The Master of Public Management and Governance (MPMG) program integrates public management and governance perspectives in response to changing approaches to public administration and the evolving needs of public-sector organizations.

The curriculum highlights the movement from traditional administrative approaches toward New Public Management and New Public Governance, emphasizing flexible, innovative, responsible, result-oriented and citizen-focused public administration. In Ethiopia, public-sector reforms and the need for stronger managerial and governance capacity provide the context for the program.

The program was initiated by the Department of Management in the College of Business and Economics to respond to labour-market needs and public-sector reforms. It is designed for academicians and practitioners interested in public-sector leadership, management, innovation, research and consultancy.

The curriculum identifies two principal rationales: public-sector reform and labour-market needs. It emphasizes the need for efficient, accountable, responsive and responsible public-sector organizations and for professionals with advanced knowledge and analytical skills in problem solving, decision making, policy analysis, management, governance and public-sector program management.

The program is also intended to address the demand for master's-level academicians, researchers and practitioners in public management and governance and to provide a hybrid approach combining public management and governance.

• Understand and manage complex political and administrative issues in the public sector.
• Critically analyze and evaluate public management, governance and public policy approaches.
• Approach public-sector problems systematically and scientifically.
• Design public management models, governance structures, institutions and policies.
• Initiate and design change in the public sector.
• Respect ethical standards and values of public administration.

Graduates are expected to develop knowledge, practical capacity, judgement, communication skills and independent learning capabilities that support careers as managers, researchers and consultants/advisers in government, NGOs and bilateral or multilateral organizations.

• Understand contemporary theories, paradigms, concepts and principles of public management and governance.
• Understand public policy making, network governance, management and economics in public-sector contexts.
• Understand local and urban governance and intergovernmental relations.
• Analyze public policies and policy instruments using quantitative and qualitative methods.
• Analyze local governance, decentralization and intergovernmental relations.
• Apply strategic human resource management in legally and politically constrained public-sector settings.
• Manage public-sector programs and governance networks.
• Conduct research, analyze data and prepare scientifically sound reports.
• Provide expert advice to decision makers based on institutional contexts.
• Design strategic management-oriented performance measurement systems.
• Demonstrate integrity, ethical conduct, accountability, transparency, representation and public participation.
• Communicate professionally in English and work effectively in multidisciplinary settings.

• Provide comprehensive public management and governance education with academic and professional orientation.
• Equip students with skills for managing public organizations and policy making and analysis in multi-actor environments.
• Enable students to apply effective public management practices, policy analysis and program evaluation techniques.
• Develop learning, communication and critical-judgement skills needed in multi-level and networked governance.

Year 1 – Semester 1

Year 1 – Semester 2

Year 2 – Semester 1

Year 2 – Semester 2

Module 01 – Public Organizations and Management (MPMG-M101) — Human Resource Management for Public Sector; Strategic Performance Management in Public Sector; Theories of Public Organization and Management. Focuses on public-organization theories, public-sector HRM and strategic performance management.

Module 02 – Public Policy Making and Management (MPMG-M102) — Principles of Public Management; Public Finance and Budgeting; Public Policy Making and Analysis. Covers public administration, policy processes, governance, public finance and budgeting.

Module 03 – Public Sector Governance (MPMG-M103) — Decentralization and Intergovernmental Relations; Local Governance and Service Delivery; Public Governance Issues, Theories and Practices. Focuses on governance arrangements, power, accountability, decentralization and service delivery.

Module 04 – Program Management in Public Sector (MPMG-M204) — Program Management in Public Sector. Develops theoretical and practical skills for managing programs across their different stages.

Module 05 – Research in Public Management and Governance (MPMG-M205) — Research Method in Public Management and Governance and Master's Thesis. Develops scientific research skills, quantitative and qualitative methods, data collection and analysis, academic writing and thesis research.

• A first degree from a recognized college/university in Public Administration, Business Administration, Business Education, Management, Law, Political Science, Economics, Sociology, Accounting and Finance, or other related social-science fields.
• Successful completion of the entrance examination conducted by the Department of Management, College of Business and Economics, Bahir Dar University.
• Follow the admission and application procedures of Bahir Dar University.
• Subject to fulfillment of the stated requirements, special consideration is given to executive and middle-level managers from government and non-government institutions.

• Complete all courses with no D or F grade in any course.
• Achieve a minimum CGPA of 3.00.
• Complete the master's thesis with a minimum rating of Satisfactory.
• Meet other academic and regulatory requirements of Bahir Dar University.

Courses are delivered largely through semester-based teaching, supported by lectures, presentations and seminars, independent reading, discussions, project work, field work, research and report writing. The thesis requires field research and completion according to scientific research standards.

Assessment uses continuous assessment approaches including term papers, presentations, project work, article reviews, fieldwork reports, tests and examinations, with active student participation emphasized. Master's thesis performance is rated as Fail, Satisfactory, Good, Very Good or Excellent.

Core and Supporting Academic Staff

* The curriculum marks these staff as being on study leave. Visiting PhD holders from other universities, particularly Addis Ababa University, are identified as potential visiting professors.