Self Assessment Report
Of
Master of Public Administration (MPA)
Program Team members:
Mr. Hassan Mustafa Awan (Team Leader)
Mr. Fayyaz Ahmed (Team Member)
Dr. Shandana Shoaib (Team Member)
Ms. Afia Saleem (Team Member)
INTRODUCTION
MPA program at IM|Sciences is a professional degree suitable to all students interested in pursuing a career in management within the public or non-profit sectors. The MPA program provides an intellectual, collaborative and engaged learning environment where practical and theoretical concepts of public administration are presented within the historical, political, social, cultural and economic contexts.
Students learn to act as facilitators in defining and pursuing the public interest. Classes focus on developing the ability to reason critically, to analyze important dimensions of public service, and to take coherent positions on key public administration and policy issues. Upon graduation, students in the program should communicate effectively through written and oral means, and possess the competencies outlined below. Versatile in its design, students may customize the program to suit their personal interests and career objectives. A variety of electives / specializations are available within the MPA program.
The MPA degree at IM|Sciences will give the student a rich experience in learning and will challenge them to rise to each occasion whether it is academically or professionally. In addition, this program will train those who are new to the Public Administration field how to effectively manage in their organization and make ethical decisions that will benefit, not only their organization, but their community
Self Assessment Process for the Academic Year 2015 (SAP-2015)
Criterion 1: PROGRAM MISSION, OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES
Institutional Vision (IMSciences)
To be the premier management institute of the region that systematically combines education, training, and research in its programmes to prepare faculty and students for diverse and challenging roles in a complex domestic and global environment.
Institutional Mission (IMSciences)
Our mission is to provide quality management education and new knowledge based research that enables IMSciences to be a school with foundations in excellence at all levels. Our faculty aims at advancing management theory and practice and to broadly analyze knowledge through learning, classroom applications, and service in the public and private sectors.
IMSciences education enables individuals to manage existing businesses, critically evaluate theory, and inculcate values of energetic entrepreneurship in support of public policy that encourages economic development balanced with social and environmental responsibility. Through its focus on teaching and learning, research and outreach, the Institute creates, conveys and applies knowledge to expand personal growth and opportunity, to advance social and community development in order to foster economic competitiveness and improve the quality of life.
Program Mission (MPA)
The purpose of Master of Public Administration (MPA) Degree Program is to prepare graduates to enter the public sector as managers and leaders, and to enable them to provide analytical support in policy making and implementation for an efficient and effective operation of the public sector, through class room instruction and practical knowledge. These interventions can be provided not only in public sector, but also in non-profit organizations, at local, national, and global levels.
As a professional program, emphasis is placed upon learning concepts, processes , and techniques that are associated with management of public organizations. The program blends theory with the practical dimensions of administration and encourages a broadened academic and professional perspective. It is a multi-disciplinary program combining rigorous training in analytical and quantitative methods with an emphasis on economic, social, and political policy and practice.
Standard 1-1: The program must have documented measurable objectives that support Faculty / College and institution mission statements.
Program Objectives
The MPA program has the following objectives:
1. To provide the students with the basic and advanced knowledge of the principles and techniques of public sector.
2. To equip the students with the skills and techniques of scientific research in the field of public administration.
3. To provide exposure to the students by developing linkages by inviting experts from leading public sector institutions for knowledge sharing.
4. To enable the students to turn theoretical knowledge in to practice in the field of public management.
Describe how each objective is aligned with program, college and institution mission statements.
IMSciences Mission / Objective 1 / Objective 2 / Objective 3 / Objective 4Yes / Yes / Yes / Yes
Program Mission / Objective 1 / Objective 2 / Objective 3 / Objective 4
Yes / Yes / Yes / Yes*
· Outline the main elements of the strategic plan to achieve the program mission and objectives.
Institute has not documented strategic plan for the Program of MPA.
Standard 1-2: The program must have documented outcomes for graduating students. It must be demonstrated that the outcomes support the program objectives and that graduating students are capable of performing these outcomes.
Describe how the program outcomes support the program objectives. In Table 4.2 show the outcomes that are aligned with each objective.
Program Outcomes:
1. Educate the students to increase awareness of public sector.
2. Communicate effectively with all the stakeholders.
3. To engage the students in problem identification and solution for the public sector.
4. Enable students for proactive public policy education and advocacy.
Program / Program OutcomesObjectives
1 / 2 / 3 / 4
1 / √ / √ / √
2 / √ / √ / √
3 / √ / √
4 / √
Table 4.2: Outcomes versus objectives
· Describe the means for assessing the extent to which graduates are performing the stated program outcomes/learning objectives.
1. The students performance is assessed through monthly examinations, held during each semester. Moreover, class assignments given to the students throughout the semester, monitors their in-class performance on regular basis, for the entire semester.
2. The students’ research skills are assessed from the dissertation which is undertaken under the assigned supervisor. On completion of the dissertation, the student has to appear for a viva voice. Thus, a student’s dissertation is assessed by both the internal and external examiners to ensure the quality of his/her research/dissertation.
Carefully designed questions asked during senior projects presentations. These questions should be related to program outcomes.
Following procedures are completed to assess the outcomes achievement.
1. Students are required to prepare class assignments and present the same on different topics that are related to the public sector, which usually reflect problems faced by the public sector. Using their analytical skills, students come up with solutions to these problems using their knowledge related to that area. This exercise is quite beneficial for enhancing the awareness of the students with respect to public sector.
2. The students are required to face a question and answer session at the end of the presentation; further leading to knowledge sharing and dissemination.
3. The students on completion and submission of their research dissertation are required to undergo a mandatory viva. Both the internal and external examiners rigoursly examines the student’s knowledge in the researched area; by asking questions that pertains to their dissertation and also encouraging students to engage in discussion with the examiners, during the course of viva.
Standard 1-3: The results of program’s assessment and the extent to which they are used to improve the program must be documented.
· To ensure the quality of the MPA program, students’ attendance is strictly monitored; using ERP.
· Moreover, traditional linear instructions are replaced by interactive class sessions where the students are engaged in fruitful class discussion and encouraged for asking questions in the class. This enhances their critical thinking, which is the real essence of higher education.
· Students are constantly encouraged by the course instructors to study research papers, appearing in quality journals to keep them abreast of what’s current in the public sector.
· Students are encouraged to participate in events such as conferences, workshops, and expert talk, both on and off campus.
Standard 1-4: The department must assess its overall performance periodically using quantifiable measures.
Present students enrolment (undergraduate and graduate) during the last three years indicating percentages of honor students, student faculty ratio, average graduating grade point average per semester, average time for completing the undergraduate program and attrition rate.
Years / No of students / No of graduate students2012 / 50 / 20
2013 / 47 / ---
2014 / 38 / ---
Years / Average GPA of / Percentage of honor / Attrition rate
students / students
2012 / 3.5 / 4 / 0.5
2013 / 3.5 / 4 / 0.5
2014 / 3.5 / 4 / 0.5
Indicate percentage of employers that are strongly satisfied with the performance of the department’s graduates. Use employer’s survey.
So far no employer survey has been conducted.
Present performance measures for research activities. These include journal publications, funded projects, and conference publications per faculty per year and indicate the % of faculty awarded excellence in research award.
Documentation of such initiatives is not available.
Present performance measures for community services. This may include number of short courses per year, workshops and seminars organized.
Year / Workshops / Short courses / / Seminars / Community based serviceOrganized / Trainings
2014 / 03 / 01 / 04 / 02
2013 / 02 / 01 / 05 / 02
2012 / - / 01 / 03 / 01
Average / 1.5 / 01 / 04 / 1.5
Indicate faculty and students satisfaction regarding the administrative services offered by the department. Use faculty and students surveys.
QEC IMSciences will conduct the surveys.
Criterion 2: CURRICULUM DESIGN AND ORGANIZATION
The curriculum must be designed and organized to achieve the program’s objectives and outcomes. Also course objectives must be in line with program outcomes. The breakdown of the curriculum must satisfy the standards specified in this section. Curriculum standards are specified in terms of credit hours of study. A semester credit hour equals one class hour or two to three laboratory hours per week. The semester is approximately fifteen weeks.
Provide the following information about the program’s curriculum:
Title of degree
The program degree title is Masters in Public Administration (MPA).
Duration
2 years (4 semesters)
Credit hour Definition
One semester credit hour is defined as one hour of contact teaching in a class room setting in a week for 16 weeks in a semester. A three credit hour course translates to three hours of teaching in a class room setting per week in a semester.
Degree Plan
The MPA Program has a two-year curriculum requiring minimum 60 credit hours. In a given year there will be two semesters namely the Fall Semester (August to December) and the Spring Semester (January to May).
(Details on next page)
Category (Credit Hours)Math and Basic / Core / Humanities
Semester / Course Number / Science / Technical
Course / and Social
Maths / Basic / Electives
s / Sciences
Science
1st / 570: Principles of public / 0 / 0 / 03
Administration / Credit
Hours
531: Principles of Management / 03
Credit
501 / : Financial Accounting / Hours
551 : Principles of Marketing / 03
Credit
580: Organizational Theory and / Hours
Behavior / 03
Credit
Hours
03
Credit
Hours
Total: 15 Credit Hours / 15
Credit
Hours
2nd / 532 : Human resource / 03 / 03
management / Credit / Credit Hour
Hours
502 / : Financial / 03
Administration / Credit
Hours
571: Comparative / 03
Administration / Credit
Hours
581: Statistics with SPSS / 03
Credit
(E1): Change Management / Hours
Total: 15 Credit Hours / 12 / 03
Credit / Credit Hour
Hours
3rd / 572 : Public Policy Analysis / 03 / 03
Credit / Credit Hours
582 : Economic Analysis / Hours / 03
03 / Credit Hours
664: Project planning & / Credit
Management / Hours
03
583: Computer Application / Credit
(E2) HR, Marketing, Finance / Hours
(E3) HR, Marketing, Finance / 03
Credit
Hours
Total: 18 Credit Hours / 12 / 06
Credit / Credit Hour
Hours
4th / 574: Planning and / 03 / 03 / 03
Development Administration / Credit / Credit Hours / Credit Hours
Hours
584: Social Research methods / 03
533: Strategic Management / Credit
Hours
(E4) HR, Marketing, Finance
03
(E3) HR, Marketing, Finance / Credit
Hours
MPA Thesis/Dissertation
03
Credit
Hours
Total: 18 Credit Hours / 12 credit / 03 / 03
hours / Credit Hour / Credit Hour
Total (63-66) / 51 / 12 / 03
Credit / Credit Hour / Credit Hour
Hour
Table 4.3: Curriculum course requirements
Standard 2-1: The curriculum must be consistent and support the program’s documented objectives.
Curriculum
The MPA Program has a two-year curriculum requiring minimum of 60 credit hours comprising of 22 creditable modules.
Semester vise Distribution of Course
Year 1, Semester 1
S. / Subject / ProgramNo. / Objectives
1 / 2 / 3 / 4
1 / 570 / Principles of public Administration / √ / *
2 / 531 / Principles of Management / √ / *
3 / 501 / Financial Accounting / √ / *
4 / 551 / Principles of Marketing / √ / *
5 / 580 / Organizational Theory and Behavior / √ / *
Year 1, Semester 2
S. / Subject / ProgramNo. / Objectives
1 / 2 / 3 / 4
1 / 532 / Human resource management / √ / √ / *
2 / 501 / Financial Administration / √ / √ / *
3 / 571 Comparative Administration / √ / √ / *
4 / 581 Statistics with SPSS / √ / √ / *
5 / Change Management / √ / √ / *