Aim and Relevance

Our aim

The School of Government is committed to supporting the training and research needs of community based organisations, non-governmental organisations, trade unions and other institutions of the wider South African Society, to help the development of a balance between the state and civil society. As a constituent part of the Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences the school is committed to the faculties values of :

• equal access to education
• community involvement and partnership
• concern for local, national and global issues
• lifelong learning to enhance the quality of life and development of people
• participation and co-determination
• programmes based on research-generated knowledge
• equal opportunities for employment and advancement in society

The mission of the School of Government is to play a constructive but critical role in the transformation of structures of governance in the Southern African region, by means of:

• professional and customised short-course training;
• the promotion of democratic accountability, responsiveness, social equity, efficiency, ethical conduct and representivity as key dimensions of governance and public management;
• relevant and high-quality post-graduate programmes in governance and public management;
• relevant and collaborative research which will inform policy making.

Practical Relevance
An important question from potential students and applicants is always: "What can I get as additional qualification from this MA Program?" The following may give you an idea:
The School's programmes and activities are characterised by a number of distinctive qualities, including:

• A distinctive set of principles and values which underpin the curriculum, in line with the missions of the School and UWC in general;
• A broader and multi-disciplinary focus on governance rather than public administration and management;
• Potentially a much wider range of specialised programmes in governance and public management drawing on the skills and expertise of the School's cognate departments;
• A target group that is broader than current and potential managers in the public and local government services, including, for example, NGOs, civic organisations, trade unions, political organisations, parastatals, and the media, as well students who wish to pursue an academic career in the discipline;
• A flexible admissions policy, targeted in particular at previously disadvantaged groups;
• Experienced, well-qualified and cosmopolitan staff, increasingly representative in terms of race and gender.