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Darren Morgan, Masters Administrator, SOG
Paul, Jane and Nick
Nick's notes
Students
Domestic
Almost all part-time because they study while they work
Often studied a while ago so need to know that study is easier, more student-centric and better supported than it used to be – it’s a more mature relationship based on mutual respect, debate and discussion more than exams.
International
1/3 to ½ are NZAid
Have different information needs
Are an important group
Key messages
Students often did their UG study way in the past, need to pass on the message that University has changed and the study is easier as their is lots of support.
No exams
Career boost
Only school in NZ offering Master’s to help boost public servants’ careers
Programme has been around for 40 years.
Prospective student might have a UG degree and some experience but they want to progress their career.
Study while you work
They go out of their way to make it possible.
Can be broken into chunks and spread it out.
5 courses offered in Auckland in 2016 - not going well but hope it will improve
Most courses are modular – 7 classes in 9am-5pm day, 3 per trimester
1 intensive (modular on steroids) - 4 days in a year, only one taught this way
1 course taught in evening
Time limit is very soft and they don't actually enforce this - can this be promoted??
Workload - 7-10 hours per course, 1 point = 10 hours (general university guideline), 15 point course = 24 hours contacts time, rest is done independentlly
Community
Good cohort community across sectors – NGO, local government, central government etc. NZ Aid is a particuarly strong group as they do it more intensely - 15 months.
Decision makers coming into the classes
Supportive environment
Welcoming - people are invited in to become integrated into the School
Regular seminars
School aims to be accessible, approachable and customer-focussed
Mature relations with staff. / Egalitarian.
For international students
Content is globally relevant (while focussed on NZ) - adjust the programme so it is relevant to other countries
They’re well-supported – extra tutoring, their own director, close cohort community
SOG run drop-in sessions
NZ is a great place to come to learn Government, the country has a very open government for people to learn from
PhD – further study
Common path and very easy
Career-building – PhD helps gain most senior positions
Research preparation – all master’s students do an intensive research paper
Work might pay
Masters students are most likely to be funded by government employer.
Programmes are a professional development partnership with the public service
Designed to assist with professional development [public service capability building]
Staircasing
Can staircase both ways and this is something they promote.
Everyone doing Cert, Dip, or Master’s in PM or PP does the same foundation courses [cohort community]
MPP and MPM - 3 core courses/then 4 foundation courses / Staircase - 2 core courses & 2 foundation courses (first year)
Most (1/2) enrol in Master’s first up / other go into Cert or Dip, might be because their bosses will only pay for one year or that the student wants to see if they can balance PG study and their job.
There is the same entry requirement for Cert, Dip, or Master’s [unlike other staircased VBS professional programmes we’ve met about so far] – the choice of Cert or Dip is more about testing the water and time and money
SOG do promote the exit option
SOG provide lots of advice on options – Darren works closely with students
Breaks the Master’s into manageable chunks
It’s quite common for people to do the Cert, return to work for a few years and then come back for the next step
Part time option
The time limit is soft
Can do less than half-time
Applying
A checklist would be useful, they need:
- 1x reference
- transcript
- CV
- passport / birth certificate
- International need statement of intetn
They have a Fees factsheet
Entry
As noted, same entry requirement for Cert, Dip, or Master’s
Can have any UG degree and they usually get an eclectic mix.
Post-experience students don’t need to have studied Public Policy back when they did their degree
Do have a graduate pathway and the school wants to grow this group. It is important the material doesn't deter this group. Graduates would mostly be looking for full time study. This pathway comes from stopping the honours programme. It is very competitive - only six got in this year via interview. The motivation is often because the grad employment bar is constantly being raised and they may not feel a UG degree is enough to make them competitive.
There is usually intensive consultation to work out the best option. The prospective currently is the most useful information to help direct peoples choices. They may be weighing up between MCom and MPP and MPM. If they want more research then they should doe the MCom
Work experience can be balanced against not have a UG degree.
Students often don't realise they have to re-enrol each year.
Public Policy vs. Public Management
The shared foundation courses mean you can decide which to do after first year
Master of E-government
“Boutique” programme, doesn't have capacity to be a large programme
Created around a particular Professor
Big area of government development but may/should be folded into MPM
Signifies that the school is modern, forward-looking
Taught online
Students mostly international, Southeast Asian
Common questions
How do I enrol?
Where do I go?
What does it cost adn what do I get for this
International students often want to know the details of what they’ll be doing
Stories/rich media
They’ll have 3 videos available
Keen to pull together more stories based on our specs