Postgraduate Diploma in Management (Public and Development Sector Monitoring and Evaluation)

This programme aims to strengthen capacity in management, monitoring and evaluation. It is a response to government’s demand for personnel who can accurately measure outputs and outcomes of its interventions as a way of enhancing evidence-based decision-making. Scarcity of local personnel with these and other related skills translates into government sourcing these skills internationally, which is often expensive, untimely, and not customised.

We have taken the initiative to build the capacity of local personnel in South Africa, and Africa at large, so that we can lead by example and create our own developmental solutions. The programme aims to build qualitative and quantitative skills for, and capacity in formulating, managing, monitoring, and evaluating development interventions.

ADM5233A Introduction and Orientation

This course re-introduces candidates to the world of study. It prepares them how to balance the demands of work, studying and returning to learning. The course is structured to allow degree convenors to discuss the design and overall learning outcomes of a particular degree programme and how it impacts their work and career. The course covers academic reading and writing; avoiding plagiarism; group dynamics and independent learning. This module - which has no credits – also introduces candidates to the Wits Computer LMS and Library Systems.

PADM5243A Governance, Leadership and Public Value

This course, through a study of contemporary understandings of state and society, aims to develop a deep understanding of how government institutions and agencies function, their relation to civil society and their location in local, national and regional social, economic and political contexts. It will examine the characteristics of the public service sector, the complex challenges facing it, and the meaning and implications of governance, leadership and public value for the functioning of states and public institutions. Different models of governance and leadership are explored in relation to how states and societies structure authority, distribute economic, political and social resources and create public value.

PADM5247A Analytical Methods

This course introduces candidates to statistical methods which are crucial in solving sustainability problems. It is designed to engage students in the statistical investigation process, that is, from developing a research question and data collection methods to analyzing, interpreting and communicating the results. This course further introduces candidates to basic descriptive and inferential statistics through the use of traditional and simulation approaches which include confidence intervals and hypothesis testing. Candidates will also be exposed to real world applications of statistics purely designed to enhance conceptual understanding of statistics

PADM5248A Development

The course will explore sessions around themes in the development field. The course reviews current conceptual debates on development and explores notions of development, the state and markets and their role and implications to policy and socio-economic development prospects. The course also examines the role of local communities, global actors, private and non-governmental sectors and the effects of processes of marketisation and deregulation to developing contexts.

PADM5250A Evaluation

This course introduces the candidates to a variety of forms and approaches of evaluation that can be applied in a range of contexts. The course emphasizes development of a logical view of evaluation informed by ideas around utilisation. The course will examine Evaluation from both a commissioners and practitioner’s perspective. This course is targeted at programme and policy professionals who will be commissioning, managing, designing and implementing evaluations.

PADM5251A Managing the Monitoring and Evaluation Practice

This course is designed to equip candidates with the ability to conduct a project to develop a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system that addresses a problem the candidate has identified. The course covers the practicalities of conceptualising and designing a project, together with the management tasks required for project completion. The project may or may not be on a topic in their place of work. In the course of doing the project, the candidate will work independently, and also with others.

PADM5252A Monitoring Systems

This course introduces candidates to the concepts of routine data monitoring, data management particularly of data quality, and of data reporting. Following this foundation, the course presents a range of monitoring systems that are used in different contexts particularly in the public and civil sectors. The course then teaches candidates how to design and implement a monitoring system. This course is targeted at programme and policy professionals who will be commissioning, managing, designing and implementing monitoring systems.

PADM5253A Public Finance and Performance Budgeting

This course introduces candidates to key theoretical concepts in public finance and public sector economics broadly, as well as providing an opportunity to analyse applied public finance issues in the South African context. The course examines key topics including the public sector and the role of the state in the economy, public expenditure and growth, performance budgeting, performance information fundamentals, performance measures in the budget, and evaluation and performance budgeting.

• Applicants require a solid Bachelor’s degree transcript or equivalent and preferably two years of relevant work experience in the public, parastatal or NGO sectors.

When lodging a formal application for the Postgraduate Diploma you will be required the following documentation:

• A brief letter of motivation indicating why you would like to study for your Postgraduate Diploma or Masters at the Wits School of Governance.
• A curriculum vitae, detailing your degrees, your employment experience.
• Official transcripts of your qualifications showing degree, courses and results (if you are still studying for a qualifying degree, please provide your interim mid-year results).
• Your graduation certificates (certified copies and then originals).
• Verification and comparison of any foreign qualifications from the South Africa Qualifications Authority (SAQA).
• IELTS Language Proficiency scores (if your previous qualification was not through the medium of English).

• Applications are handled centrally by the Student Enrolment Centre (SEnC). Once your application is complete in terms of requested documentation, your application will be referred to the relevant School for assessment. Click here to see an overview of the Wits applications process.
• Please apply online. Upload your supporting documents at the time of application, or via the Self Service Portal.
• Applicants can monitor the progress of their applications via the Self Service Portal.
• Selections for programmes that have a limited intake but attract a large number of applications may only finalise the application at the end of the application cycle.

Please note that the Entry Requirements are a guide. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee a place. Final selection is made subject to the availability of places, academic results and other entry requirements where applicable.

International students, please check this section.

For more information, contact the Student Call Centre +27 (0)11 717 1888, or log a query at www.wits.ac.za/askwits.

Click here to see the current average tuition fees. The Fees site also provides information about the payment of fees and closing dates for fees payments. Once you have applied you will be able to access the fees estimator on the student self-service portal.

For information about postgraduate funding opportunities, including the postgraduate merit award, click here. Please also check your School website for bursary opportunities. NRF bursaries: The National Research Foundation (NRF) offers a wide range of opportunities in terms of bursaries and fellowships to students pursuing postgraduate studies. External bursaries portal: The Bursaries South Africa website provides a comprehensive list of bursaries in South Africa.