Welcome to the School of Public Service website. Thank you for your interest. The mission of the School is to develop outstanding public sector leaders. We offer a 2-year Master’s in Public Policy with a Concentration in Leadership and Management, as well as certificate programs, seminars, and customized courses. Our programs cover both theory and practice, with a heavy emphasis on real-world applications.
We define “public service” broadly and our courses are designed for people serving with the following organizations:
- National, State, and Local Governments (all three branches)
- Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organizations
- International Organizations
- Social Entrepreneurs
Our academic year begins in late August. The first semester runs through mid-December. The second semester runs from mid-January through mid-May. Applications for next year’s Master’s program can be downloaded using the link found in the “Application Forms” section of this page.
The NGO Initiative
The NGO Initiative helps build the capacity of South Sudan’s nonprofit sector, including NGOs, CSOs, and volunteer groups. For more information click here. One of the Initiative’s flagship programs is the NGO Management Certificate, a holistic and robust program for current and prospective managers. The program includes eleven week-long courses given over a year. Those who complete at least eight of the courses receive an NGO Management Certificate. More importantly, participants will gain the knowledge and tools they need to succeed as managers. If you are interested in the program please click here.
Professional Short Courses
SPS is pleased to announce the following schedule for our 2024-2025 professional short courses. Registration begins three-weeks before the course start-date. Sign-up forms can be found in the sidebar on the right side of this webpage.
- Project Planning & Management
Beginning on Sat Jul 13, 2024 - Conflict Management
Beginning on Sat Aug 17, 2024 - Strategic Planning
Beginning on Sat Sept 14, 2024 - Human Resource Management
Beginning on Sat Oct 19, 2024 - Project Evaluation
Beginning on Sat Nov 16, 2024 - Change Management
Beginning on Sat Jan 18, 2025 - Managing Procurement and Contracting
Beginning on Sat Feb 15, 2025 - Ethics for NGO Leaders
Beginning on Sat Mar 15, 2025 - Organizational and Capacity Development
Beginning on Sat Apr 5, 2025* - Budget, Financial, and Banking Management in the NGO Sector
Beginning on Sat May 17, 2025 - Fundamentals of Fundraising
Beginning on Sat Jun 14, 2025
Public Service Leadership Endowment
The School of Public Service is currently fundraising to establish the Endowment for Public Service Leadership. The Endowment is a unique opportunity for donors to create a powerful legacy in support of South Sudan’s public service and long-term development. Your contributions will help create a cadre of skilled public sector leaders – leaders who will also work as change agents, positively impacting their organizations as well as the thousands of people those organizations serve. As an example of the power of the Endowment, a donation of $2M will cover tuition for 80 students EVERY YEAR FOR 30 YEARS. For more information, please email us at: SchoolofPublicService.UofJ@gmail.com
The Leadership Crucible: Preparing Young Women to Lead
Fundraising is underway for The Leadership Crucible (Academic Year 2024-2025). The program is FREE and open to women undergraduates who are interested in public service and/or politics, and who are in their fourth year at university. Donor funds help cover staff costs, supplies, and guest speaker honorariums. During this year-long program, students participate in a series of workshops designed to build their leadership skills. These workshops will focus on:
- Helping participants see themselves as leaders
- Developing leadership skills
- Reinforcing the qualities of effective leaders
- Building strategies to mitigate the unique problems faced by women leaders in South Sudan
- Helping participants begin to build professional networks
If you are interested in supporting the endowment please contact PatriciaPowersThomson@yahoo.com.
Customized and Professional Seminars
SPS offers customized programs, as well as professional seminars. In addition to increasing skills, these programs provide unique opportunities for participants to strengthen their professional networks and to learn from each other’s experiences. For more information click here