Economic and Development Policy

On successful completion of this short course, you should be able to:
1. Apply relevant conceptual and analytical frameworks to key issues relating to economic development and policy formulation
2. Synthesise key trends and positions in the governance debate
3. Collect and analyse information with the use of statistical tools
4. Critique theoretical issues pertaining to the role of the state and the market in an economy
5. Distinguish critical issues of economic development and the debate about 'Developmental State' and its relevance for South Africa
6. Assess trade and industrial policy in the course of economic and industrial development
7. Apply theoretical and analytical tools to understand the South African economy
8. Reflect as practitioners on issues relating to economic development, governance and policy

Status of certificate

• As per the Council for Higher Education (CHE), a short course that does not carry credit towards a qualification on the HEQSF cannot be assigned and allocated NQF levels and credits.

• Short courses are short learning programmes offered by higher education institutions outside their formal structured undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and they, therefore, do not lead to qualifications on the Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework (HEQSF). They serve a range of social and educational purposes, including improving or refreshing participants’ knowledge and skills in a particular field, improving participants’ readiness for specific formal higher education programmes, continuing professional development, learning to use technology, personal fulfilment, social development and good citizenship, to mention a few. (https://www.che.ac.za/sites/default/files/publications/CHE%20Good%20Practice%20Guide%20September%202016%20PDF.pdf)

• You will receive a Certificate of Competence on successful completion of this course.

Module 1: GOVERNANCE AND POLICY
Key trends and positions in the governance debate within the themes of process, regulation and compliance.
Module 2: MANAGING INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS
Foundational and operational information and communication management skills for managers in the public and development sectors through a hands-on, practical approach using statistical tools and graphics to describe, analyse and communicate information.
Module 3: ECONOMICS AND PUBLIC FINANCE
Theoretical issues pertaining to the role of the state and the market in an economy.
Module 4: POLITICAL ECONOMY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Critical issues including domestic resource allocation lessons from comparative historical experiences of economic development and the debate about 'Developmental State' and its relevance for South Africa.
Module 5: TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL POLICY
Trade and industrial policy in the course of economic and industrial development: the classic 'macroeconomic trilemma' and its implications; exchange rates and trade as industrial policy; industrial policy and employment; industrial policy and technology.
Module 6: THE SOUTH AFRICAN ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIAL STRUCTURE
Theoretical and analytical tools to understand the South African economy - linkages within the domestic economy and the world.

• An undergraduate qualification or equivalent with at least three years working experience in a relevant field.

The six modules will be delivered over six weeks in block release format.

Participants will be required to attend class for four days a week, once a month, over a period of six months. 

Start date: 5 March 2024

DELIVERY SITE

• ONSITE course delivery is at the Wits School of Governance located in Parktown, Johannesburg.
• OFFSITE deliveries are offered subject to the commitment of a minimum numbers of participants being registered for the course.
• ONLINE delivery will require the participant to have connectivity and devices.
• Please note that travel and accommodation will be at the cost of the students’ respective organisations.