UKRAINE

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COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE CONTENTS OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION PROGRAMMES

The program delivered by the Academy of Public Administration leads to a master’s in public administration degree. The entry requirements are designed to provide the following categories of candidates with access to competitive entrance examinations: (a) public servants; (b) non-public servants who are on the “cadre reserve list” for public service; and (c) young people.

The public administration program is offered either as a tuition-free course of study paid for by the government under contractual terms, or it is paid for by students themselves or their sponsors, under the terms of contracts between the academy and individual students.

Candidates for admission to the MPA program must have a university education prior to enrolling in the academy (a specialist’s or master’s degree). Thus, admission to the full-time program is available to those who:

• work in the central and local government and other state agencies, have no less than one-year experience working in public service, have a rank ten or higher in classified public service positions and are under forty-five years old;
• work in the public service or state enterprises and organisations, and who are on the “cadre reserve” list as those slated for promotion or admission to posts in the first to fourth categories of the public service, who have no less than three years of work experience, are under forty-five years old and are recommended by government organisations where they are listed on the “cadre reserve;”
• work for various enterprises or organisations, have no less than three years of work experience and are under thirty years old. This category of applicants can not make up more than ten percent of the total enrollment.

The academy is empowered to enroll full-time and part-time students who can pay tuition fees by themselves or with the support of sponsors. Individuals who apply for this type of study must have a university education, pass all entry tests, normally be under forty years old, occupy senior positions in the government, state agencies or organisations, enterprises, or be elected as members of the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament of Ukraine). Citizens of other states may be admitted on the basis of international agreements or agreements made by the academy with foreign institutions, organisations or individuals. The size of the student body is defined in accordance with a government contract and other agreements.

Selection is based on competitive entrance examinations. Students are selected according to their results on the following tests:

• a written test on social, economic, legal, political, historical and cultural issues;
• the composition of a written official document;
• a personal aptitude test;
• an interview on current public administration issues designed to assess the applicant’s experience, analytical and creative abilities, and motivation for a career in public service.

The MPA degree can be obtained after eighteen months of study. The original MPA program of the Institute of Public Administration and Local Government and, from 1995, of the Academy of Public Administration, lasted for one year. This one-year program was seen as a compromise between the need to train highly qualified public servants and scarce resources. The twelve-month program had many drawbacks that hampered effective training. The short duration imposed a heavy load on the students, faculty members and staff and led to an extremely compressed and intensive timetable. The students also lacked time for internships, which only took place at the end of the program with no effect on masters’ theses.

In 1988, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the eighteen-month version of the MPA program. This incarnation incorporated ninety percent of the previous incarnation, including its major elements and concepts. The course structure was changed to accommodate the increased emphasis to be place on the core module in public administration and management. The longer program provides students with more time for internships and writing masters’ theses. Greater use of group and individual work has been introduced in relation to practical tasks, exercises, case studies, and other practical assignments in an effort to increase teamwork and to develop transferable practical skills.

The MPA program of the Academy of Public Administration has a modular structure and comprises the following thematic groups:

• Economics and Finance;

• Law and Legislative Process;
• Political Science;
• Public Administration and Management;
• Social and Humanitarian Policy;
• Special Disciplines;
• Urban Management;
• Information Technology;
• Masters These and Internship;
• Ukrainian and Foreign Languages;
• Health Care Management.

Within each module, elective and optional courses are offered. The number of core courses is twenty-seven. Core modules are obligatory for all students. In order to provide for coherence and to build upon students’ previous occupational education, six basic courses are assigned within each core module. The MPA program provides for “fundamental” and “concentration” training. The fundamental training of students is ensured by their mastering all core courses and ten elective ones, which are chosen on an alternative basis (one course from each module of disciplines).

The elective portion of “concentration courses,” such as Economics and Finance, Law and Legislative Processes, Social and Humanitarian Policy, Urban Management, and optional courses are designed to meet the students’ professional interests. That is, students can study a set of courses grouped in such a way as to ensure the mastering of public administration with focus on the respective field as outlined above.

In all, the minimum number of courses that each student is required to study is forty-one. On the whole, the academic load on a student constitutes one thousand, seven hundred and forty-six hours, including one thousand, five hundred and twelve hours of classes and two hundred and thirty four hours of private study. The program also requires a two-month internship in the government of Ukraine. Those who demonstrate solid progress in the program and have the relevant command of foreign languages may be selected for foreign internships.

On completion of the program, students must pass state examinations and defend their master’s theses. The State Examination Board carries out the attestation of the students and grants the MPA degree.

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