MPA8102 Comparative Public Administration

This course provides students with an introduction to the governmental, administrative and political systems of both developed and under developed countries with a focus on political systems and their manifestation in administrative systems.  The course will thus provide students with a greater undertaking of National Systems of Public Administration in a wide range of countries.  It thus comprises a survey of the history of Administrative thought, development administration, general theories of Bureaucratic organizations, study of similarities and differences in the orientations, administrative structures, patterns of behavior of selected number of states, their governments and political leadership styles functions and problems.  

Course Objectives

• To acquire an informed understanding of the sub field of comparative public administration.
• To understand conceptual and practical issues of comparative investigation and analysis.
• To examine regularities and patterns from a broad base of diverse practices.
• To appreciate challenges of national and international management.
• To articulate the basic ideas of sustainable development and good governance and provide participants with sound theoretical knowledge and understanding of key concepts of theories and approaches to public management and administration.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, students are expected to have;

• Understand key developments in public administration in a comparative context 
• Demonstrate ability to develop a detailed proposal for reform of a particular public institution or process.
• Demonstrate ability to analyze and evaluate aspect of public management and administration in a comparative context.
• Been exposed to a comparative assessment of European and African experiences in public administration and management.
• Been critically engaged in strategic debates relevant to public management and administration.