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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

Offers 3 degree programmes: Public Administration. Human Resource Management, Political Science

Has an established staff complement of 82 are female

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BackgroundPolitical 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

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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 collaborationFunding 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

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.

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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 costs6

NOMA package

Travel Expenditures for our Bergen Colleagues: 480,000

Salary expenses: Bergen- 332,000

Institutional Development- 58,000Purchase of books and IT support- computers & related accessories

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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 institutions8

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. 9

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Programme structure2 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.

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

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Entry RequirementsOpened 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

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Composition of students

DISTRIBUTION OF PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUNDS AMONG THE 2007 STUDENTS

Human Rights, Governance

NGOs30%

Media15%

Legislature5%

Public Sector35%

Academia15%

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Gender balance:

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5

10

15

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Intake year

Gender Composition of the Master of Arts (Political Science) Students

Male

Female

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Why?

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500

1000

1500

200020

02/2

003

2003

/200

4

2004

/200

5

2005

/200

6

2006

/200

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Period

Undergraduate Enrollment Trends in the University of Malawi

Male

Female

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Provide access to other minorities groups

1.One blind student

2. Physically challenged

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Courses being offered:

African Politics, Political Theory, International Political Economy, Politics of Development, Public Policy Development and Management, International Relations, Corporate Governance, Comparative Politics

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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 studentsProposal stagePreliminary findings and field work experiences

seminarThesis writing skills

Research areasPolitical 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

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Gender Mainstreaming

StrategiesManagement of the programme

Student access

Issues being studied &

Research

Flexible arrangements to suit women’s multiple roles

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Initiatives taken

1. Management: Male from Bergen side & female from Malawi side

1. Access- 50/50 targetEfforts to encourage women candidates to apply for the programmeMade 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

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GenderGender 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:

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.

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Staff DevelopmentHired 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

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Synergies with other programmesNUFU 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 exercise25

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

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Programme statusThe 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

Setbacks

Biggest problem has been staffingProgramme 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). 28

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.

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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.

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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.

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Thank you very muchZIKOMO!