MPA Fourth Semester Syllabus
MPA 516: Research Methods in Public Administration
The aim of this course is to provide students with detail knowledge on research methods in public administration so as to make the students able to write a thesis by choosing appropriate research designs, methods, techniques, tools and procedures for both the qualitative and quantitative studies.
Course Contents
Unit 1: Basic Concepts (LH 12)
- Nature of social and behavioral sciences
- Concept, types and process of social research
- Research problem and hypothesis
- Sources of data (primary and secondary)
- Variables and their relationships
- Measurement and scaling; reliability and validity of measuring instruments
- Ethics and value judgment in social research
Unit 2: Literature Review (LH 8)
- Concept, process and purpose of literature review
- Citation systems: APA and others
Unit 3: Sampling and Research Designs (LH 10)
- Sampling: basic concept
- Probability and non-probability sampling methods and their techniques
- Research designs: concept, purpose and quality of research designs
- Types of research designs: quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods and experimental designs
Unit 4: Data Collection Methods (LH 10)
- Survey method: questionnaire construction and structured interview
- Unstructured interviews, observation, content analysis, and document study
- Participatory approaches: RRA and PRA
Unit 5: Data Analysis and Report Writing (LH 8)
- Data processing: editing, coding and tabulation
- Use of computer software for data analysis
- Data presentation, interpretation and generalization
- Structure and process of writing a thesis
- Qualities of a good research proposal and report
Categories | Specialization Areas
1. DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT AREA
DM 631: Rural/Urban Development
The objective of this course is to familiarize the students with the objectives, strategies and methods and actions of local development and acquaint them with the local development process and pattern in Nepal.
Course Contents
Unit 1: Local Development (LH 8)
- Concept and approaches to local development
- Characteristics of local development
- Policies for local development
Unit 2: Rural Development (LH 10)
- Concept and objectives of rural development
- Community development and community engagement in rural development
- Strategies and operational modalities of rural development: decentralization, people’s participation, integrated development, small farmers development, employment through entrepreneurship, empowerment, and capacity building
Unit 3: Urban Development LH10
- Concept of urban development, urbanization, and urbanism
- Relationship between urbanization and industrialization
- Strategies of urban development: infrastructure development, housing, environment and slum management
- Issues and challenges of urban development
Unit 4: Agencies and their Roles in Rural/ Urban Development (LH 10)
- Central government agencies
- Local governments
- International donor agencies
- Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)
- Policies and strategies for rural and urban development in Nepal
Unit 5: Recent Trends in Rural/Urban Development (LH 10)
- Rural-urban linkage, response to change on economic, social, institutional and political pressure
- Indigenous development, local-global linkages
- Partnership, cooperation and participation
- Integration of policy and funding streams; decentralization, and accountability
- Urbanization and rural-urban migration
DM 632: Development Planning and Project Management
The objective of this course is to provide knowledge to the students on basic problems and techniques in development planning including socio-cultural and economic conditions required for development, different stages of plan formulation and quantitative planning techniques. It also provides knowledge to the students on basic concepts, theories and analytical techniques of Project Management.
Course Contents
Unit 1: Introduction to Planning and Project Management (LH 10)
- Concept of poverty, inequality, and development
- Introduction to economic growth and development
- Concept of plan, program and project
- Relations between plan and project
- Concept of project management
Unit 2: Project Planning (LH 8)
- Project identification: problem tree and objective tree
- Stages of project and its cycle
- Feasibility study and preparation of project report
Unit 3: Project Appraisal (LH 12)
- Concept of project appraisal, cash flow analysis; discounting and non-discounting techniques
- Economic and social cost benefit analysis, risk, uncertainty and sensitivity analysis; environmental analysis
Unit 4: Project Implementation (LH 10)
- Project organization; network analysis: PERT and CPM
- Project control: budgeting, financial management, inventory management
- Project management information system (PMIS)
Unit 5: Monitoring and Evaluation (LH 8)
- Need for monitoring & evaluation of project
- Logical framework approach; project monitoring and evaluation system adopted by National Planning Commission
- Evaluation approaches adopted by international organizations (UNIDO & the World Bank), Case study
2. HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AREA
HRM 641: Comparative Personnel Administration of SAARC Country
The objective of this course is to acquaint students on administrative and civil service system of SAARC countries. Eventually, they can learn the policies, programs and practices of SAARC countries.
Course Contents
Unit 1: Comparative Administrative System in SAARC Countries (LH 8)
- Overview of administrative system in SAARC countries
- Central government: structure, roles and functions
Unit 2: Overview of Sub-national Level Administration in SAARC Countries (LH 10)
- State/province level administration
- Local administration
Unit 3: Human Resource Development in SAARC Countries (LH 6)
- Training and development
Unit 4: Comparative Civil Service System in SAARC Countries LH 16
- Brief overview of the civil service system
- Selection of civil servants: testing and selection procedures
- Compensation, benefits, and retirement benefits
- Placement and transfer
- Career development and promotion system
- Civil service ethics and code of conduct
- Professional neutrality
- Role of recruiting agency, e.g. the Public Service Commission
Unit 5: Administrative and Civil Service Reform Initiatives in SAARC Countries (LH 8)
- Administrative culture of civil service
- Administrative reform initiatives
- Issues and challenges of administrative system
References
- Ahmed, N. (Ed.) (2018). Women in Governing Institution in South Asia: Parliament, Civil Service and Local Government, Switzerland: Palgrave McMillan.
- Jamil, I., Aminuzzaman, S. M., & Haque, S. T. M. (Eds.) (2015). Governance in South, Southeast and East Asia: Trends, Issues and Challenges. London: Springer.
- Jamil, I., Dhakal, T.N., & Paudel, N. R. (Eds.) (2019). Civil Service Management and Administrative Systems in South Asia. Switzerland: Palgrave McMillan.
- Kabir, S. L. (2013). Women’s Participation in South Asian Civil Services: A Comparative Analysis of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Dhaka: A H Development Publishing House.
HRM 642: Human Resource Development
The objective of this course is to make student aware of the concepts, techniques and practices of human resource development. This course is intended to make students capable of applying the principles and techniques as professionals for developing human resources in an organization. At the end of the course, the students are able to identify the implications and consequences of HRD efforts in organizations.
Course Contents
Unit 1: Introduction to Human Resource Development (HRD) (LH 10)
- Concept of HRD
- HRD structure and functions
- Roles and competencies of HRD professionals
- Challenges to HRD professionals
Unit 2: HRD Process (LH 10)
- Assessing need for HRD
- Implementing HRD programs
- Evaluating effectiveness of HRD programs
- HRD audit
Unit 3: Development, Utilization and Maintenance of Human Resources (LH 12)
- Building a strategy of HRD (steps and processes)
- Utilization and maintenance of HR in the economic development of underdeveloped countries
- Training and development of HR in changing technology
- Human resource information system.
Unit 4: Problems of Human Resource in Public Sector (LH 10)
- HRD problems at macro and micro level
- Problems related to labor force distribution and migration
- Problems related to acquisition of skilled labor in rural areas
- Issues related to foreign jobs & work safety
Unit 5: HRD Applications and Trends (LH 6)
- Career management and development
- Integrating HRD with technology
References
- Agrawal, G. R. (2013). Human Resource Development in Nepal. Kathmandu: M. K. Publishers and Distributors.
- Pandey, S. R., Tropp, S., Sharma, B., & Khatiwada, Y. R. (Eds.) (2006). Nepal Reading in Human Development. Kathmandu: United Nations Development Program.
- Jayaa, G. R. (1993). Human Resource Development: Conceptual Analysis and Strategies. New Delhi: Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
- Rao, T. V. (2001). Reading in Human Resource Development. New Delhi: Oxford IBH Publishing Company Pvt. Ltd.
3. COOPERATIVE AND CIVIL SOCIETY GOVERNANCE AREA
CGG 651: NGOs Studies
The objective of this course is to provide the students with an understanding of the theoretical and practical understanding of Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs). Students will be able to analyze and conduct research in the area of nonprofit sector and their roles in development.
Course Contents
Unit 1: Introduction to Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) (LH 10)
- Concept of volunteerism and civic engagement
- NGOs/INGOs: concept, types and their roles in people-centered development and deepening democracy
- Concept of civil society governance
Unit 2: Theories of NGOs and Social Capital (LH 10)
- Theories of NGOs: public goods theory, contract failure theory, partnership theory and social origin theory
- Social capital: concept and roles of NGOs in social capital formation
Unit 3: Growth and Development of NGOs in Nepal (LH 8)
- Traditional welfare organizations
- Growth and development of modern NGOs
- Classification of NGOs
Unit 4: NGOs in National Policies and Financing in Nepal (LH 10)
- NGOs as development partner
- NGOs policies and strategies
- NGOs financing and resource mobilization through NGOs
- Contribution of NGOs: community participation, empowerment and social development
Unit 5: Governance of NGOs/INGOs in Nepal (LH 10)
- Legalization of NGOs
- Institutions for governing NGOs
- Transparency and accountability of NGOs
- Code of conduct
- Issues and challenges associated with NGOs
References
- Chand, D. (1991). Development through Non-Government Organizations. Kathmandu: Institute for National Development Research and Social Service.
- Chitrakar, A. (1996). Working with NGOs. Nepal: IUCN.
- Dhakal, T. N. (2006). NGOs in Livelihood Improvement: Nepalese Experience. New Delhi: Adroit Publishers.
- Vartola, J., Ulvila, M., Hossain F., & Dhakal T. N. (Eds) (2000). Development NGO, Facing the 21st Century Perspectives from South Asia. Kathmandu: Institute for Human Development.
CGG 652: Cooperative Management
Cooperative businesses exist in a wide variety of sectors, and represent a distinctive model for organizing labor, capital, and knowledge to produce goods and services. Entrepreneurs especially social entrepreneurs have to choose the best organizational model to achieve their objectives. This course intends to equip the student with the practical knowledge of cooperatives, a type of organization creates both social and economic value.
Course Contents
Unit 1: Conceptualization of Cooperatives (LH 12)
- Brief introduction to cooperatives
- Historical development of cooperative throughout the world
- Cooperative as an alternative model
- Significance of cooperatives in socio-economic spheres
- Cooperatives in developed and developing countries
Unit 2: Management in Cooperative Sector (LH 12)
- Concept of cooperative management
- Principles of cooperative management
- Goals of cooperative management
- Aspects of cooperative management (conceptual understanding of accounting, finance, banking, marketing and human resource management )
- Cooperative law
Unit 3: Business Plan in Cooperatives (LH 8)
- Concept of business plan
- Situational analysis
- Marketing plan
- Production plan
- Financial plan
Unit 4: Human Resource Management in Cooperative Organization (LH 6)
- Human resource planning in cooperatives
- Labor laws
- Employees’ performance plan
- Human resource development in cooperatives
Unit 5: Corporate Governance and Cooperative (LH 10)
- Concept and significance of corporate governance
- Theories of corporate governance
- Application of corporate governance in cooperatives
- Characteristics of good cooperative governance
- Issues of cooperative governance in Nepal
References
- Kamat, G. S. (2011). New Dimensions of Cooperative Management. New Delhi: Himalaya Publishing House.
- Thakuri, C. B. (2010). An Anatomy of co-operative Movement in Nepal. Kathmandu: Upkar Prakashan.
- Thompson, D. J. (1994). Weavers of Dreams: Founder of Modern Cooperative Movement. USA: The University of California.
4. PUBLIC POLICY AREA
PP 661: Public Policy Analysis- I
The objective of this course is to orient students about the emerging concepts and issues of public policy globally. At the end of the course, the students will be able to understand and analyze the issues of public policy with new perspectives.
Course Contents
Unit 1: Understanding Public Policy Analysis (LH 16)
- Approaches to public policy analysis
- Positivism and post-positivism
- Approaches to public policy studies
- Multi-level and multi-disciplinary
Unit 2: Emerging Trends in Public Policy (LH 10)
- Policy making in the liberal democratic states
- The globalization and public policy
- Policy sub system and policy regimes
Unit 3: Bureaucracy and Policy Making (LH 8)
- Organizations and accountability
- Corporate lobby groups in the policy process
Unit 4: Constraints on Public Policy (LH 6)
- Economic constraints on public policy
- Institutional constraints on policy
- Social and cultural constraints
Unit 5: Case Study (LH 8)
- Case study on selected substantive polices related to socio-economic issues
PP 662: Public Policy Analysis-II
The objective of this course is to orient students about the political analysis, policy instruments and policy network theory that will enable to analyze policy issues to develop policy considering a broad perspective.
Course Contents
Unit 1: Issues to the Study of Public Policy Analysis (LH 8)
- Informing and appraising public policy
- Re-framing public policy
Unit 2: Power Models and the Policy Process LH12
- Political power, elitism, pluralism, corporatism, Marxism, professionalism and technocracy
- Relationships between power, authority and legitimacy
Unit 3: Policy Development (LH 8)
- Participants and goals
- Problems and solutions (tools): political feasibility and explaining policy development
Unit 4: Implementation of Sectoral Policy (LH 12)
- Health policy
- Education policy
- Social welfare policy
- Energy policy
- Economic policy
- Foreign policy
Unit 5: Case study/ Field Report (LH 8)
- Case study/ field report on planning and implementation of a development policy
