PICPA increases Public Sector Management Alumni A total of 18 students each from the Samoa and Vanuatu Public Service have graduated with a Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Management (GCPSM). They were awarded their certificates during the recent graduation ceremonies at USP’s Alafua and Emalus Campuses respectively. Their studies were sponsored by the Pacific Islands Centre for Public Administration (PICPA), an Australian-funded project based at USP’s Laucala Campus. It is an integral component of USPs Strategic Plan 2013 – 2018 under the leadership of the Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Rajesh Chandra, and is committed to developing the capacity of public servants in the Pacific. The GCPSM is offered under PICPA’s Executive Development Programme, which is aimed at offering public servants who do not have an academic background in public sector management (PSM), the opportunity to learn about the unique features of the public sector and how to manage public organisations effectively. The programme also presents a good opportunity for participants to refresh and update their skills and knowledge on current trends and practices in PSM. Participants also benefit from learning and researching topics such as governance in the public sector, public policy analysis, service delivery, human resource management and national planning and development. To date, the GCPSM has been taught in Kiribati, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu and boasts an Alumni of 56. PICPA Advisor in Capacity Development and Training and programme co-ordinator, Dr. Desmond Amosa, highlighted ‘policy analysis’ as an area of particular focus. He said “it was evident that training is needed in this critical area, especially when it ends up in the form of a Cabinet submission.” The benefits of the programme were evident when “participants after going through several exercises on the process of conducting policy analysis (which is mainly about defining a policy problem) managed to pick up the gaps that needed to be addressed and then recommended solutions. “ “This will add value to the quality of policy analysis in their respective Ministries,” Dr Amosa said. At a gathering of the graduates after the Emalus ceremony, Simon Flores, acting Australian High Commissioner in Vanutau said, “Public servants play a critical role in a country’s development. Australia is pleased to offer the opportunity for ni-Vanuatu public servants to learn new skills to better serve the nation.” In a special meeting with the graduates, Australian High Commissioner in Samoa, Her Excellency Sue Langford, emphasised Australia’s support in developing the capacity of public servants in the Pacific through PICPA. “Public servants play a crucial role in Samoa’s development as well as the Pacific. Australia is committed to assisting the Government of Samoa strengthen public administration and further improve service delivery in response to the needs and plans of Pacific Island Countries,” she said. Christophe Muluane, one of the graduates and Executive Manager of the Vanuatu Institute of Public Administration Management, said “We are privileged to have been chosen for these studies, and with good time management we managed to cope with the pressure of managing full-time jobs and completing assignments on time.” “We have learnt some of the best techniques of policy analysis that will assist us in our decision-making in the government and consideration of the needs of citizens,” he added.
Posted on: Wed, 17 Dec 2014 03:07:53 +0000
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