will have broad knowledge and skills in Politics, Public Administration, Economics, Law and Sociology. Taken together, these subjects will teach you about ‘government in action’ – how the political system works, citizenship, and international policy making.

A degree in Public Administration will prepare you for work in a wide variety of careers in the public sector, non-profit organizations and private sector employment.
In the global world, the national, provincial and local government sphere, corporate world, needs employees who can administer situations using public administration concepts and organizational theories and principles of management from multiple disciplines. The BPAM programme will open such careers to its graduate as its overall objective is to contribute to the manpower pool with effective and critical thinking skills necessary for successful public administration professionals.

Activities in the public Sector need Office Administrators, project Planners, Sector Managers, and Information Technology specialists, system administrators, operations and management strategists, public relations specialists, procurement specialists, financial managers and accountants. It is the objective of BPAM to produce people with such competencies.

Specific objective

The Bachelor of Public Administration and Management aims to produce graduates who will:

1. be critical and creative administrators who:produce innovative solutions to problems communicate effectively and perceptively
2. be responsible and effective global citizens who:
   1. Have a comprehensive understanding of the role of public administration in developing sustainable competitive advantage especially in executing strategies and facilitating the process of change/ organizational transformation in the global context.
   2. Are equipped top and middle level managers with the required administrative and managerial skills.
   3. Have skills to effectively implement all administrative functions in organizational management and demonstrate ethical values.
   4. Have a comprehensive understanding of public administration discipline and are able to provide administrative discipline based solutions relevant to the profession and public policy in communities we serve.
3. serve as managers in the executive arm of local, state, and federal government
4. Graduates of this programme will have the opportunity for further study at Masters level by research only.

Programme Outcomes

By the end of the programme learners should be able to:

1. Apply skills and knowledge of public administration to enhance competitiveness of organizations
2. Apply in-depth knowledge of effective public administrative concepts, methods and techniques and participate in decision making.
3. Apply research skills to public and social administrative challenges
4. Apply entrepreneurship and innovations skills in creating jobs for self and others.

Target group

The Programme targets the persons processing:

1. A-Level certificates
2. Diploma and degree holders in any discipline

Duration of the programme

The duration of the programme will be three years academic years for direct entry, consisting of six semesters. Each semester lasts seventeen (17) weeks two of which are for examinations. Candidates with relevant diplomas of their equivalents may be exempted from year 1, thus may take two academic years consisting of four semesters.

Regulations

Admission Requirements

Admission to year 1 of the programme:

A-Level School Certificate with at least two principal passes in any subject, with at least five passes at O-Level

For admission purposes, the subjects at A-Level will be classified and weighted as follows:

Category Subjects Weight

Category	Subjects	Weight
Essential	Economics, Entrepreneurship,Literature,	3
Relevant	Geog, History, Maths	2
Desirable	CRE/IRE	1
Others		0.5

1. Part completion (At least part 2) of a relevant professional course, e.g CISA.
2. Diploma from a recognized Institution

Admission to Year 2 of the Programme

Candidates possessing relevant diplomas with at least lower-second class from recognized
Institution May be admitted into Year 2 of the programme

Assessments

– Each Course will be assessed on the basis of 100 total marks with proportions as follows:

– A minimum of two course assignments/tests shall be required per course.

– Course work shall consist of tests, group assignments and presentations in each semester.

Pass mark

1. The range of final average marks which shall be used to determine the bachelor’s degree progress at the end of each semester will be a grade of 2.0 on all courses examined.
2. A candidate is deemed to have passed the semester if the candidate obtains at least 50% of the marks in each course individually.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

(All courses are core except where electives are indicated)

Total credit units ( CU) Year One 41
Total credit units ( CU) Year Two 39
Total credit units ( CU) Year three 40
Overall Total Credit Units 120