Karachi University 2 depts to continue MA/Msc programmes
Karachi: Despite the elimination of the traditional Masters programme, all the public universities, including Karachi University (KU), have decided to continue old masters degree programmes in two departments of Public Administration and Business Administration offering professional degrees of Masters in Public Administration (MPA) and Masters in Business Administration (MBA).
The decision will affect only the said two departments of the public universities in the country, while the decision was taken to follow the roadmap given by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) for professional departments. The programme will allow those students who have two-year pass graduation degrees from colleges to take admissions in the first year of the said masters' programmes.
These views were expressed by Prof Zafar Jadoon, chairman of the HEC curriculum committee on Monday. He said that such decisions were taken in the meeting of a curriculum committee of the HEC.
"The committee comprising member from various educational institutions all over the country will review the curriculum of 'Public Administration'. The committee has reviewed the curriculum and considered and propose necessary improvements in order to bring the public administration syllabus at a level that would enable Pakistani students become theoretically and practically instrumental to the country's needs in the business, administration and management sectors in the scenario of the present global environment," he said.
He said, "However, as per the new 4-year BS honour programme the graduate students will not be allowed to take admissions in masters' programme. The students would be able to get their BSc, BA, BCom (Pass) degree after two years of studies while they would be given Honors degrees after three years. However, the BS degree would be awarded on the completion of four years of study. After completion of four-year degree programme one-year course will be needed to get MS degree, comprising on five years."
Prof Dr Abu Zar Wajdi, KU Dean Faculty of Management Sciences and Co-chairman of the HEC curriculum committee, said that the traditional masters degree programme would not be abolished at the public administration and business administration departments. He said, "MPA programme will be comprised on 96 credits hours. Two-years masters programme will comprise on 60 credits hours while one-year MS programme will be comprised on 36 credits hours."
Public administration can be defined as the implementation of policy by civil servants within an official government's executive framework, he said and added that public administrators manage nearly every aspect of public service at the federal, state and local levels offering the opportunity to help shape the future.
He said, "A public administration degree provides an academic background for individuals pursuing a career in both government and non-governmental/non-profit organizations. There are several areas of overlap between these pursuits, so an education which combines both will give you competitive strength and allow you to move into either area, according to your own career interests. A public administration degree or public policy degree gives you great flexibility in changing career titles. Like a regular degree in management, a public administration or public policy degree can focus on organisational governance, finance, and administration. With this specialisation you can look into jobs in local, state, or federal government; in public service sectors such as healthcare and animal welfare; or non-profit organisations such as arts or international relief agencies. The Nation
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