Program Code: LGA
Program description: This program consists of four courses, namely: Local Municipal and Regional Government, Community Development, Local Government Administration, Organizational Behavior. Local government administration is an integral part of a council’s operation. It is often referred to as the engine that drives the operations of the local government body by ensuring functional systems and procedures are in place to carry out the decisions of council as it seeks to fulfill its mandate. This program is designed to expose participants to the fundamentals of local government administration. Upon completion of the four courses, participants will enhance their understanding of local government administration and use this knowledge to discharge their roles and responsibilities in a more effective and efficient manner.
Instructors: Mr. Horace Walks, Mr. Winston Cramer, Ms. Donna Mc Kinnon, Ms. Winifred David
Duration: 32 instruction hours – 4 courses at 8 hours per course
LGS 100 Local, Municipal and Regional Government
Course description: People live in cities, towns and villages and are beneficiaries of the services provided through these tiers of government. These sub-national bodies are governed, in most cases, by elected councils and function to fulfill clearly defined mandates. While the systems and structures may vary from one country to another, the basic mandate is to deliver services to citizens and to facilitate local development. A primary focus and emphasis of this program is to provide participants with functional understanding of the underlying concepts and practices that govern local government systems, structures, and operations.
Duration: 8 hours
Learning outcomes: At the end of this course, participants will be:
- familiar with fundamental concepts, principles , theories, and models relating to local government and local governance.
- aware of the laws, regulations and policies governing the local government sector in their respective jurisdictions.
- aware of the main responsibilities of the mayor, administrator, council and councilors.
- equipped with applicable knowledge and skills to function in a professional manner in their respective local government entities.
LGS 102 Community Development
Course description: Local development, and by extension community development, is one of the primary responsibilities of local government. Community development activities often vary in magnitude and scope but must be designed to enhance the quality of life of citizens. Through this course, participants will be exposed to principles, practices, and processes that guide effective community development initiatives and apply these to real life situations in their respective local government jurisdictions.
Course duration: 8 hours
Learning outcomes: At the end of this course, participants will be:
- aware of community development principles, practices, and processes.
- able to conduct community consultations.
- able to conduct a community mapping exercise.
- able to draft an outline of a community development plan.
LGA 100 Local Government Administration
Course description: This course is designed to introduce participants to the nature and scope of public administration and addresses the types, characteristics, and defects of bureaucracy. It also explains the theories and principles of organizations as well as principles of New Public Management and its implications for public administration.
Course duration: 8 hours
Learning outcomes: At the end of this course, participants will be:
- familiar with the basic foundation of public administration.
- acquainted with the concepts related to organizations, bureaucracy, and New Public Management.
- able to develop a more professional disposition to their respective roles and responsibilities.
LGA 101 Organizational Behavior
Course description: Organizational behavior is influenced primarily by two factors. namely: the people in the organization and its organizational structure. The interplay of these two features and the resulting dynamics contribute to interesting studies in organizational behavior. This course is designed to examine various dimensions of these dynamics thereby enhancing participants’ understanding of their organizational cultures so that they can function effectively within context and effect change wherever and whenever necessary.
Course duration: 8 hours
Learning outcomes: At the end of this course, participants will be:
- aware of the dynamics of organizations.
- familiar with theories and techniques used in effective organizational functioning.
- apply theories and techniques in organizational functioning to their specific context.
- apply change management strategies to facilitate organizational change.
- familiar with basic conflict management strategies.