The Department of Public Administration and Development Management is one of the oldest departments though it passed through different phases and revisions. The teaching of public administration in the higher education system of Ethiopia has more than half a century of history. Since its opening in the early 1950s, the department has become one of the strongest that has been running different demand-driven undergraduate and post-graduate programs (including Ph.D). The Department has demonstrated its strength by surviving various changes in the governance structure because of the multi-disciplinary nature of the field. The Department is currently under the College of Business and Economics located on the former Faculty of Business and Economics campus and runs various programs related to public administration, policy and development management.

The Department of Public Administration was opened in the early 1950s under the then University College of Addis Ababa. In 1961, when Haile Selassie I University, now Addis Ababa University, was inaugurated, the department was made to operate within the Faculty of Arts as the Department of Public Administration. From 1977 to 1981 the department was organized first under the Department of Political Science and Government, and subsequently under the Department of Management of the College of Business Administration. In 1982, however, a different arrangement that merged the fields of management (business administration) and public administration was put in place and the Department of Management and Public Administration (MTPA) was established. This department had been producing graduates that specialized in business administration and public administration for over two decades.

A major restructuring of the department occurred in 2004. As part of the Program Review of the Addis Ababa University, the decision was made to establish an independent department responsible for producing graduates in public administration and development management labeled as “Department of Public Administration and Development Management” within the Faculty of Business and Economics, currently called College of Business and Economics. Before launching the program in 2004, the curriculum of the department was revised taking into account the global dynamics in the theories and practices of public administration and development management as well as the national demands for skill and knowledge in public and development administration.

Since 2012/2013, the Department has implemented the nationally harmonized Public Administration and Development Management curriculum in both the regular and evening divisions of its undergraduate program. The department has played a leading role in the designing of the nationally harmonized curriculum. The BA program in Public Administration and Development Management is intended primarily for those who are planning a career in the administration and management of public sector organizations and development processes.

The Department has also one of the strongest post-graduate programs in the University. It launched its master’s level program called ‘Master of Public Administration (MPA)’ in 2005.The Program has produced many graduates currently serving in government and non-government organizations. A large number of the MPA graduates have also joined institutions of higher education to teach courses in administrative studies, thereby alleviating the acute shortage of teaching staff in these institutions.

Recently, having analyzed the growing demand by the market for professionals in the field, the Department reviewed its MPA program and replaced it by a modular and block teaching program in Public Management and Policy (MPMP) that involve two specializations: Public Policy Studies and Development Management. Considering the feedback from stakeholders on the implementation of MPMP program and based on its extensive review, the Department designed an integrated curriculum for its Master’s in Public Management with no specialization options. The program is currently being undertaken in the regular and evening classes as well as distance education division. The Department is the first in the College of Business and Economics to start the master’s level program for distance education students, and thus has proved its readiness to respond without delay to the demand of the market in the area.

The Department is also a pioneer in launching a PhD program in the College. The PhD program in Public Policy Management (PPM) started in 2010 and has graduated five students so far. At present, there are more than fifteen students pursuing their PhD studies in the area. Moreover, after a thorough demand analysis of the market and a review of the government’s medium-term (GTPs) and long-term development plans, the Department is preparing to launch a new additional master’s level program in Development Management.

Graduate Profile and Career Opportunities of Graduates

Graduates of PADM can effectively discharge responsibilities, including in the areas indicated below, in government, non-government and private companies and organizations: –

• Exercise knowledge of administrative and public policy making and implementation,
• Manage various development projects in government and non-government organizations
• Manage human and material resources efficiently and effectively in different organizations
• Mobilize resources and raise funds for nongovernment organizations
• Serve as a liaison between government and nongovernment organizations
• Manage public financial resources so that they can be efficiently utilized
• Establish the system and facilitate effective administrative communication
• Administer various government enterprises
• Effectively lead human resources to achieve organizational objectives
• Engage in independent research and consultancy services to solve administrative, political and economic problems
• Suggest solutions by understanding problems of changes in administration in public, private as well as NGOs

Vision, Mission, Goals and Objectives of the Program

1. Vision:

Become center of excellence in Public Administration and Development Management by producing competent graduates who exercise innovative skills to ensure sustainable development.

1. Mission:

Contribute to education of efficient and effective public administrators, policy makers and implementers for sustainable development through academic, research, training, consultancy services and policy advocacy.

Objective

• General Objective

The general objective of the Department of Public Administration and Development Management is to achieve academic excellence (conceptual knowledge, analytical skills and practical experience) in the preparation of students for administrative positions as well as in research and consultancy activities in government, non-government agencies, and academic institutions and, to some extent, in business organizations.

• Specific Objectives
• To develop the critical and analytical skills which enable students to understand policy and program formulation, implementation, budgeting, resource allocation and evaluation;
• To prepare students for mid-level professional career that involves managing and administering human, material, financial and information resources of organizations at the various levels of government and non-government organizations, parastatals and other agencies;
• To train mid-level professionals who must fill the professional gaps in all tiers of Ethiopia public sector.
• To provide knowledge and skills (including but not limited to decision making skills, administrative communication skills, policy making and implementation skills, public finance and budgeting skills, leadership and conflict resolution skills and so on) required to run public institutions effectively and efficiently. These skills are believed to be important where the state is o
• To develop the analytical skills of students in understanding how public administration functions;
• ne of the Development Actors that play major roles in socio-economic and political development.
• To build the foundation for students who are interested in pursuing graduate studies in public administration and related programs.
• To equip students with the required skills, knowledge and attitudinal/behavioral competencies to enable them act ethically, effectively and efficiently in the administration of public sector organizations;

Motto

• Enhancing academic excellence.

  The Department of Public Administration and Development Management is one of the oldest departments though it passed through different phases and revisions. The teaching of public administration in the higher education system of Ethiopia has more than half a century of history. Since its opening in the early 1950s, the department has become one of the strongest that has been running different demand-driven undergraduate and post-graduate programs (including Ph.D). The Department has demonstrated its strength by surviving various changes in the governance structure because of the multi-disciplinary nature of the field. The Department is currently under the College of Business and Economics located on the former Faculty of Business and Economics campus and runs various programs related to public administration, policy and development management.

  The Department of Public Administration was opened in the early 1950s under the then University College of Addis Ababa. In 1961, when Haile Selassie I University, now Addis Ababa University, was inaugurated, the department was made to operate within the Faculty of Arts as the Department of Public Administration. From 1977 to 1981 the department was organized first under the Department of Political Science and Government, and subsequently under the Department of Management of the College of Business Administration. In 1982, however, a different arrangement that merged the fields of management (business administration) and public administration was put in place and the Department of Management and Public Administration (MTPA) was established. This department had been producing graduates that specialized in business administration and public administration for over two decades.

  A major restructuring of the department occurred in 2004. As part of the Program Review of the Addis Ababa University, the decision was made to establish an independent department responsible for producing graduates in public administration and development management labeled as “Department of Public Administration and Development Management” within the Faculty of Business and Economics, currently called College of Business and Economics. Before launching the program in 2004, the curriculum of the department was revised taking into account the global dynamics in the theories and practices of public administration and development management as well as the national demands for skill and knowledge in public and development administration.

  Since 2012/2013, the Department has implemented the nationally harmonized Public Administration and Development Management curriculum in both the regular and evening divisions of its undergraduate program. The department has played a leading role in the designing of the nationally harmonized curriculum. The BA program in Public Administration and Development Management is intended primarily for those who are planning a career in the administration and management of public sector organizations and development processes.

  The Department has also one of the strongest post-graduate programs in the University. It launched its master’s level program called ‘Master of Public Administration (MPA)’ in 2005.The Program has produced many graduates currently serving in government and non-government organizations. A large number of the MPA graduates have also joined institutions of higher education to teach courses in administrative studies, thereby alleviating the acute shortage of teaching staff in these institutions.

  Recently, having analyzed the growing demand by the market for professionals in the field, the Department reviewed its MPA program and replaced it by a modular and block teaching program in Public Management and Policy (MPMP) that involve two specializations: Public Policy Studies and Development Management. Considering the feedback from stakeholders on the implementation of MPMP program and based on its extensive review, the Department designed an integrated curriculum for its Master’s in Public Management with no specialization options. The program is currently being undertaken in the regular and evening classes as well as distance education division. The Department is the first in the College of Business and Economics to start the master’s level program for distance education students, and thus has proved its readiness to respond without delay to the demand of the market in the area.

  The Department is also a pioneer in launching a PhD program in the College. The PhD program in Public Policy Management (PPM) started in 2010 and has graduated five students so far. At present, there are more than fifteen students pursuing their PhD studies in the area. Moreover, after a thorough demand analysis of the market and a review of the government’s medium-term (GTPs) and long-term development plans, the Department is preparing to launch a new additional master’s level program in Development Management.

   

  Graduate Profile and Career Opportunities of Graduates

  Graduates of PADM can effectively discharge responsibilities, including in the areas indicated below, in government, non-government and private companies and organizations: –

  • Exercise knowledge of administrative and public policy making and implementation,
  • Manage various development projects in government and non-government organizations
  • Manage human and material resources efficiently and effectively in different organizations
  • Mobilize resources and raise funds for nongovernment organizations
  • Serve as a liaison between government and nongovernment organizations
  • Manage public financial resources so that they can be efficiently utilized
  • Establish the system and facilitate effective administrative communication
  • Administer various government enterprises
  • Effectively lead human resources to achieve organizational objectives
  • Engage in independent research and consultancy services to solve administrative, political and economic problems
  • Suggest solutions by understanding problems of changes in administration in public, private as well as NGOs

   

  Vision, Mission, Goals and Objectives of the Program

  1. Vision:

  Become center of excellence in Public Administration and Development Management by producing competent graduates who exercise innovative skills to ensure sustainable development.

  1. Mission:

  Contribute to education of efficient and effective public administrators, policy makers and implementers for sustainable development through academic, research, training, consultancy services and policy advocacy.

   Objective

  • General Objective

  The general objective of the Department of Public Administration and Development Management is to achieve academic excellence (conceptual knowledge, analytical skills and practical experience) in the preparation of students for administrative positions as well as in research and consultancy activities in government, non-government agencies, and academic institutions and, to some extent, in business organizations.

  • Specific Objectives
  • To develop the analytical skills of students in understanding how public administration functions;
  • To equip students with the required skills, knowledge and attitudinal/behavioral competencies to enable them act ethically, effectively and efficiently in the administration of public sector organizations;
  • To develop the critical and analytical skills which enable students to understand policy and program formulation, implementation, budgeting, resource allocation and evaluation;
  • To prepare students for mid-level professional career that involves managing and administering human, material, financial and information resources of organizations at the various levels of government and non-government organizations, parastatals and other agencies;
  • To train mid-level professionals who must fill the professional gaps in all tiers of Ethiopia public sector.
  • To provide knowledge and skills (including but not limited to decision making skills, administrative communication skills, policy making and implementation skills, public finance and budgeting skills, leadership and conflict resolution skills and so on) required to run public institutions effectively and efficiently. These skills are believed to be important where the state is one of the Development Actors that play major roles in socio-economic and political development.
  • To build the foundation for students who are interested in pursuing graduate studies in public administration and related programs.

   

  Motto

  • Enhancing academic excellence.