ERIC Number: EJ1472156
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Mar
Pages: 18
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0144-7394
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: 0000-00-00
Assessing the Integration of AI Competencies in Undergraduate Public Administration Curricula in Selected South African Higher Education Institutions
Tinaye Des Kamukapa1; Stellah Lubinga1; Tyanai Masiya1; Lerato Sono1
Teaching Public Administration, v43 n1 p108-125 2025
There is an increasing call to include Artificial Intelligence (AI) competencies in academic disciplines such as Public Administration, which are not obviously related to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). However, the literature on the integration of AI in non-STEM curricula in South African higher education institutions (HEIs), especially in Public Administration curricula, is limited. To address this lacuna, this research assessed the integration of AI competencies in undergraduate Bachelor of Administration (BAdmin) curricula in three HEIs randomly selected from the six offering such a programme. The chosen qualitative research approach focused on human and technical competencies. The findings show that AI competencies are not adequately integrated into the Public Administration curricula of the assessed HEIs in the form of core modules supporting AI competencies. These competencies are only loosely supported by elective (optional) modules. This general AI competency gap in the Public Administration curricula of the assessed South African HEIs must be bridged to achieve a digital public sector by introducing focused AI competency training into the BAdmin curriculum. This will help to create a public sector workforce equipped to handle the opportunities and challenges presented by AI, and maximise the potential of this transformative technology.
Descriptors: Artificial Intelligence, Public Administration Education, College Curriculum, Undergraduate Study, Computer Literacy, Foreign Countries, Innovation, Teamwork
SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub-com.bibliotheek.ehb.be
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: South Africa
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1School of Public Management and Administration, University of Pretoria, South Africa