Master of Public Administration - IAS

Overview

Master of Public Administration (MPA) is the flagship degree program of the Institute of Administrative Sciences (IAS). University of the Punjab was the first to launch MPA degree in Pakistan in the year 1962. IAS has revamped and upgraded this program. The upgraded program is specifically designed as a blend of the theoretical, practical and research knowledge which equips students with the nuanced skills and perspectives to pursue the public interest. The upgraded MPA program counts as 18 years of education and hence is equivalent to MS/MPhil degree. The comprehensive collection of core and elective courses are offered in MPA degree with a focus on key disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives on public administration, management and governance. Core courses are designed for participants to gain solid understanding of the core functional areas of public administration such as organizational structuring, management of human resources, finance, public policy analysis and evaluation, as well as research methods and analysis. Active class participation informed by the knowledge of readings and other materials is encouraged and considered to be an integral component of learning experience that helps to enhance students’ skills in critical reading and interpretation, oral presentation, active listening, and synthesis and evaluation of arguments and ideas. Students are trained to select a research problem to suit their interests and professional development needs and undertake research and analysis. Six credit hour thesis allows students to identify gaps in the existing literature and carry out research to contribute to the literature, practice and policy.

Program Objectives

1. To provide students with solid knowledge of contemporary and historical experiences of public administration, public policy, principles of organizational design, financial management, as well as research methods and evaluation.
2. To engage in contemporary debates about public value, public administration, public sector management and governance in Pakistan and globally.
3. To understand policy tools and capabilities and how they can be applied in an increasingly complex professional environment.
4. To examine public organizations, their management and accountability, as well as the way they contribute to problem solving within the broader political and social context – both nationally and globally.
5. To equip students with necessary skills to make them capable of holding managerial roles within public and not-for-profit entities and also to lead and coordinate projects and programs executed to address economic, social, political and cultural issues.
6. To develop and apply rigorous analytical skills for organizational learning, evidence-based decision-making in response to the complexities and challenges of public administration, management and governance.