Department of Public Administration

About Department of Public Administration

About the Department The Department of Public Administration was set up in the year 1961. It has the distinction of being one of the oldest departments in the discipline of public administration in the country. The Department has a very impressive record to its credit. The Department, since its inception, has been actively engaged in quality teaching, research and training as well as consultancy in the applied fields of Public Administration.

The Department has very dynamic Panjab University Public Administration Department Alumni Association (PUPADAA) constituted in the year 2018. Among the alumni of this Department who are/were occupying high positions in various walks of life are Dr. M.S. Gill, Former Chief Election Commissioner and Former Minister of Sports; Dr. Dinesh Chandra, Former Additional Secretary, Government of India; Dr. G.S. Aujla, Former Additional Director General Police, Punjab; Prof. B.S. Ghuman, former Vice-Chancellor, Punjabi University, Patiala; University Teachers; and central and state government/public enterprise officials. The alumni of the Department are also well placed in various countries like Thailand, Nepal, Bangladesh, Iran, Kenya, Afghanistan etc.

The activities of the Department can be grouped into four inter-related categories: Teaching, Research, Training/Refresher Courses and Consultancy.

1. Teaching
   The Department has regular full-time courses for MA and M.Phil. The Masters' programme in Public Administration is job oriented in nature and multi-disciplinary in approach. The course has been scientifically planned so that it constitutes building blocks to impart specialized, skill based education through teaching, activities, workshops, seminars and conferences. It provides students with the knowledge and skills to analyze and manage processes of governance, policy making and administration at many levels of government.
   The syllabi of Masters course cover wide range of core and optional papers that helps students to explore dimensions of policy making, mechanics of public policy design and implementation, strategies that public and non-profit organizations use to respond to major policy problems and dilemmas. Further, they get an opportunity to undertake individual and original research as part of dissertation.
   The diversified course content has made the courses popular both in and outside India. The Department has been attracting students from Ethiopia, Thailand, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. Earlier a large number of African, Mauritian and Iranian students were regularly enrolled in the Department. Some of the foreign students are sponsored under cultural exchange programmes. Against 60 seats, the department normally receives around 700 applications.
   The M.Phil. Course has been designed with a view to impart knowledge of recent advances in the discipline and to train the students in the theory and practice of research.
   Students are provided the opportunity to develop their leadership, organisational and decision-making skills through the membership and activities of the Administrative Sciences Society of the Department
2. Research
   The Department undertakes three types of research activities:
   Ph.D. Programme: The Department provides facilities for research leading to a doctoral degree from the Faculty of Arts. The main sources of enrolment are:
   • Masters' students who have qualified UGC-NET or M.Phil/Ph.D. Entrance Test conducted by Panjab University
   • Candidates from other countries, including those under the Government of India Cultural Exchange Programme.
   The Department has successfully supervised over 184 Ph.D. scholars who have worked on various facets of the discipline. Barring a few, these are survey based focusing on the analysis and solutions of practical problems of administration in developing countries.
   The success rate of the Department's students qualifying the UGC NET is very high.
   Research Projects: The faculty of the Department is engaged in a number of research projects funded by various regional, national and international agencies like Government of Punjab, UGC, British Council, ICSSR, SCERT, UKRI & GCRF and the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute.
   Individual Research: The faculty and research scholars are engaged in individual research as well. A large number of research papers, books, monographs and articles have been published nationally and internationally.
3. Training/Refresher Courses
   The Department is actively involved in Capacity Building of Non-teaching employees of Panjab University, Chandigarh. The Department conducted 20 programmes (2015-16 to 2017-18) for administrative and ministerial staff of the University and other educational institutions in the neighbouring region. These training programmes have covered the modules on basic skills for office professionals (Clerks, Assistants, Superintendents, Stenographers, Personal Assistants, Assistant Registrars and Deputy Registrars). Some specific programmes on Noting and Drafting skills, Management of disciplinary proceedings, effective writing, effective communication have also been designed and successfully administered. Besides training programmes have also been conducted for peons and other class C staff of the University to apprise them of latest technology and also to make them multi-skilled staff.
   The Department is also engaged in Soft Skill Training under RUSA grant for Entrepreneurship, Employability and Innovation (EEI) Hub given to the University.
4. Consultancy
   The faculty has expertise in various research areas related to public policy and various aspects of administration. The faculty undertakes consultancy work through which it contributes towards policy making, strengthen government-academia interface and enrich their professional experience. Projects from the state government are often undertaken to address specific issues.
   The faculty of the Department has been consultant with Commonwealth Asia Youth Programme, Asia (CYPA) on "Youth and Local Self Governance in Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka", 2011.
   Currently our faculty is engaged with Punjab Government in preparing a Punjab State Strategic SDGs Action Plan 2030 (SDG 2 Zero Hunger and SDG16 Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions) sponsored by United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Coordination Centre (UNSDGCC) under Department of Planning, Govt. of Punjab.