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
Career boost
Only school in NZ offering Master’s to help boost public servants’ careers
Study while you work
They go out of their way to make it possible
Courses offered in Auckland
Most courses are modular – 7 classes in one day
1 intensive (modular on steroids)
1 taught in evening
Community
Good cohort community across sectors – NGO, local government, central government etc
Supportive environment
Welcoming
Regular seminars
School aims to be accessible, approachable and customer-focussed
For international students
Content is globally relevant (while focussed on NZ)
They’re well-supported – extra tutoring, their own director, close cohort community
SOG run drop-in sessions
PhD – further study
Common path
Career-building – PhD helps gain most senior positions
Research preparation – all master’s students do an intensive research paper
Work might pay
Programmes are a partnership with the public service
Designed to assist with professional development [public service capability building]
Staircasing
Everyone doing Cert, Dip, or Master’s in PM or PP does the same foundation courses [cohort community]
Most (1/2) enrol in Master’s first up
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 have a Fees factsheet
Entry
As noted, same entry requirement for Cert, Dip, or Master’s
Can come straight from graduate degree
- They want to grow this
- Competitive entry
Post-experience students don’t need to have studied Public Policy back when they did their degree
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
May fold into MPM
Signifies that the school is modern, forward-looking
Students mostly international, Southeast Asian
Common questions
How do I enrol?
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