MPA regulations

REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE ISS MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION PROGRAMME IN GOVERNANCE, 2005-6 ^*

The Institute of Social Studies offers a part-time Master of Public Administration (MPA) Programme in Governance in cooperation with the F.H.R. Lim A Po Institute for Social Studies in Paramaribo, Suriname (FHR). The programme consists of Coursework and an Individual Study Project. The programme is designed for students who have several years of post‑university professional experience and are able to work independently.

Any matter concerning the Master of Public Administration Programme in Governance not regulated in these or in other internal ISS regulations lies within the competence of the Institute Board. Within the Institute Board, first responsibility for the teaching programmes of the Institute lies with the Dean.

The MPA Programme consists of 65 ECTS (1820 hours). It includes four Components, which carry the following weights:

The five foundation modules provide the foundation for the understanding of processes of governance. Modules offered are:

The five integration modules deepen the students’ understanding of governance by focusing on several major issues concerning current debates on development. Modules offered are:

The two focus modules provide students with the possibility of focusing on topics that are important elements of their individual study projects. Modules offered are:

5.1 To complete the requirements of the MPA Programme, students write a Paper as outcome of their Individual Study Project. The learning objectives of the Individual Study Project are that the student demonstrates the capacity to analyse a complex problem related to governance and to provide analytically sound and well-researched suggestions that are relevant for responding to the problem. By participating in the Individual Study Project the student shows the ability to:

- support that conclusion with a systematically presented report containing a logical argument based on sufficient empirical and/or theoretical evidence;

- and master the skills of finding data and/or theoretical perspectives relevant to the research the student wishes to conduct.

5.2 The Individual Study Project carries a weight of 17 ECTS. The Paper should not exceed 10,000 words. The length of the paper includes footnotes and endnotes, but not references and bibliography.

5.3 Work on the Individual Study Project starts with the formulation of a research topic, to be submitted before an announced deadline. Two study skills courses are organized around the beginning of the Research Period. A Research Proposal should be submitted at the beginning of the Research Period.

5.4 The proposal must contain a first indication of the research area in which the student wishes to work and the objectives sought.

5.5 The Individual Study Project normally draws on the experiences and working environment of the student.

5.6 A Supervisor assists the student through all stages of the development of the research. All the major comments from the supervisor should be provided to the student in writing. The Supervisor advises specifically on:

- the design of the general structure of the Individual Study Project (ISP) Paper;

- the development of the theoretical and conceptual framework, including indicating relevant literature for this framework;

The student and the Supervisor set a schedule of operation to which both should adhere.

1.1 Before the start of the MPA Programme in a particular Academic Year, the Dean appoints a Convenor and Deputy Convenor of the MPA Programme. The Convenor and Deputy Convenor are accountable to the Dean for the quality of teaching in the MPA.

1.2 The Convenor selects and leads the Teaching Team of the MPA Programme, which undertakes the design and redesign of the teaching component and its implementation. The Convenor is assisted by a Deputy Convenor and a Programme Administrator at ISS (PAI) and a Programme Administrator at FHR (PAS).

a. to implement, with the Teaching Team and FHR management, the approved teaching activities;

b. to report on the implemented teaching activities to the Dean, on the basis of self-evaluations of the Teaching Team’s staff and of feedback from students and an external assessor;

c. to provide guidance to students registered in the MPA, including academic counselling, allocation of a Supervisor for the Individual Study Project, and monitoring progress and performance.

No later than one week before the start of each course, the Convenor makes a Course Outline available to the students through the PAS. The Course Outline provides detailed information about the course, such as the names of responsible staff, the learning objectives, the content of each session, the teaching methods, the reading and other assignments, the workload, the method and date of assessment and the number of credits assigned to the course. In the breakdown of the workload the course leader indicates the expected number of hours to be spent on the various learning activities by an average student. Normally students are expected to study on average 6 pages of course materials per hour, including reading and associated learning activities. For those who want to do more than the minimum for a pass, a list of additional recommended readings or other advice to access additional readings is given in the outline.

1.1 The Dean decides on admission to the MA Programme. The Office of Educational Affairs informs the applicant of the Dean's decision.

1.2 The Dean decides on admission on the basis of the recommendation of the Admission Board.

1.3 The Admission Board consists of the MPA Convenor and Deputy Convenor, plus the Dean or Dean’s nominee and the FHR Director.

1.4 The (Deputy) Academic Registrar monitors that the relevant regulations are properly observed throughout the admission procedure and he/she therefore attends all meetings of the Admission Board. The (Deputy) Academic Registrar submits a report on the admission procedure to the Dean.

1.5 Any applicant may appeal against the decision of the Dean to the Rector. The Rector's decision on the appeal is final.

1.6 When the Office of Educational Affairs informs the applicants of the Dean's decision about admission, the Office of Educational Affairs sends a letter from the Convenor to those admitted, informing them of any activity which they should undertake in advance of the start of the Programme (such as the collection of relevant data).

a. a Bachelor's degree, consisting of a minimum of three years university study, in one of the social sciences, preferably at class 2.1 (Upper Second), B+ or its equivalent; but at least at class 2.2 (Lower Second), B, or its equivalent;

b. proficiency in the English language, for those not educated in English, certified by means of a generally accepted test. [1]

2.2 a. Substantial professional experience relevant to the MPA is normally expected and is a preference for admission.

b. Other admission criteria being equal, preference is given to candidates who show capacity for higher academic performance.

2.3 If an applicant does not have a Bachelor’s degree in one of the social sciences the Convenor may request the Admission Board to waive the social science requirement. In the request the Convenor will state the factors compensating for the lack of social science background. If the applicant lacks substantial relevant work experience relevant, this waiver cannot be provided. The admission requirements regarding the level of higher education (point 2.1a) and the English language proficiency (point 2.1b) cannot be waived.

3.1 The Admission Board bases its advice to the Dean on application files containing:

c. certified statement of proficiency in English by a recognized authority, if the candidate has not successfully undertaken substantial education in English;

3.3 The Admission Board classifies each application in one of the following categories:

- ‘A’ when showing an academic degree of at least class 2.1 level or equivalent, and very relevant working experience;

- ‘C’ when the applicant is provisionally admitted subject to the receipt of additional evidence (such as certificate of language proficiency);

– ‘X’ when additional information is required before the Admission Board can reach a decision.

3.4 The Admission Board does not insist upon the admission of a candidate against the wish of the Convenor, but can ask the Convenor to reconsider the case. The Convenor must respond in writing for final decision‑making by the Admission Board.

4.1 Students admitted to the MPA Programme must register upon commencement of the programme with the PAS, who ensures that registration and tuition fees have been paid.

4.2 In case of withdrawal a refund in part may be granted by FHR management after consideration of a written request by the student. No refund of paid tuition fees will be made after a period of six weeks of registration.

4.3 Students must register for Focus Modules by the deadlines that are announced well in advance.

4.4 Registration for Focus Modules is done through forms, to be submitted to the PAS.

4.5 After requests for registration for Focus Modules have been submitted to the PAS, these are considered commitments by students and therefore cannot be changed at will. In case a student wishes to change any course after the registration and within that period, the student must send a formal request, stating the reasons for such a change to the Convenor, via the PAS.

1.1 Students are expected to be resident in Paramaribo during the programme, except when allowed to travel on a programme assignment.

1.2 For absences other than those mentioned in point 1.3, a leave of absence must be granted by the FHR Director or his/her appointee. A request stating the purpose of the absence must be submitted in writing no less than one week prior to the proposed departure date. If the leave is granted, the student must forward pertinent information to the Convenor through the PAS for the record prior to the proposed departure date.

1.3 Absence from an examination results in the mark of 0. If the absence is due to force majeure, the PAS must be immediately informed. The Chairperson of the Board of Examiners should receive a properly documented explanation of the reasons for the absence, countersigned by the PAS. If the Board of Examiners accepts the reasons as being force majeure, the Board of Examiners decides on an alternative examination date or form of assessment.

2.1 Extension of a deadline for the submission of assignments is only possible if the student has had a significant absence due to force majeure. An argued request for extension of a deadline must be submitted for approval to the Board of Examiners through the PAS, supported by proper documentation and countersigned by the Convenor and – in the case of a request for extension of the deadline for submission of the Paper of the Individual Study Project – the Supervisor. The requested deferral can be no longer than the period of illness or distress.

2.2 The student can appeal against the decision of the Board of Examiners to the Dean, whose decision is final.

2.3 If extension approved by the Board of Examiners goes beyond the end of the MPA Programme, the student continues to be registered as a regular student. If an extension is approved by the Board of Examiners, the Dean and PAS determine to which services the student will be entitled during the period of extension.

The appointed examiners are obliged to grade and comment on the ISP Paper within eight weeks after the date of submission.

1.1 All assessment exercises are marked on a numerical scale ranging from 0 to 100. For the re-sit of any course the maximum mark that can be obtained is 60. The numerical marks are the basis for the computation of final overall marks and the determination of a letter grade.

1.2 The weight given to the marks for the assessment exercises of the MPA Programme Coursework is proportionate to the number of credit units assigned to them in the Chapter I of these Rules and Regulations.

1.3 Final overall numerical marks for Coursework are rounded off to the nearest whole number. Composite marks cannot be rounded off twice.

1.4 Letter grades are used to express the final overall assessment of study performance of students in the MPA Programme. The following scale is used to translate the final overall numerical mark into letter grades:

2.1 The responsibility for the assessment procedures of the MPA Programme rests with the MPA Board of Examiners.

2.2 The MPA Board of Examiners consists of the Convenor (replaced by the Deputy for any courses led by the Convenor), the Deputy Convenor (replaced by another staff member for any courses led by the Deputy Convenor), and a third academic member appointed by the Dean. The Board is assisted by the PAI.

2.3 All final marks are to be sanctioned and issued by the Board of Examiners before being communicated to the students. All procedures and deliberations of the Board of Examiners, internal examiners and external assessors are strictly confidential and supervised by the Board of Examiners.

2.4 The Board of Examiners has the right to inform an examiner that his or her marks are out of line with what is considered appropriate - that is, whether it considers an individual examiner's marks too high or too low or in any other way unsuitable. In its procedures the Board of Examiners consults with and informs the relevant internal examiners whose marks are subject to scrutiny, and can seek further advice, if needed. The Board of Examiners is entitled to enlist advice from other internal examiners and/or from external assessors. After due consideration, the Board of Examiners has the right to replace a set of marks by another, if necessary.

3.1. Students are informed well in advance about the dates of examinations and deadlines for submission of assignments as well as the deadlines for marking assignments and examinations.

a. assessment aims to establish whether the learning objectives of the teaching activity concerned have been achieved; assessment methods are selected in accordance with this principle;

b. assessment must be based on identifiable individual input and written evidence verifiable by the external assessor; for the MPA at least 50% of the total mark for Coursework is derived from marks received under invigilated conditions.

c. students receive feedback from staff marking their assessments, in the form of written comments indicating why a mark has been given.

3.3 Responsibility for the assessment and marking of assessment exercises rests with two examiners. The Convenor appoints the examiners. The first examiner is the course leader concerned. The role of the second examiner is to review the marks of the first examiner. The second examiner will mark all assignments and examination scripts which have been given (a) a grade of 87 or more, or (b) of 62 or less, and in addition (c) a sample of the other assignments and examination scripts. The second examiner must in any event consider at least 20% of the assignments and scripts.

In cases (a) and (b) only the final, averaged mark (if necessary, after discussion between the examiners) is communicated to the participant, together with corresponding comments.

When the two numerical grades differ by 10 points or less, the two marks are averaged to yield the grade for the exercise. Resultant marks of .5 are rounded up to the higher figure. When the first and second examiners’ considered grades differ by more than 10 points, the paper is referred to a third examiner, appointed by the Convenor. The grade for the exercise is then the average between the mark of the third examiner and the closer mark of either the first or the second examiner. Only the final, averaged mark is communicated to the participant, with corresonding comments.

Second examiner gardes in case (c) do not automatically affect the final mark. However, if the final mark of the first and second examiners differ by more than 10 points in a majority of the cases assessed by both, the Convenor or his/her designate will arrange for all of the assignments and scripts to be double marked.

3.4 ISP Papers are assessed and marked by two examiners. The Convenor appoints the examiners. The second examiner may be drawn from outside the ISS.

No ISP Paper is awarded a distinction mark (90 or higher) or a fail mark (0 – 59) unless this grade is endorsed by a third examiner from outside the teaching team who is appointed by the Convenor. Otherwise procedures for marking the ISP Paper are as under point 3.3, with the exception that the external assessor reviews all ISP Papers marked 65 or less.

3.5 Students may appeal against any mark, for Coursework assignments as well as for the ISP Paper, to the Board of Examiners. No appeal will be considered after the student has received his/her degree and transcript.

The Board of Examiners can only consider cases for appeal that have been properly argued by the student, who should clearly indicate why the mark she/he has received is considered unfair. If the Board of Examiners considers the appeal admissible, the Board of Examiners submits the assignment to an additional (internal or external) examiner. With the letter of appeal the additional examiner receives the assessment exercise, the work done by the student, the original mark(s) and the accompanying comments. The additional examiner is asked to judge both the student's work and the mark and comments given originally and reports his/her judgement in writing to the Board of Examiners. The Board of Examiners will consider the additional examiner’s report in a meeting and decide about the validity of the appeal.

3.6 An External Assessor is appointed by the Dean. The External Assessor is an expert in the field of Governance and belongs to the staff of a university or of an academic institution associated with a university, and has at least the rank of Senior Lecturer or equivalent.

3.7 The Board of Examiners requests the External Assessor to submit a report to the Board of Examiners, in which the External Assessor advises on all fail, near-fail and distinction marks and on a sample of (non-distinction) pass marks, for Coursework assignments as well as for the ISP Paper. The sample is made by the Board of Examiners. The Dean receives a copy of this report.

3.8 At the end of the Programme the Board of Examiners organises one or more meetings in which the Board of Examiners formulates its recommendation whether students have fulfilled the formal requirements for the Degree. In such meetings the reports mentioned in point 3.7 are discussed.

3.9 To allow the work of the External Assessor, the MPA Administrators keep files with photocopies of all examination papers, essays written and workshop exercises for which student have received marks, to be made available at the Assessor’s request.

3.10 If a student has obtained an overall mark of less than 60 for a course, he/she is given the opportunity of a re-examination. The form of this re-examination is decided by the Board of Examiners. Re-examinations are not marked higher than 60. The mark resulting from the re-examination is the final mark. In preparing the re-examination the student has no right to supervision or to attend tutorials which apply to the original assignment.

3.11 If, after the re-examination(s) mentioned in point 3.10, a student still has an average mark for the assessment exercises of the Coursework of less than 60, the Chairperson of the Board of Examiners advises the student that he/she will not be awarded the degree and that therefore he/she cannot proceed with the Individual Study Project.

3.12 If the final grade for the Individual Study Project is less than 60, the student can re-submit a revised Paper not later than three months after the end of the MPA Programme. A re-submitted Paper cannot be marked higher than 60. No supervision can be claimed by the student to prepare the re-submission of the Paper.

4.1 By handing in work for assessment, students declare that the work submitted is their own work, except for those quotations and references which are derived, with proper acknowledgement, from other sources. It must be clear that lack of referencing, un-attributed sections copied directly from textbooks or other materials, extensive copying from textbooks or other materials, and joint work with or copied from another student are all considered to be cases of fraud or plagiarism. When submitting an assignment students have to add a signed declaration that the work submitted is their own work.

4.2 In any examination the work submitted must be the student’s own work. Using information in an invigilated examination from books or papers not explicitly allowed or from other students is considered to be fraud. Transmitting or receiving such material is also considered to be fraud.

4.3 If an examiner discovers an instance of suspected fraud, he/she immediately communicates this in writing to the Chairperson of the Board of Examiners, together with the pertinent evidence.

4.4 The Board of Examiners investigates the evidence, and decides on measures to be taken. In the first part of the Programme (the Foundation Modules) for a first time offence, students receive depending on the gravity of the offence either a warning, a punishment (deduction of at least 10 points) or -in case of a grave offence- a severe punishment (a mark of 0). For a second time offence and/or for an offence committed after the first part (the Foundation Modules), the Board of Examiners will decide on a more severe punishment, and can give the assessment exercise or the exam the mark of 0. For a third time offence a student will be expelled from the programme.

4.5 Students who fail a course because of plagiarism or fraud will not be allowed a re-examination for that course.

4.6 If fraud is established which concerns the Individual Study Project, the candidate is not allowed to proceed with the degree work.

4.7 The student may appeal to the Dean against the decision of the Board of Examiners mentioned in point 4.4. The Dean gives the student concerned the opportunity to present his/her case. The decision of the Dean is final.

4.8 If the discovery of plagiarism in the Individual Study Project is made after the graduation ceremony the award will be struck from the Institute’s records and the relevant persons (e.g. employer, sponsor) will be duly informed.

5.1 When an assignment is submitted after a deadline set without an extension approved by the Board of Examiners, the Board of Examiners imposes a sanction of 20 % of the mark that the assignment would have received if handed in on time, if the assignment is late up to 3 weeks. Assignments that are not handed in within 3 weeks after the deadline are not marked and the student receives the mark of 0 for the exercise.

5.2 When a fail mark results from the deduction of points for late submission, the student does not have the right to resubmit the exercise as described in point 3.10ff above.

5.3 Unjustified absence from a scheduled examination automatically carries the mark of 0.

5.4 On non-compliance of staff with marking obligations the Dean deducts a certain percentage of the time to be claimed by staff for marking. If the marks cum extensive comments are not submitted by the set date, the staff member concerned loses 30% of the time allocate dfor marking. If after 21 days the staff member still has not submitted his/her marks cum extensive comments, he/she loses the other 70% of the time allocated for marking.

5.5 In serious cases of non-compliance with marking obligations the Dean withholds permission for staff to take leave or to travel abroad.

5.6 When assessment exercises are submitted within three weeks after the set deadline without an extension approved by the Board of Examiners, the appointed examiner(s) are still obliged to grade and comment on the exercise. However, in such situations the deadline for return of marks specified above no longer applies. The mark must be ready by the specified date at the end of the programme, in order to be included in the calculation of the final overall mark and grade.

1. A student has fulfilled the formal requirements for the Master of Arts Degree if he/she has completed 65 ECTS credits of assignments as prescribed, and if he/she has obtained

2. The decision as to whether the formal requirements for the degree have been fulfilled rests with the Dean, on recommendation of the Board of Examiners. The decision as to whether the degree can be awarded rests with the Rector, on recommendation of the Dean.

3. Students who have obtained a final overall A‑grade receive the Degree 'with distinction'.

Students who have obtained a final overall mark of 85-89 receive the Degree 'with merit'.

4. Students who have not fulfilled all formal requirements for the degree, may be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate of Attendance indicating those parts of the MPA Programme which they have fulfilled, including the marks obtained.

Students who have fulfilled all formal requirements for the course work, but have not completed or passed the Individual Study Project, may be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate in Public Administration (Governance).

5. The Institute reserves the right not to issue the Degree or the Postgraduate Certificate (of Attendance), if the student has not fulfilled all his/her obligations, financial and otherwise.

1.1 Annually the (Deputy) Academic Registrar organises an internal evaluation of the MPA Programme, under the authority of the Dean. This internal evaluation comprises two elements mentioned below in points 1.2 and 1.3.

1.2 Each module of the MA Programme is evaluated by means of a questionnaire distributed to the students immediately after the end of the module concerned. The results of these questionnaires are collected and aggregated by the PAS and analysed by the Office of Educational Affairs in consultation with the Convenor and made available within one month to the students concerned, the course leader concerned, the Convenor, and the Teaching Portfolio Holder of the ISS Staff Group concerned. The course leader is given the opportunity to comment on the results of the questionnaires before they are made available to those others who were mentioned above.

1.3 The Coursework of the MPA Programme is evaluated on the basis of a questionnaire distributed to the students plus a group discussion of the students with FHR management. An individual evaluation about the usefulness of the programme will be asked in the form of a short report at the very end of the programme. The PAS aggregates and the (Deputy) Academic Registrar analyses the results of these evaluations and writes a report on the basis thereof. This report includes the aggregated results of the evaluations. The Convenor is given the opportunity to comment on the (Deputy) Academic Registrar's report before it is finalised. The (Deputy) Academic Registrar's report is sent within two months after the end of the Programme to the Convenor, FHR management and the Dean. It is available to other staff and students on request.

2.1 After two cycles of the Programme, each course is evaluated by an External Programme Evaluator.

2.2 The External Programme Evaluator is appointed by the Institute Board, after consultation with FHR management. He/she reports to the Institute Board.

2.3 The External Programme Evaluator is an expert in the field of Governance and belongs to the staff of a university or of an academic institution associated with a university and has at least the rank of Senior Lecturer or equivalent.

2.4 The External Programme Evaluator evaluates on the basis of criteria decided by the Institute Board. Before deciding these criteria, the Institute Board consults with FHR management, seeks the advice of the Teaching Committee and the approval of the Academic Council.

2.5 The Institute Board makes the report of the External Programme Evaluator available to the Convenor, the Teaching Committee and the Academic Council.

These Regulations can be amended by the Institute Board, after consultation with FHR management and subject to endorsement by the Academic Council.

The current version of these Regulations was adopted by the Institute Board after endorsement by the Academic Council in ….

[1] Accepted tests are:

- TOEFL, on which applicants must have obtained a score of at least 550 points plus a score on the Test for Written English of at least 4.5;

- IELTS/British Council Test, on which applicants must have obtained an average score of at least 6.0 points plus a score on the Test for Written English of at least 5.0.

Other tests can be accepted if their TOEFL or IELTS equivalence is explicit.