Public Administration Graduate Research Articles

A TRACER STUDY OF BACHELOR IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION GRADUATES FROM ACADEMIC YEAR 2018 TO 2023

This quantitative descriptive study aimed to determine the profile of the 118 Bachelor of Public Administration (BPA) graduates from the Academic Year 2018 to 2023 at Kapalong College of Agriculture, Sciences and Technology (KCAST). This tracer study involves the gathering of quantitative information through the use of online survey forms to get the necessary data, the study employed the descriptive quantitative technique of research. According to findings, 65% of graduates are currently employed, with the majority of them holding full-time jobs, the remaining 35% are not working yet because of their job preferences. Further, the results showed that 44% are working full-time, 25% are working on contractual basis, 10% in regular positions, 2% are working part-time, and another 1% are self-employed. Then, 43% are employed in the government, 18% as office-based clerk, 9% as sales agent/representatives, 18% as account specialist, 8% as marketing specialist, and the remaining 4% as call center agent. The level of attitude to work obtained a very high descriptive rating which means that the public administration graduates always manifested the said behavior. The quality education provisions of the institution as well as skills and abilities development obtained a high descriptive rating which means that the public administration graduates manifested the influence of the factor as extensive. It is recommended that to achieve the programs core academic goals and objectives, the institution should strengthen its connections, collaborations, and partnerships with other governmental and non-governmental organizations. KEYWORDS: descriptive-quantitative method, graduate tracer study, public administration study

Public Administration Study Program Needs for Public Speaking Ability in English to Improve Graduate Quality

This study aims to find the needs of the Public Administration Study Program related to Public Speaking to prepare graduates who are competent in speaking in public using English as a provision to face the global era. There is a desire and hope that graduates of the Public Administration Study Program have global competitiveness in addition to science related to administration. To maximize the potential of the next candidate for Public Administration graduates, a material design is needed to improve Public Speaking skills by first analyzing the Public Speaking skill needs that are most needed by the study program. This study analyzes the needs of expected materials from a semi-structured interview with the Head of the Public Administration Study Program. The results of the research show that the Public Administration study program wants to focus on learning objectives on improving communication skills based on the future job needs of graduates seen through tracer studies.
 Highlights:
 
 Effective Communication in English: Enhancing public speaking skills in English is crucial to prepare graduates for the global era and increase their international employability.
 Job-Oriented Learning Objectives: The study program aims to align public speaking materials with the specific needs of future jobs, identified through tracer studies, to make graduates more job-ready.
 Competency Beyond Administration: While the program focuses on administration knowledge, it also emphasizes developing well-rounded communication abilities, enabling graduates to excel in diverse professional settings.
 
 Keywords: Public Administration Study Program, Public Speaking, Global Competitiveness, Material Design, Communication Skills

Career mentorship of graduate students in public administration at the intersection of the relationship between students and faculty

ABSTRACTStudents pursue graduate degrees in public administration for many career-related reasons. Accordingly, graduate students have various career and professional development needs, some of which are fulfilled through career mentorship by faculty. This study examines career mentorship of graduate students in public administration from both the student and faculty mentor perspectives. Using qualitative data from in-depth, semi-structured interviews with public administration graduate students and faculty, we couple the different perspectives to develop an understanding of the core elements of career mentoring for graduate students. We also provide practical suggestions on how to ensure career mentorship is beneficial to graduate students in public administration programs.

Staying Motivated: The Study Protocol for a Life-Course Analysis of the Career Paths of Canadian Public Servants

All Canadians benefit from a high quality of public service delivery, which is directly related to the motivation of public servants. A top priority for governments is to attract and retain a public sector workforce that is motivated and enthusiastic to serve the public good. The Public Service Motivation (PSM) theory offers a framework for the analysis of motivations of public servants. Knowledge is lacking on how motivations of public servants change over time and are shaped by the life-course dynamics of identities, roles, inequalities, and experiences. Our goal is to chronicle the motivations of individuals over a life course, specifically from the onset of their career in the public service to their current career stage. We will contribute to PSM theory by combining it with the Life Course Theory (LCT). This will allow for the analysis of change in PSM over time and in relation to other life events. We aim to further our understanding of determinants of motivation of public servants by unveiling the dynamic, gendered, and diverse nature of PSM, and its interconnections with professional and personal lives. Our approach is qualitative. We will interview 100 alumni of graduate public administration programs in four Canadian institutions with reference to their graduate program admissions letter as a point of departure. During reflexive interviews, participants will co-analyse their admissions letters, where our role will be to guide them along the PSM framework. We will hear from study participants how their motivations changed since those expressed in their admissions letter, to what extent motivations over time were influenced by the events in their professional and personal lives, their identities, and roles in the workplace and in society, and their personal characteristics. Interview transcripts will be analysed using reflexive thematic analysis and interpreted jointly with the study participants.

The use of theoretical frameworks by Master of Public Administration (MPA) graduates at a selected South African university of technology

Scholars contend that public administration, as a discipline, is still in its infancy and, more often than not, fumbles for its own identity. It is generally regarded as an amalgamation of various disciplines. It is therefore no wonder that scholars in public administration, more often than not, fail to locate their empirical research, in sound theoretical frameworks for research in public administration, in general. The core objective of the study was to determine whether Master of Public Administration (MPA) graduates, from a selected university of technology in South Africa, grounded their research in theoretical frameworks, rooted in the identified public administration domains. Desktop research was employed where purposely selected MPA dissertations were scrutinised, using content analysis. MPA qualifications generally comprise a range of modules in conjunction with the production of a mini-thesis. This has not been the case at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) since 2016. MPA graduates are required to produce a full dissertation only. The study intended to highlight the importance of conducting research that contributes to public administration theory development, especially at universities of technology. The study found that if CPUT wants to acquire a competitive edge in the international higher education landscape in general and in the field of public administration in particular, it must aspire to deliver MPA graduates who demonstrate the ability to grow the mass of theoretical knowledge in the discipline. The study recommends that theoretical frameworks, in the study domains associated with research in public administration be taught explicitly in the form of seminars in the absence of teaching them in formal credit-bearing modules, which is the case at CPUT.

Sustainable Development Education in Public Administration Graduate Programs: The Cases of Pamukkale and Niğde Ömer Halisdemir Universities

Adaptation of environmental literacy awareness to the education system and reflection of interest and attitude towards the environment in behavior is a critical element in order to ensure sustainable development. Turkey's interest in the environment and sustainable development began to increase at the end of the 20th century. Unfortunately, the reflection of this interest in the education system has not been at the desired level. The foremost aim of the study is to measure the level of consciousness and awareness about sustainable development of the students who are in the master's programs of the department of public administration. As a sample, students studying in the relevant field between 2018-2020 at Pamukkale University and Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University Social Sciences Institute were selected. In this study, where the qualitative method was preferred, the data of 20 students who provided feedback to the 11-expression interview form were analyzed using the word cloud method. It was concluded that the participants began to examine the relationship between the environmental factor and sustainable development, understood the importance of sustainable development for future generations, but could not adequately reflect the consciousness and awareness they had achieved in their behavior.

Internship alternatives: Solutions for the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond

Internships are an integral component of most undergraduate and graduate public administration programs. These learning opportunities allow students to get practical experience in a workplace setting before graduation and provide them with an opportunity to apply knowledge gained in the classroom to the “real world.” But what are students, departments, and employers to do when circumstances—including major disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic as well as situations unique to specific students—complicate or even prevent on-site internship experiences? This article outlines a variety of approaches to finding a solution to this problem, weighing the benefits and drawbacks of each.

How managers and students view public service: The theoretical vs. practical divide

This paper examines existing management concepts and practices that make up three contemporary approaches to public policy and public administration. We attempt to understand whether municipal public administrators and public administration graduate students validate these perspectives in “reality” versus “ideally.” Addressing the extent to which practicing public administrators and students identify with theoretical frameworks, which one(s) they deem most prominent, and how closely their preferred frameworks correspond to what they see in practice, we offer an exploratory analysis of results from 176 respondents through descriptive statistics, paired-sample t-tests, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). We hypothesize significant differences with respect to 1) what is preferred and what is perceived in the workplace, 2) group membership (administrator, graduate student, or undergraduate student), and 3) gender (female or male). This research will help public administration educators bridge the gap between theory and practice and narrow the distance between the “is” and the “ought.”

Rethinking public administration education in the period of pandemic: Reflections of public administration students on online education through a SWOT analysis

The current research aims to explore the perceptions of undergraduate and graduate public administration students about online education. The data were gathered from political science and public administration students at the end of the spring semester at a public university in Turkey. Focus group interviews among students were chosen as the data collection method. Later, applying the SWOT analysis, the weaknesses and strengths along with threats and opportunities were identified. In the study, Maslow's needs hierarchy was revisited for a more insightful analysis of findings. Therefore, the study has provided an in-depth analysis of online education to identify caveats for successful implementation. The study concludes that self-actualization is indispensable for revealing the real potential and the creativity of students. Therefore, we cannot overlook the socializing role of university campuses and face-to-face education in the way to self-actualization.

E-Government and information technology coursework in public administration programs in Asia

New technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain are changing how the public sector serves constituents. Academic programs in public administration and public policy must adapt their coursework to best serve students in an increasingly technology-based world. This qualitative research analyzed 84 Asian public administration graduate programs to determine the degree to which information technology was taught throughout the region. Our findings indicate that considerable variation existed between the number of information technology classes offered and the types of information discussed in the classes. A majority of public administration programs throughout Asia offered coursework in information technology; but, core classes and IT-specific specializations in public administration programs were observed at a much lower rate. Discussions of the tactics taken by programs to educate students in information technologies provide actionable suggestions for practitioners, educators, researchers, and administrators alike.

TÜRKİYE’DE LİSANSÜSTÜ EĞİTİMDE KENTBİLİM VE ÇEVRE EĞİTİMİNİN AKADEMİK GÖRÜNÜMÜ

Türkiye’de kentleşme ve çevre eğitiminin gelişimini Cumhuriyetin ilk yıllarına kadar götürmek mümkün olsa da asıl gelişmenin 1940’lardan itibaren olduğu görülür. Özellikle 2. Dünya Savaşı öncesinden başlayan sanayileşme ve onun yarattığı buhranın etkisi hem savaş hem de savaş sonrası dönemde hemen bütün dünyayı derinden etkilemiştir. Kentlerin yeniden inşası süreci özellikle kentbilim eğitim ve çalışmalarının da itici gücü olur. Ancak 2000’li yıllara yaklaşırken artan kentsel sorunlara hızlı bir şekilde çevre sorunları da eklenirken, uluslararası toplum sürece kayıtsız kalmayarak önemli adımlar atmıştır. Türkiye’de de bu önemli adımların kent ve çevre eğitimi bakımından üniversitelerin daha çok kamu yönetimi bölümlerinde öne çıktığı bilinmektedir. Özellikle kamu yönetimi lisansüstü programları sosyo-ekonomik değişkenler ile kent ve çevre eğitiminde eleştirel düşünme arasında anlamlı ilişki kurmaya elverişli programlardır. Bu çalışma Türkiye’de kamu yönetimi bölümlerinde lisansüstü olarak verilen kent ve çevre eğitimi üzerinden hem bir analiz yapmayı hem de bir gelecek perspektifi ortaya koymayı amaçlamaktadır. Sosyal bilimler enstitülerinde ilgili programların dağılımı, bu dağılımın vakıf ve devlet üniversiteleri için farklılaşıp farklılaşmadığı, derslerin hangi ana alanlarda toplandığı, günümüz sorun ve çözüm arayışlarına ne denli yanıtlar verebildikleri, dersi veren öğretim üyeleri arasında bir unvan farklılaşması olup olmadığı çalışmanın temel sorularındandır. Çalışmada farklılaşan ders isimlerine rağmen içeriklerin ve ders materyallerinin sınırlılığı ve bunun yanı sıra ders dağılımı ve dersi veren öğretim üyelerinin unvan farklılığı dikkat çekmektedir. Bu bağlamda Türkiye’de kent ve çevre eğitimi açısından özellikle lisansüstü düzeyde yeni bir perspektife ihtiyaç olduğu açıktır.

Food insecurity among public administration graduate students

Food insecurity is a pressing concern for students in higher education. Much of the conversation surrounding this problem, however, focuses on undergraduate students. But some research finds the problem extends to graduate students. This study asks the question of how food insecurity may be affecting graduate students in public administration. A pilot study in a Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration-accredited program reveals that almost one quarter of respondents are food insecure. This includes one in five students who are completing their degrees online. The survey also found an important divergence between the types of programs food-insecure students are willing to use and those to which food-secure students are willing to contribute. Given the effects of food insecurity on academic success and degree completion, this study has important implications for public administration programs.

Social Governance Concepts in Traditional Chinese Culture

Abstract Within China’s outstanding traditional culture lies a wealth of thought on social governance. In an effort to organize these ideas in systematic fashion, this text contains the dialogue that took place in the autumn of 2019 during a course for public administration graduate students entitled “Innovation in Social Governance.” The dialogue was between Professor Wang Ming of Tsinghua University and sinologist Meng Fanjia, who is a 74th-generation descendant of the great philosopher Mencius and an advocate of contemporary shi culture (a shi is one who aspires to become a person of noble character as defined by traditional Chinese culture). The dialogue, full of novel concepts, summarizes the definition of the word “traditional”. Their discussion was both broadly inclusive and profoundly insightful in the aspects of rite, being a man of noble character, virtue, being a scholar, goodness, filial piety, law, kinship, and morality.

Transforming plans into community impact: Strategic planning as service-learning in public and nonprofit administration graduate programs

Service-learning is highly praised as a successful pedagogical tool for students’ learning. Benefits are attributed to students, the university, and the community. However, the literature also cautions that the benefits of service-learning are largely assumed without empirical testing, warranting a closer review of this pedagogical method. The purpose of this research is to investigate how previously identified service-learning best practices affect the level of strategic impact for community partners. The study utilizes the rich and varied 20-year history of a strategic planning service-learning course at the University of Central Florida School of Public Administration to test these relationships, producing evidence to demonstrate that group team structure and the designation of a service-learning director do indeed improve partner outcomes while longer semesters and greater organizational capacity may not. Ultimately, the study endorses a programmatic approach to service-learning that transcends a particular assignment or course, requiring significant attention, investment, and evaluation to ensure positive community impact—especially in cases where broader university service-learning resources are lacking.

Improving Competency-Based Education through Empirical Evaluation: A Mixed Methods Study of A Masters of Public Administration Program

ABSTRACTThis study is focused on the problem of the mismatch of competencies of Masters of Public Administration (MPA) graduates in Russia and current Russian public servants. A mixed methods approach was used to analyze quantitative (n = 734) and qualitative data about the real-world competencies of local, regional, and federal government officials in comparison to what MPA graduates get from their education. The comparison of competency models of MPA graduates and government officials indicated that the most of the competencies are useful in public administration practice, but there is still lot to change in the approach of compiling the content of MPA educational standards and educational programs.

Leadership lessons through the lens of historical military leaders: A pedagogical approach to teaching leadership theories and concepts in a Masters of Public Administration course

The purpose of this essay is to illustrate the value of applying the lessons of successful historical battlefield commanders to teach leadership concepts and theories. This article uses the experience of Napoleon Bonaparte’s Grande Armee at the Battle of Austerlitz to illustrate these concepts. Utilizing Napoleon’s success in this battle as a framework, this essay employs a causal model of leadership to analyze and expound on leadership concepts that can benefit graduate students in Masters of Public Administration (MPA) programs. The leadership causal model emphasizes both descriptive and prescriptive aspects of leadership theory. The implications of this essay are that it provides a theoretical framework in public and non-profit sectors and therefore is an appropriate pedagogical strategy for teaching these concepts in undergraduate and graduate public administration courses. Moreover, the framework allows students to identify the best leadership and management practices in public and non-profit organizations.

Personal values and value congruence of public administration graduate students: An exploratory study in China

AbstractExplorations on the value profiles of current and prospective public organisation employees in China are scarce. The current study investigates this critical issue. Data were collected via a questionnaire from graduate students enrolled in a school of public administration in China. The sample consisted of both full‐time students who were prepared to pursue their careers in public organisations upon graduation, and part‐time students who were mostly public organisation employees. Multivariate analyses of covariance (MANCOVAs) and analyses of covariance (ANCOVAs) were used for data analysis. The results show that there are consistent value preferences among all students, and some noteworthy patterns in the relationship between value profiles and demographic and work‐related features. The results also shed light on whether a unique value set could differentiate various types of organisations, and demonstrate that employees in the core public service perceive higher level of value congruence than those in parapublic sectors. These findings provide implications and insights for the management practices in public organisations.

Do undergraduate public administration, policy, and affairs programs mimic graduate curricula?

ABSTRACTCurricular mimicking between undergraduate and graduate public administration, policy, and affairs degrees is an ongoing concern of program administrators. Mimicking occurs when the curricular elements of an undergraduate degree overlap those of a graduate degree. Missing from the discourse surrounding this issue is empirical evidence of curricular mimicking. We contribute to the ongoing discourse by providing evidence from a random sample of 42 universities. We find evidence of mimicking both between and within schools, but the mimicking is not complete. Although comparisons indicate mimicking exists, there is also evidence of substantial variation in curriculum coverage and emphasis. We recommend NASPAA take a leadership role in defining a continuum of learning for public administration, policy, and affairs degrees that covers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral curricula.

Gender representation in MPA ethics courses

ABSTRACTPublic administration frequently focuses on values such as diversity, equity, and representation through academic theory, professional standards, and educational accreditation. Research has shown that diversity efforts in faculty hiring and pedagogy have positive impacts on student success. This study measured gender representation in graduate public administration ethics course syllabi through the lens of representative bureaucracy theory. The researcher found that both male and female gender is represented (passive), but opportunities for students to see reflections of gender diversity in faculty and authors of course material heavily favor males. Active representation theory is demonstrated with increases in female-authored materials by female professors, but overall reflection opportunities are majority male-authored. While the surface level visibility of gender via professors or written scholarship may not be a substantive sign of gender inclusion, lack of inclusion or limited opportunities may serve as a symptom of the larger problem of barriers to equity and inclusion in the public administration workforce.

Her Ladyship and the Postal Princes

This portrayal was obtained from observing "Her Ladyship" as a street person, as well as through a newspaper article, her social workers, and a relative of a postal worker. This tale has been repeatedly used, in a graduate public administration course on administrative behavior, to provide a basis for discussion about the roles and responsibilities of public administrators. A resulting major question that it raised is the balance between providing for the needs of an individual and those of society as a whole. That is, do we want those in the public service to be compassionate and respond to the special needs of individuals, or do we want them to be value neutral and follow the usually impersonal rules and regulations.