Presented by The Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance at UCT

The Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance is offering a 3-day executive short course on Ethical Leadership and Public Accountability in October 2019. The course aims to equip leaders and managers working in the public sphere to enhance integrity, accountability and ethical decision-making in their own lives and in their organisations.

Course Overview

Our contemporary world demands deeper levels of ethical intelligence and higher standards of public accountability than ever before. However, current global and local dynamics put pressure on our public institutions that make ethical leadership increasingly challenging. This course helps participants to better understand and enact their ethical responsibilities in this context.

The course starting point is that public service and government administration are necessarily complex, dynamic and contested. This requires public servants and civil society practitioners to navigate fine lines between principle and pragmatism, politics and administration, means and ends as well as short and long-term requirements.

Course objectives

The short courses will equip participants with the insights, concepts, skills and tools to:

Act with integrity and moral courage in their private and public lives.
Make ethically responsible decisions about the many ethical dilemmas that they face as part of the everyday task of being a leader in public life.
Put in place the policies, mechanisms and practices in their organisation that promote good governance and accountability, minimize corruption and generate sound ethical behaviour.
Grapple more effectively with some of the unresolved ethical questions that the world and the country is grappling with and that require intensive thought and bold leadership.

Who will benefit from the course

This short course is targeted at executives, managers and professionals who have to grapple with and take the lead on confronting difficult ethical and public accountability issues whether working in the public service, municipalities, state-owned enterprises, the non-profit sector or the private sector.

Course Structure

The course is taught by leading specialists in ethical leadership - Dr Marianne Camerer, Advocate Vusi Pikoli and David Schmidt.

The course is structured to take participants through a process that is both intellectually challenging, emotionally powerful and practically useful. The programme comprises a mix of theory, case studies and simulation as inputs to a process of individual reflection and intense group dialogue. Extensive course reading will also be provided.

The Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance at UCT

The Mandela School promotes the development of strategic public leadership, including a strong emphasis on public sector reform, accountability and trust in governance. The Mandela School provides professional and academic training and forums for discussion for senior public officials and those engaged in public policy in South Africa, other African countries and beyond. The School trains top graduates to prepare them for public leadership positions and provides executive training for senior managers and elected office bearers. Some of its programmes are also designed for international organisations, non-profit organisations, think-tanks and the private sector.

Costs

The cost of the course is R 12 500 per person which includes lunch and teas at the conference venue and all tuition and course material costs for the three days, including the UCT short course certificate. Participants will need to cover their transport and accommodation costs.

How to apply?

Please apply using the prescribed online application form (https://forms.gle/atG7LQ8jmXvcZdxv7). The closing date for applications is 30 September 2019. Space is limited so we suggest you apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Participation will be confirmed at least 15 days before the commencement of the course.