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Programme:

Governance and Management in Public Sector (2026/2027)

Study Cycle:	Second Cycle (Postgraduate)
Faculty:	Contemporary Social Sciences

Programme Code:	GMPS60
Academic year:	2023 / 2024
Title:	Master of Science in Governance and Management in Public Sector
ECTS:	60 (1 year) Accrediation
Decision:	Decision for starting of the program

The study program “Governance and Management in Public Sector” aims to provide higher education qualifications through a multidisciplinary approach that integrates public administration, public policy, management, law, and socio-economic sciences. Through a contemporary curriculum that combines theoretical knowledge with practical skills, the program prepares professionals capable of addressing the complexity of governance in the public sector, as well as contemporary challenges related to digitalization, accountability, transparency, and good governance.

Students are equipped to understand and analyses the key principles of public management, administrative processes, the design and implementation of public policies, as well as the role of the public sector in a modern democratic society. The program fosters the development of research, analytical, strategic, and managerial competencies through active participation in case studies, projects, and academic research.

As a second-cycle academic program, it represents an important step toward strengthening public sector capacities at the national and regional levels by developing professional staff prepared to respond to challenges within the global, European, and local contexts. The introduction of this program is justified and necessary, considering the growing demand for qualified professionals capable of contributing to the reform and modernization of public administration.

Through the study program students are prepared for:

- Governance and management in organizational systems in the public sector;
- Application of professional knowledge in fulfilling the process management, human resources, budgets in public sector institutions, non-governmental sector and private organizations;
- To develop critical thinking about the bureaucratic model and encourage and build capacity to implement the principles of the new public sector institutions;
- To develop competencies to manage the project cycle, with particular emphasis on results- based management and implementation of the principles of good governance;
- To be able to develop analytically the role of the state and public administration in recent decades in the Republic of North Macedonia and in the countries in the region;
- To recognize contemporary trends and actions in the country in public institutions and public leadership in developing countries and developed countries;
- To be able to take the initiative to identify and address the learning needs of state institutions and public administration;
- Skills and competencies for strategic planning, action plans, writing applications for project proposals, project evaluation;
- Competencies and skills for strategic planning in the public sector.

Knowledge and understanding

Has multidisciplinary knowledge and understanding of the main elements of study in the field of public administration and governance, law, socio- economic sciences;

Describes and identifies basic concepts, principles, administrative and legal processes, theories in public administration such as those related to human and institutional behavior, the public policy process, the public sector economy and the management of public and non-governmental organizations;

Understands the different systems of public administration- state administration, public management and the interaction of institutions and political processes, government and administrative policies;

Has knowledge of European Union integration processes from public and state administration and institutional aspects.

Applying knowledge and understanding

Apply knowledgerelated to the complex work of the state and public administration and apply appropriate rules and procedures;

To work as civil servant and administrative officer in normative and administrative affairs;

To lead institutions from the public and non- governmental sector;

Can demonstrate skillsin preparing administrative documents, assist in the planning and coordination of inter- institutional work, archiving, recording management courses through the use of an information system;

Implementation of public financial management;

Project writing and project evaluation in the public and non- governmental sector;

To apply professional knowledge in fulfilling work duties in state institutions and public administration, in private organizations and the civil sector.

Making judgement

Has the ability to think critically and to be actively involved in current political issues at the central and local levels;

Qualitative analysis of the public project process;

Assessing the impact of projects on society;

Evaluation of projects in the non- governmental sector;

Distinguishes various phenomena related to the political culture of a certain community;

Critically compares and evaluates political tendencies in society and the country;

Impact on European integration process in the country.

Communication skills

Able to participate in debate, mediation and negotiation by providing a reasoned analysis of political discourse;

Has a coherent ability to write administrative acts, project proposals, analysis, concept paper;

Demonstrates the ability to communicate professionally with more people in a team atmosphere and through a comprehensive approach.

Learning skills

Can define and confirm the role of politics for a knowledge-based society;

Can take the initiative to identify the interests of state groups and institutions within the public policy process;

Has the ability to conduct lifelong learning and self- education in the field of political science;

Is able to train citizens for public sector institutions and for a democratic society as well as for the non- governmental sector.

Semester 1

[MCDP1010] [6 ECTS] Research Methodology
This course is designed for students who are preparing a master thesis. The main objectives of the course are to provide students with tools for conceptualizing their thesis in order to find the research question as well as acquaintance with methods for collecting data through qualitative and quantitative analysis. The course is focused on problems of quantitative methods and techniques such as statistical analysis, texts related to the theory and testing hypothesis. In addition, the topics of descriptive and causal interference, longitudinal, comparative and research case studies are also important. The aim is analyzing the data qualitatively, finally putting all theoretical and practical actions in the design and writing of thesis.
[CM138] [6 ECTS] Contemporary Problems in Public Policy
The aim of the course is to clarify the theories of public sector management with a focus on the classical theories of bureaucracy to contemporary theories in the context of public administration. Special attention will be paid to organization, hierarchy, authority, coordination, centralization and decentralization, delegation and observing. Students will be able to recognize the basic concepts of public management as a scientific field and as a profession, thus being able to analyze government activities from a legal, managerial and political perspective.
[CM299] [6 ECTS] E-Governance
This course aims to develop students’ competencies in understanding and critically engaging with the digital transformation of public administration. It equips them with the knowledge to analyze e-governance models, design strategic digital policies, and assess the impact of digital technologies on public service delivery, transparency, and citizen engagement. Students will gain interdisciplinary insights into legal, administrative, and technological aspects of e-governance and become familiar with key tools such as e-services, digital identity systems, and open data platforms. By the end of the course, students will be able to evaluate national and international e-governance initiatives, identify opportunities for digital innovation in the public sector, and address challenges related to data protection, ethics, and inclusion. They will be capable of contributing to or leading digital projects in public institutions, using both analytical and practical skills to support efficient, transparent, and citizen-oriented governance.
[CM137] [6 ECTS] Advanced Strategic Planning
This course analyzes the effective way and modern models of planning in public administration. The focus of this course is on strategic management in the public sector where we will analyze the process of strategic planning, defining the mission of the organization, assessing the internal and external environment of the organization. We identify strategic issues and strategies in the organization and learn how to implement and evaluate these plans and strategies.
[6 ECTS] General elective
- [EM483] Public Policy Evaluation: theories, models and processes
  Upon completion of the course: Will be able to describe the main elements and stages of public policy evaluation; Will be introduced to the purpose, logic, and context in which public policy evaluations are conducted; Will be able to explain contemporary methods for evaluating public policies; Will gain competencies to critically analyze existing public policy evaluations; Will be able to design and implement an evaluation of a certain public policy/program as well as present the findings of the same.
- [EM484] Ethics in Public Administration
  Objectives of the course: - Has knowledge and understands the semantics and the concepts of morality to ethics, standards of behavior, moral judgment and moral philosophy; - To develop an attitude towards the position of morality in professional life; - To form clear attitudes on the rights and responsibilities of the employees in public and state administration; - To have the ability to deal with problematic ethical situations; - Has sense for the character that is required in the profession of administrator. - To be acquainted with literature regarding ethics in the field of public administration. - Ready to use communication tools and to respect ethical standards in working with state institutions and public actors.
- [EM485] Project Management Cycle: advanced subject
  On successful completion of the course, students will be able to: - plan the activities necessary to implement the project, identify their interdependencies, their duration and costs; - prepare the necessary reports and perform all the required communication between the project and the client, as well as among the team members and the other stakeholders. - structure the project to its constituent activities; - prepare a Gantt-chart and a network plan for the project and identify the shortest time needed to complete the project; - use MS Project as a tool in the process of planning, implementation and review of the project; - define the project, identify its scope and objectives and develop project specification;
- [EM487] Theories and Practices of International Governance
  The aim of the course is for students to have a critical overview of the processes in the global governance system. It focuses on the analysis of the basic theories of global governance. Students will have the opportunity to critically examine traditional wisdom and critically understand global governance in theory as well as in practice.
- [MCPA2020] Public Financial Management
  The course analyzes the role of the state in the economic system. This course encourages us to think of the state as an entity that collects taxes from individuals and legal entities, allocates public revenues through public expenditures, and regulates specific aspects of economic activity. Economists generally identify two fundamental reasons for government intervention in the economy: • Efficiency (i.e., correcting market failures) • Equity (i.e., a fairer distribution of income and wealth) The course “Public Sector Economics” explores the impact of public policies on the allocation of resources and income, as well as on overall economic functioning. Particular attention is given to the analysis of various types of market failures that serve as justification for state intervention, and it examines how public policies can improve market outcomes. Furthermore, the course addresses issues related to the regulation and management of public enterprises, as well as key topics in tax policy, including its economic, social, and fiscal implications.
- [MCPA3010] Control of the Administration
  The aim of this course is to equip students with knowledge about the general activities of administrative bodies, their functioning, and control mechanisms as institutional instruments that ensure improved performance and increased professional accountability of administrative staff. In addition to the fundamental components that form the basis of this course, it analyses and elaborates on the key elements through which control over the activities of administrative bodies is exercised, such as: the judicial system, the Ombudsman, authorities within ministries (inspectorates), and the legislature. It also examines in detail the role of administrative officials in order to identify the issues that constitute the fundamental basis for the effective functioning of proper administrative control. This course represents a practical study of all these components of the effective functioning of administrative activity, particularly control mechanisms, with the aim of increasing efficiency and effectiveness in work.

Semester 2

[MCPA4010] [30 ECTS] Master Thesis
Master’s thesis aims to: • Develop research skills: It shows that the student can formulate a research problem, design a methodology, collect and analyze data, and interpret results. • Contribute to knowledge: It should provide new insights, findings, or a deeper understanding of a topic within the chosen field. • Apply theoretical knowledge: It connects academic theories and concepts learned during the study program with real or theoretical research problems. • Demonstrate critical thinking: The student must critically evaluate literature, methods, and findings rather than only describing them. • Prepare for professional or academic careers: It builds competencies useful for further research (PhD studies) or advanced professional practice. In short, a master’s thesis is both a learning process and a scientific output that proves the student’s readiness to work independently at an advanced academic level. Furthermore, the activity seeks to improve research techniques and the writing style of the master’s thesis, while strictly respecting the principles of academic integrity and avoiding the use of unauthorized means, such as plagiarism and copyright infringement, which are prohibited by the SEEU Statute.