Introduction
The “Master of Public Administration” (MPA) focuses on public provision or non-profit administration. MPA programs prepare learners for executive and management roles at state, local, and federal levels in different segments, including education, government service, community supervision, non-profit establishments, and other subdivisions (Lee, 2020). This memo reflects on my experience pursuing the MPA career program. It outlines MPA’s weaknesses and strengths and how it has impacted my configuration, networking, instructor responsiveness, program guidance, employment balance, commitment, and other aspects such as job placement. Reflecting on my involvement in the course is vital since it can help me determine the technical, communications, analytical, and associated skills that I have acquired to develop more excellent leadership functions.
Discussion
The strengths I have experienced undertaking the MPA course include broadening my horizons in terms of public administration. Because my undergraduate focused on a different program, I had limited experience in this field before starting this program. Hence, my ideas about public management developed due to my communication with different government entities. While taking the course, I encountered various weaknesses, including restricted deadlines for achieving assigned tasks, inefficiency, poor client satisfaction, corruption, redundancy, and poor leadership. Partaking in the MPA has aided in transforming my views on good governance. At the start of my MPA career, I lacked adequate public governance and public engagement knowledge. Still, the program has helped me learn various aspects relating to governance and leadership. I was only aware of the government and its roles towards citizens, including creating and implementing the guidelines of defense, society, the economy, foreign affairs, and public services. While the tasks of all administrations are alike, those obligations are performed in different habits contingent on the method of government.
I learned through the MPA program that the adaptability of systems is a hallmark of a sustainable government. The systems created should be free of extraneous constraints and should accommodate a society that is becoming increasingly complicated and changing. Before enrolling in the MPA program, I had my ideas about leadership, which were based on previous experiences with domineering supervisors who were the product of top-down management tactics. A good leader should strive to gain the public’s trust since it makes their job simpler. Leaders must also promote openness, social equality, and ethical decision-making that is responsive to citizens rather than political constituencies. While in leadership, it is also critical to improve delegation to empower junior employees and help them grow (Lee, 2020). There are certain ideals that public servants must adhere to at all times. These principles ensure that the leaders are always moving in the right direction. The concepts appear universal since those applied in one country are similar to those used in another, demonstrating government administration’s universality.
The present configuration contains an appropriate core mix and elective electives. For instance, the primary MPA program curriculum has nine core lessons and three electives (King et al., 2021). The program typically offers three electives per quarter, whereby two are offered online and one offline on campus. Electives may be PA modules at the 600 or 500 level, but one of them must attain the 600 level. Learners are motivated to reason strategically concerning the electives they would pursue and consider the classes that build their career paths and not what is availed. Through the electives, I have recognized three critical areas in public administration: leadership, sustainability, and education. I noticed that a country’s government should react to significant government changes regarding sustainability. I recognized that a sustainable government necessitates collaboration among essential parties to address issues of government system adaptability and intergovernmental interactions. When it comes to public service, addressing the concerns will help to ensure that it is effective.
The MPA program helped me develop camaraderie and build my network with other students pursuing a similar course by sharpening my communication skills, particularly when discussing coursemates. Before starting the MPA program, I had a poor companionship and colleague network. Pursuing the program helped me interact with individuals from diverse communities, developing my friendship network. With the increased privatization and formation of networks in the supply of government services, I now recognize that the necessity for intergovernmental connections is more extraordinary. There is a demand for public leaders with specialized skills, such as the capacity to develop network systems and integrate them across several agencies while utilizing intergovernmental interactions.
I feel that the instructors were responsive to every student’s concern since they always clarified every issue that learners were raising. For instance, when selecting the electives every learner would pursue in their careers, the instructors offered adequate guidance to all learners. I always cherished the opportunities instructor concerns provided since they played vital roles in developing our careers. Through the instructors’ concerns, I learned how political leaders and public managers should prioritize education and guarantee that it is sufficiently supported in all crucial sectors while completing the MPA program. When handling such public concerns, public managers must acquire the art of compromise to promote the greater good. The concerns further offered the opportunity to learn about the value of education in the workplace for employees, training, and development to assist them in providing the most incredible possible service to the public.
Guidance and advice from tutors were adequate throughout the program. The teachers practiced guidance in various ways, including motivation through rewards, reasoning, caring attitudes, participation, visual aids, and various games. Motivation is significant as a determinant of education and accomplishment (Engin, 2020). Students who are more driven to study stay in class more, work much harder, learn more thoroughly, and are measured by standardized examinations. Motivation further stimulates learners towards attaining their goals. Therefore, the guidance allows each person to understand aptitudes and welfare, progress them, narrate them to life objectives, and attain comprehensive and developed guidance as desirable social order members. Our instructors’ advice included setting goals, staying positive, managing time, reading, attending all the lectures, and ensuring we prepare for the exams adequately to obtain better work opportunities after the program.
The MPA curriculum strikes an appropriate equilibrium between “need-to-know” data for present material and employment that might play significant roles in the future, including leadership roles, creating local and global networks, and obtaining various job opportunities. The program has increased my public service commitment since it has enhanced my management and leadership skills enabling me to advance in several public service positions. The course welcomes individuals to work in non-profit and public services since it imparts the skills they require while performing their assigned tasks. People who desire to develop their abilities in public administration, diplomacy, or the voluntary sector should get this program. An MPA is designed for those who desire to work in management positions in various fields. The degree emphasizes leadership duties such as policy development and management of public finances, and people management. Postgraduate study in public administration provides an excellent opportunity to develop a network of peers with diverse backgrounds.
No other MPA aspects require fine-tuning since the program is almost perfect in polishing learner skills. For instance, numerous students enrolled in an MPA degree are already employed in the public sector. You will have direct access to an extensive network of experts with varying levels of expertise in your industry. Numerous MPA programs have a global influence, including facilitating studying how other governments and economies worldwide respond to public concerns and thus attract students worldwide. The course provides learners with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to expand their local and international network. Almost all of the top MPA schools also provide the opportunity to study abroad as part of the curriculum. Graduates of the MPA program work in several government positions, including politics, school administration, healthcare supervision, global relations, planning, and various positions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, learners need to enhance their management and leadership skills to advance in several public service positions. MPA emphasizes leadership duties such as policy development and management of public finances and people management. Postgraduate study in public administration provides an excellent opportunity to develop a network of peers with diverse backgrounds. Several students who enroll in an MPA degree easily secure job opportunities in the public sector. The program helps learners to have direct access to an extensive network of experts with varying levels of expertise in a given industry. Various MPA programs have a global influence, including studying how other governments and economies worldwide respond to public concerns and thus attract students worldwide. The course provides students with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to expand their international network. Graduates of the MPA program can work in several government positions, including politics, school administration, healthcare supervision, global relations, planning, and various positions.
References
Engin, G. (2020). An Examination of Primary School Students’ Academic Achievements and Motivation in Terms of Parents’ Attitudes, Teacher Motivation, Teacher Self-Efficacy, and Leadership Approach. International Journal of Progressive Education, 16(1), 257-276.
King, S. M., Agyapong, E., & Roberts, G. (2021). ASPA code of ethics as a framework for teaching ethics in public affairs and administration: A conceptual content analysis of MPA ethics course syllabi. Journal of Public Affairs Education, 27(2), 176-197.
Lee, S. (2020). Role of MPA Education as a Professional Hub: Views from Local Government Managers. Studies in the Social Sciences, 1 (1), 23-41.