Department of Public Administration

Faculties

Department of Public Administration

As Southeast Asian countries enter an exciting development phase, the importance of effective public administration and the management of public policies has become increasingly evident. Policymakers, policy practitioners, and corporate leaders across Asian countries already grapple with diverse and complex governance issues, and Pakistan is no exception. However, in Pakistan, the complexity is further aggravated by economic, social, political, religious, ethnic, and historical factors. Despite its immense potential for sustainable development, the country faces significant impediments across the economic, social, political, and administrative frontiers. To overcome these challenges, Pakistan must prioritise building its citizens’ capacity through education, enabling them to actively contribute to the country’s development strides. Central to this process is establishing a proactive, efficient, and accountable government. It requires the expertise of public administrators and public management professionals who can look at the issues from the vantage points of several disciplines to meet the expectations of national and international constituents. Recognising this pressing need, the Department of Public Administration (DPA) was established at the Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB) in 2010, serving as a testament to the university’s commitment to producing valued human and intellectual capital in the realm of public administration to catalyse the socio-economic transformation of the region and beyond.

DPA is known for its progressive approach. Initially operating under the Department of Political Science, the DPA has been granted independent status as a full-fledged academic department, effective from 16.05.2023. This decision was made by the IUB statutory authorities, including the Syndicate and the Senate, distinguishing the importance of this academic discipline. The department offered the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program in the Fall Semester of 2010. Subsequently, in Fall 2016, the department launched the Bachelor of Science in Public Administration (BSPA) program. Owing to amendments in the regulations by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan, the two-year MPA program was phased out in December 2020. As a result, the department introduced the Bachelor of Science in Public Policy and Governance (BSPPG) and the Master of Science in Public Administration (MSPA) programs in the Fall Semester of 2022 to align with the new requirements. Moreover, the department plans to launch several new certifications, diploma courses and a PhD program in Public Administration & Development in the foreseeable future. These initiatives will further enhance our program offerings.

DPA is keen to impart high-quality education to its students, matching the need for skilled professionals and positively impacting society. Located in Bahawalpur, the City of Palaces, DPA brings different languages and regional cultures together to create a distinctive and conducive learning environment. The department takes pride in offering a wide range of seven (7) specialised areas of study as part of its BSPA program allowing students to choose from diverse options that align with their interests and career aspirations. These specialisations cover cutting-edge fields and highly sought-after areas, ensuring that students are well-equipped to tackle the contemporary challenges they may face in their professional lives. The specialisations offered include finance, marketing, public policy, e-governance, development studies, public health administration, and human resource management.

DPA aims to be a centre of excellence that sets new standards and leads advancements in public administration teaching, education, and research for revitalising communities throughout Pakistan and across the globe. With this in mind, it embraces dynamism. It perpetually adapts to evolving trends, emergent technologies, and best professional practices to foster innovation, creativity, and critical thinking among students through an enabling learning environment. With a strong emphasis on practical erudition and a multidisciplinary perspective, the department strives to nurture the next generation of leaders to navigate the organisational complexities and withstand impactful careers at all levels of organisations, ranging from entry-level positions to commanding roles in the scalar chain.

Spanning over a decade, the DPA graduates serve and make their mark in numerous national and international concerns of repute worldwide. They have been equipped to pursue professional roles in multiple arenas, including federal, provincial, and local governments, corporate entities, state-owned enterprises, regulatory bodies, educational institutions, research organisations, policy think tanks, lobbying firms, consultancy services, public relations agencies, media outlets, non-profit foundations, trade unions, political parties, community advocacy groups, and bilateral and multilateral organisations, among others.

DPA endeavours to nurture an inclusive and multicultural environment, providing students with equal opportunities nationwide and thus cultivating peace, harmony, tolerance, regional integration, and national unity. We actively pursue partnerships and collaborations with national and international partners, believing that cross-cultural understanding and knowledge sharing lead to advancements in global public administration, education, research, and development. Join us at the DPA as we work towards a shared future, celebrating diversity and striving for excellence. Together, we can create a global world where everyone thrives and adds to better societies.

Our Vision

“To be recognised at national, regional and international levels as a centre of excellence for education, teaching, research, and capacity building in public administration, governance, public policy management, policy advocacy, and effective public service delivery.”

Our Mission

“To nurture and transform our students into a socially-conscious generation of future administrators at all hierarchical levels of organisations to effectively and ethically manage the resources for revitalising communities and serving humanity in a globalised world.”

Our Core Values

DPA strives to inculcate a set of core values, represented by the acronym ACCREDIT, among its graduates. These values serve as guiding principles throughout their academic and professional endeavours:

Accountability: Taking responsibility for one’s actions and being answerable for the outcomes.
Competence: Possessing the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) to perform tasks effectively.
Creativity: Thinking innovatively and generating original ideas or solutions.
Resilience: The ability to bounce back and adapt in the face of challenges or adversity.
Empathy: Being humane. Understanding and sharing the feelings of others, showing compassion and kindness.
Dignity: Respecting and recognising the inherent worth and value of individuals.
Integrity: Upholding moral and ethical principles, being honest and trustworthy.
Teamwork: Collaborating and working effectively with others to achieve shared goals.