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Unit Synopsis
In this unit, you will be equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to identify and analyse practical issues in the complex environment of public administration. This unit introduces you to the core principles and functions of public administration and the complex global setting within which public administration operates. You will develop a critical understanding of the different levels of government and their respective jurisdictions and responsibilities and the challenges of managing between these levels. You will also consider public sector reforms (both in Australia and internationally), and use relevant theories to evaluate their implementation. This includes developing your understanding of the shift from the provision of services by public authorities to mechanisms such as collaboration and competition, public-private partnership, and contracting the private and not for profit sectors to deliver services on behalf of the government.
Details
| Level | Postgraduate |
|---|---|
| Unit Level | 8 |
| Credit Points | 6 |
| Student Contribution Band | SCA Band 4 |
| Fraction of Full-Time Student Load | 0.125 |
| Pre-requisites or Co-requisites |
There are no pre-requisites for the unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework). |
| Class Timetable | View Unit Timetable |
| Residential School | No Residential School |
Unit Availabilities from Term 1 - 2020
Term 1 - 2020 Profile
Term 1 - 2022 Profile
Term 1 - 2023 Profile
Term 1 - 2024 Profile
Term 1 - 2025 Profile
Term 1 - 2026 Profile
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Assessment Tasks
| Assessment Task | Weighting |
|---|---|
| 1. Research Assignment | 40% |
| 2. Research Assignment | 40% |
| 3. Presentation | 20% |
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%).
Past Exams
All University policies are available on the Policy web site, however you may wish to directly view the following policies below.
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of policies are available on the Policy web site.
No previous feedback available
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Source: Extract from SUTE Student Feedback
Student experience has been very positive: "I found the unit very insightful ... engaging and empowering."
Maintain the focus on assessment providing insights that students can take into their professional practice. Enthusiasm for the subject area and workshop discussions are evidence of student interest.
Retain the focus to provide career boosting learning from the assessment design.
Source: Extract from SUTE Student Feedback
"Feedback on assignments and insightful questioning of speakers from industry was invaluable".
Sharing their experience, industry speakers provide critical insights about how to be successful as a consultant. Workshop discussions provide opportunities to both explore a range of industries and to identify professional practices that contribute to being a successful consultant. Quality constructive feedback provided on assignments is well received and is an important part of the value-add we seek to provide.
Feedback on written assessment provides insights and an opportunity for coaching/mentoring support to accelerate student success.
Source: Insight from SUTE Student Feedback
Students appreciated the opportunity to discuss how they could apply the insights to their current and emerging roles.
Socratic teaching empowers students and facilitates deeper engagement with insights from research and practice. Discussing their industry dynamic and where consulting opportunities are likely to arise (using conceptual frameworks) is very well received.
The contextual application and discussion of consulting frameworks contributes to dynamic workshop discussions. Maintain this approach.
Source: Personal refection from UC
This unit provides all students with an opportunity to consider career pathways that can leverage their unique skills and experience, and potentially provide flexibility to better align work/life goals.
Any graduate with work experience might consider this unit in their career planning. Consulting can generate interesting and professionally fulfilling work and control over career direction.
The vagaries of careers and reliance on employers for fulfilling work opportunities is under much challenge. Understanding how to develop a successful (and non-competing) income stream exemplifies both positive risk management and strategic career mapping.
Source: Student comments
Workshop discussions provide a risk-free and collegial environment to bounce ideas.
Contextualising the challenges and applying relevant frameworks can generate new approaches and helpful insights.
In Progress
Source: Student comments
The diversity of occupations and experience of students adds a rich dynamic to discussions.
Workshop facilitation is a delight each week. The insights and deep discussions benefit all and advance learning outcomes immeasurably.
In Progress
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- Identify, analyse, and apply the knowledge, skills and abilities required by public sector managers
- Examine the functions and operations of public administration organisations
- Assess the rationale and effectiveness of public sector reforms
- Demonstrate advanced knowledge and skills required to effectively manage across the public, private and not for profit sectors.
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Research Assignment | • | • | ||
| 2 - Research Assignment | • | • | ||
| 3 - Presentation | • | • | ||
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Knowledge | • | • | • | • |
| 2 - Communication | • | • | ||
| 3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | • | • | • | |
| 4 - Research | • | • | ||
| 5 - Self-management | • | |||
| 6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | • | |||
| 7 - Leadership | • | |||
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | |
| 1 - Research Assignment | • | • | • | • | |||||
| 2 - Research Assignment | • | • | • | • | |||||
| 3 - Presentation | • | • | • | • | |||||