MPP, MPM & MEGov SME meeting notes

School of Government Master of Public Policy, Master of Public Management and Master of e-Government programmes postgraduate SME meeting on 23/05/2016

Verna Smith, Professional Programmes Director, SOG

Lyne Todd, School Manager, SOG

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