College of Business and Economics | Annual Report 2021 63 Centre for Public Management and Governance OVERVIEW The Centre for Public Management and Governance, hereafter referred to as the Centre, is housed within the School of Public Management, Governance and Public Policy. The Centre offers two distance education continuing education programmes (CEPs), namely the Higher and the Advanced Certificate in Local Governance and Management. These programmes are integrated academic and professional distance education programmes designed for students, working professionals and elected local political leaders offered through online technology-enhanced distance learning. There are challenges to overcome such as a viable fees model without the benefit of subsidies for students and forging an excellent reputation in the CEP space, which takes time and a solid track record. However, the advantages are many, such as the articulation of our CEPs to the second year of the subsidised BA degree and our reputation in the local government sector in terms of capacitating employees and facilitating employment for politicians after the expiry of an elected five-year term in rural areas. TALENT MANAGEMENT AND CAPACITY BUILDING The Centre has one permanent staff member, Prof Vain Jarbandhan, the Director of the Centre. Ms Lynell van Heerden, who is a contract employee, is the Centre administrator. The Centre has two tutors who assist students with challenges in terms of accessing their content on Blackboard. Capacity building programmes undertaken in 2021 included the training of Centre staff in the use of Blackboard, MAMS, and HEDA. POLICY AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENTS AND ACTIVITIES Prof Vain Jarbandhan was invited to the launch of the National School of Government of the National Implementation Framework Towards the Professionalisation of the Public Service on 15 February 2021. The key speaker at this Prof Vain Jarbandhan Director: Centre for Public Management and Governance, School of Public Management, Governance and Public Policy College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg The Centre has an excellent reputation in the local government sector for employees' skills development.
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