Mandela School’s Executive Education programme equips public leaders

The Mandela School’s Executive Education Programme offers senior public leaders and officials, as well as senior national and international actors in the private and non-profit sectors, and members of think tanks, high-level training in various public policy and development areas.

The Presidency endorsed Evidence for Policy Making and Implementation course has been run in partnership with the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) since 2014.

In October 2018, the course marked 10 iterations, bringing the total number of senior government officials to have completed the course to 366. Of this total, approximately 3% have been Director Generals, 23% Deputy Director Generals, and 34% at Chief Director and 15% at Director Level.

Participation has been drawn from multiple national and provincial departments, along with a limited number of international participants from elsewhere in Africa (namely Ghana, Lesotho, Benin and Uganda). Amongst the departments with the highest level of participation on the course have been: DPME, DSD, DSBD, DHET, DEA, Dept of Women, and the dti.

Participants have been exposed to various experts from academic institutions, government departments, international organisations and community based organizations.

Over the years, the course has featured a number of prominent speakers, such as: DG Cassius Reginald Lubisi (Secretary of Cabinet), Dr Phil Davies (Oxford Evidentia), Solomon Lechesa Tsenoli (Deputy Speaker of Parliament), Dr Pali Lehohla (Former Statistician General SA), Risenga Maluleke (Statistician-General SA), Adv. Vusi Pikoli, Andrew Donaldson, Rob Adam (SKA SA Project Director), and Professor Itumeleng Mosala.

Here’s what some participants have said about the course:

“The course enabled me to see the gaps in the work that I am currently doing and going back home I will be able to plug the gaps and even to strengthen the areas that are working every well.”

“The course was an eye opener. I feel more confident in planning as a manager.”

“Brilliant course; it should be extended to ministers and deputy ministers and should be compulsory for MMS and SMS.”

“The course is great and needs to be rolled out to more managers in public service.”

“This course is very useful in helping delegates to have an in depth understanding of policy making process.”

The Mandela School’s Executive Education Programme has in total conducted 28 short courses, 11 workshops and 1 seminar series.