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Human Resources Development Centre (HRDC)
Institute of Administrative Sciences, University of the Punjab
By Prof. Zafar Iqbal Jadoon [Project Director]
Prof. Dr. Nasira Jabeen [LEAD CONSULTANT]
Mr. Atif Rahim Khan [CONSULTANT]
Ms. Madiha Ali [RESEARCH ASSISTANT]
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report provides the results of a baseline research conducted on structure and contents of Governance programs and allied disciplines being taught in HEC recognized Pakistani universities. It also highlights key aspects of institutional environment including students’ profile and motivation, faculty and physical resources. Both undergraduate and graduate programs in Governance and its core areas such as Public Policy and Public Administration/Management along with supporting disciplines such as Political Science, Law, Economics, Sociology, History and Philosophy. The data was collected from universities through their admission related publications, questionnaires, semi-structured interviews with relevant academicians and managers and focus group discussions. The followings are the main findings of the study:
Structure and Contents of Governance Programs
- Governance education, though recognized for its importance, is largely sparse in terms of dedicated programs, courses offered and breadth as well as depth of content. Only one institution, National University of Modern Languages, has launched BS/MS program in Governance and Organizational Science. However, BS program is being discontinued.
- MPA (Master of Public Administration) is the oldest Governance related program and is well accepted as a Management degree in both public and private sector organizations. MPA programs are currently being offered by 12 public sectors in all four provinces including Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Public Policy is an upcoming field in Pakistan. Two public sector universities, University of the Punjab and National Defense University and one private university, Beaconhouse National University have launched Masters in public policy. Both MPA and MPP (Master of Public Policy) are of 2 years with minimum 66 semester credit hours offered after BA/BSc degree. These programs are being restructured under the new road map developed by Higher Education Commission for Business and Public Administration education. Under the proposed structure, MPA and MPP will be of three years duration with minimum 96 credit hours of course work and a project.
- Few universities are offering BS(Hons)/BPA programs in Public Administration / Management which is of 4 years duration with a minimum of 130 credit of coursework and a project. This program is offered after FA/FSc or equivalent. This degree is equivalent to existing MPA and MPP in terms of academic standing.
- Three universities are offering Governance related MS programs with different nomenclatures: University of the Punjab is offering MS-Management leading to PhD with a focus on public management; Beaconhouse has recently launched MS-Public Policy; and National University of Modern Languages has approved program of MS-Governance and Organizational Sciences. MS program is of two years duration with 30 credit of coursework and a thesis. The entry qualification for MS program is BS (Hons) or a Masters degree awarded after 16 years of education.
- Curricula of Public Administration programs are skewed towards Management. Legal and political aspects are ignored. The regulation and service delivery aspects of Governance, which are the core activities of government, inter-governmental relations, sectoral management, new tools of governance, contract management, administrative and public management reforms have been totally overlooked in the existing courses. An inter-disciplinary approach is missing from curricula.
- Both core and elective courses (which are offered) in programs studied lack exclusive focus on Public Administration, Public Policy and Governance. Business/Management oriented elective courses are more popular among student for employment purposes.
- The structure of supporting disciplines is still largely traditional. MA degree is offered in a specific discipline after BA/BSc Four years BS (Hons) programs in social sciences have not yet been started even in major public sector universities. The newly structured LLB degree and BS (Hons) programs of two private universities are few exceptions. LLB is of 5 years duration after FA/FSc in all public as well as private universities.
- The degree programs in supporting disciplines in general do not offer Governance related course. However, rare exceptions are there.
There is acute shortage of PhD faculty. The reliance on part-time faculty is very high. Faculty’s capacity for indigenizing learning resources including text books is very limited.
Students come into the Public Administration programs with varied (mostly Social Sciences) backgrounds. Public Policy programs attract more experienced candidates with clearer focus on the public sector. Students’ motivation to join MPA/BS programs in Public Administration is better employment prospects as compared to other Master programs in social sciences despite the fact that public sector organizations do not have any preference for MPA/BPA graduates. Gender ratio varies by institution but is balanced overall. More females enroll in MS/MPhil programs.
Physical facilities of universities have generally improved in the last few years as a result of increased funding and self-generated income from self-supporting programs in marketable disciplines.
Recommendations for Governance Education
- Pakistan’s experience of running Public Administration and Public Policy programs clearly suggests that new dedicated governance programs with nomenclature such as BS(Hons)/MS in Governance may not be viable at present. Instead, there is a need for strengthening existing programs in Public Administration, Public Management, and Public Policy through development of Governance curriculum, development of indigenous reading material, and capacity building of faculty.
- Post-graduate Diploma and certificate in Governance may be a viable option for launching dedicated program in Governance Studies. The Institute of Administrative Sciences, University of the Punjab, has shown willingness to start such courses subject to the availability funds for initial years.
- Multidisciplinary approach is recommended for curriculum development with courses in the area of regulatory governance, service delivery, institutional and public management reform, public policy analysis, development governance and management, collaborative governance mechanisms. There is a need to develop courses with special focus on policy and management issues in various sectors of Pakistan’s economy.
- Networking between institutions both on supply and demand side is strongly recommended for sustainability of Governance programs. Both GINI and GEN were long awaited initiatives that need to be strengthened.
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NIBR INPUT ON INITIAL REPORT OF
ReplyDeleteBASELINE RESEARCH STUDY- GOVERNANCE PROGRAMS
I have read the Report "Baseline Research on Governance related programmes and disciplines offered in Pakistan" (Second Draft), as well as the accompanying Table "List of Courses for GINI Research".
I find the report and table to include a lot of important and useful data and information. The data is in many respects very comprehensive and detailed.
The report also includes a number of finding and recommendations, and as far as I can understand, these findings and recommendations must be very important and valuable. However, I am missing a chapter that presents a structured examinations and analysis of the data. That is, some examinations and analysis that demonstrates how one has reached the findings (that are presented in the Conclusions chapter) and the recommendations. As the draft report is appearing now, it is not so easy to see how the conclusions have been reached at, except perhaps, by detailed browsing of all the data from all the individual universities/training institutions. I would suggest that the data is examined in a more structured way, so that it also can be more apparent how one has got to the findings and conclusions. As the findings and recommendations are presented today, it is difficult to determine, to what extent these have been made on: a) structured examinations and analysis of the data; b) document studies; c) general insight and knowledge; d) other. The report could also perhaps be structured somewhat along these lines.
However, when this is said, I must emphasize, that I think that the findings and recommendations that are presented most probably are very valid and important. It is only a matter of how it is demonstrated in the report how the findings and recommendations have been reached at.
In connection with this, the consultants have referred to the constraints linked to the time limitations for carrying out this project. And I fully understand, and sympathise, with this limitation. I am sure that the team will be able to carry out more structured examination and analysis of the data, given some more time to do these analyses.
The baseline research on Governance related Programs & Disciplines conducted by Institute of Administrative Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore raises some important issues but some of the issues like research, faculty development and salary are common in other fields or studies and not limited to Governance and Public Policy only.
ReplyDeleteAnother contradictory aspect that is mentioned in their key findings is at one point it is mentioned that it is not feasible to have a separate program at this moment but it is later stated “introduction of PhD as well as MS in Governance in selected universities”.
In the research It is also mentioned that faculty of social sciences who are currently teaching in various departments lack the practical knowledge of Governance and Public Policy and the students liked the visiting faculty who have some practical experience but only after having some basic know how of “How to Teach”. This is an important aspect, as due to recession many people have taken the route of part-time teaching having no experience of teaching and are not aware of the pedagogy of teaching and learning. The other side to the story is that people who have been in the profession of teaching for a long time lack these skills as they themselves have not gone through the process of “How to Teach” and became teachers just being part of the department.
The recommendation for a multi-disciplinary approach and collaboration between institutes are good recommendations along with willingness are a step in the right direction by the Institute of Administrative Sciences. University of Punjab.