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NOMA Malawi Project: Master of Arts Degree in Political Science

NOMA Malawi Project: Master of Arts Degree in Political Science. Dr. Asiyati Lorraine Chiweza (Mrs.) Department of Political and Administrative Studies. Introduction. The Department of Political & Administrative Studies – one of the oldest in the University

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NOMA Malawi Project: Master of Arts Degree in Political Science

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  1. NOMA Malawi Project: Master of Arts Degree in Political Science Dr. Asiyati Lorraine Chiweza (Mrs.) Department of Political and Administrative Studies

  2. Introduction • The Department of Political & Administrative Studies – one of the oldest in the University • Offers 3 degree programmes: Public Administration. Human Resource Management, Political Science • Has an established staff complement of 8 • 2 are female

  3. Background • Political Science training is new in Malawi • First of its kind in Malawi & fills a major deficit in Political Science training in the country • Until 1994 Political Science training was not formally allowed in the country. • First fully fledged Political Science undergraduate programme started in 2004. • 2008- First four graduates of Political Science

  4. The Need for the Masters programme • Research relating to central governance institutions carried out under the auspices of NUFU- “The Institutional Context of the 2004 Elections” by CSR, Chancellor College &CMI, Bergen • Revealed a serious need for training at this level. • Initial idea of the programme was mooted during this collaboration • Funding enabled us to produce a book: Government & Politics in Malawi, develop course outlines for a Masters programme. • Demand for tailor made courses from public and civil society institutions in Political Science related subjects

  5. Need cont. • Malawi’s strategic development plan (MGDS)- theme 6: Good Governance • NOMA call for Masters proposals provided an opportunity to concretize our training ideas • News from collaborating partners.

  6. NOMA Package • A fixed award of 4,441,546 Norwegian Kroners • Scholarship- 3,133,160 • Student stipend. • Staff recruitment costs • Student seminars • Gender award- 2 each year • Thesis supervision • Thesis External and internal assessment costs

  7. NOMA package • Travel Expenditures for our Bergen Colleagues: 480,000 • Salary expenses: Bergen- 332,000 • Institutional Development- 58,000 • Purchase of books and IT support- computers & related accessories

  8. Package cont. • Staff Development Malawi & Bergen- 64, 256 each institution. • Programme Management- 154, 937 each institution. • Design of the funding elements was too top down • NOMA Objective: To help establish Masters Programme in Southern Universities with collaboration from the Northern institutions

  9. Aims & objectives of the Masters programme • The aim is to contribute towards democracy consolidation by building a supportive political culture through developing a pool of Malawian experts. • The objective of the Masters program is to supply the Malawian society with highly competent expertise in Political Science that is very much needed in the government and the civil society sector of the country.

  10. Programme structure • 2 year degree Programme: course work & research plus thesis • NOMA funding is for 4 years- 2 cohorts of 20 students each • Follows University of Malawi rules and procedures for graduate programmes • Joint teaching and supervision depending on comparative advantage.

  11. Programme Target &Recruitment Procedures • Candidates from public, civil, & even private sector - particulalry media • Open advertisement in the leading papers • Go through a rigorous open interview • 6 member- panel, chaired by the Dean of Social of Social Sciences and serviced by the Registrar’s office. • Interview results are approved by the University Senate

  12. Entry Requirements • Opened up entry requirements: • a credit or a higher pass (55% and above) in political Science and Public Administration from a recognized institution, • A minimum of two years working experience in a relevant field. • Candidates with a Degree in Journalism, Humanities and social sciences from a recognized institution with some political science in their undergraduate programme

  13. Composition of students

  14. Gender balance:

  15. Why?

  16. Provide access to other minorities groups 1.One blind student 2. Physically challenged

  17. Courses being offered: • African Politics, Political Theory, International Political Economy, Politics of Development, Public Policy Development and Management, International Relations, Corporate Governance, Comparative Politics

  18. Research • For the thesis, students choose a research topic of their interest. • Each students has 2 supervisors • A programme of seminars to promote research and scholarly culture & help students refine their proposals - open to all Chancellor College staff & postgraduate students • Proposal stage • Preliminary findings and field work experiences seminar • Thesis writing skills

  19. Research areas Political Parties and democratisation, manifestos etc Malawi’s Foreign Policy Local Government Media and Politics Women and Politics Electoral processes & institutions The legislature, parliamentary candidate selection processes Role of civil society, the church in democratisation Voter Behaviour

  20. Gender Mainstreaming • Strategies • Management of the programme • Student access • Issues being studied & • Research • Flexible arrangements to suit women’s multiple roles

  21. Initiatives taken • Management: Male from Bergen side & female from Malawi side • Access- 50/50 target • Efforts to encourage women candidates to apply for the programme • Made changes to some requirements 2. Promoting an understanding of gender issues among the candidates by incorporating the examination of gender in some of the courses e.g. Political Theory

  22. Gender • Gender research competition • A research grant to two students who develop a good proposal that addresses gender issues in Malawian Politics • Announced to all students at the beginning of the programme • Encourage research that examines gender issues in Politics • Promote documentation of gender research work:

  23. Gender cont. • Recipients • 2007: Ms Sainala Kalebe, Mr. Amon Mluwira • 2008: Ms Fatima Phiri, Mr. Henry Chilobwe • Conditions • Offer one seminar based on the thesis results • Submit a publishable paper at the end (to develop in collaboration with supervisor) • Flexible arrangements, counselling & mentorship • Teaching and examinations. • Getting married, 3 babies born on the programme.

  24. Staff Development • Hired a statistician to facilitate a one week work quantitative research methods workshop for all PAS staff: • Working with quantitative data • Analysing quantitative data • Interpreting quantitative data • SPSS hands on programme • Increased ability of staff to use quantitative data and write papers based on such data

  25. Synergies with other programmes • NUFU research programme on democracy consolidation: Decentralisation, Constitutionalism, Non-state actors: • Opportunities for students pursuing research in these areas • Spin off effects- plans for joint publications, further research. • Students/staff benefiting • Afrobarometer research programme with CSR, IDASA & Michigan State University • Quantitative Research data • Field work data collection exercise

  26. Links with Bergen Partners • On the management side communication and interaction has been very good • Have assisted with teaching & supervision • Provided extra electronic materials for both students and staff • Have participated in a number of key seminars in Malawi

  27. Programme status • The students from the first cohort are finalizing their thesis write ups and a few have submitted. • From the second cohort: Some are doing field work, others developing research tools, others still finalizing their research proposals. • We have a programme of key important dates up to the time of submission which all students are aware of

  28. Setbacks • Biggest problem has been staffing • Programme proposal was developed at a time the department had about 5 in the Political Science stream. • By implementation the situation had changed • Recruitment of staff with a strong grounding in Political Science has been a problem. Despite advertising 3 times- very poor turnout. • Heavy impact on supervision of students • On average senior staff have between 10-14 students (graduate & undergraduate).

  29. Setbacks cont. • Ability to meet other programme deadlines • Another big problem is infrastructure. • Flow of funds was a problem at the beginning but considerably improved with time.

  30. SUSTAINABILITY • The design of the programme was such that after the first 4 years, thereafter the programme would be full fee paying • Structure is in place, guidelines, manuals, working modalities • No new students this year, up for review by the end of the year • 4 staff on training abroad doing Political Science related degrees- 3 at PhD, Just finished Masters degree.

  31. Sustainability • Stop gap measure- the department is making arrangements to recruit 2 staff members from the first cohort graduates • Plans to increase staff establishment at college wide level pending a restructuring exercise which is going on.

  32. Thank you very muchZIKOMO!

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