UNIVEN OR Tambo Institute of Governance and Policy Studies  ·  Est. 1999
ortigps@univen.ac.za UNIVEN ↗
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Est. 1999 — Reimagined 2025

OR Tambo Institute
of Governance
and Policy Studies

ORTIGPS — University of Venda

Training public servants, advancing governance research and offering postgraduate programmes in Public Management, Municipal Management and Development Management.

About the Institute → Our Programmes
MPM MMM MDM PhD in Public Management
About the Institute

Training Public Servants Since 1999

The OR Tambo Institute of Governance and Policy Studies was established in 1999 as a constituent unit of the School of Business, Economics and Administrative Sciences, which later became the Faculty of Management, Commerce and Law (FMCL) since April 2021.

Its establishment was motivated by the then Northern (now Limpopo) Provincial Government's desire for local tertiary institutions to train public servants and conduct research on policy matters for necessary interventions.

The Institute offers three coursework Masters degrees — MPM, MMM and MDM — as well as short courses in public management and a PhD in Public Management.

Our Programmes →
OR Tambo Institute
In Honour Of
Oliver Reginald
Tambo
1917 — 1993

A statesman, freedom fighter and visionary leader whose values of justice, accountability and service to humanity anchor the Institute's work in governance and policy.

The Institute addresses persistent challenges such as weak policy implementation and limited capacity in public institutions — through applied research, leadership training and sustained policy dialogue in his memory and spirit.

Direction

Vision & Mission

Our Vision

To become a continental hub for evidence-based policymaking and governance innovation, establishing UNIVEN as a credible thought leader in governance and policy.

Our Mission

To advance governance, capacity building and policy formulation through applied research, leadership training and sustained policy dialogue in Southern Africa.

Our Purpose

Mandate & Strategic Areas

Train Public Servants
Train public servants within specific areas of governance and policymaking for the public service and sector.
Tutored Masters Programmes
Offer coursework Masters in Public Management (MPM), Municipal Management (MMM) and Development Management (MDM).
Promote PhD Research
Promote and advance PhD studies in Public Management, building a pipeline of governance scholars.
Governance & Policy Research
Undertake research on governance and public policy matters and recommend interventions.
Short Courses
Offer and conduct short courses in public management within the public service and the public sector.
Institutional Linkages
Link with other institutes to expand the reach and impact of public management short courses.
ORTIGPS mandate and strategic areas
Academic Offerings

Our Programmes

MPM
Master of Public Management
Advanced knowledge in governance, public administration and policy implementation.
MMM
Master of Municipal Management
Specialist focus on local government, municipal administration and service delivery.
MDM
Master of Development Management
Development policy, planning and management of programmes in the public and non-profit sectors.
PhD
PhD in Public Management
Doctoral research advancing scholarly excellence in public management and governance.
Short Courses in Public Management
Tailored for the public service and public sector, linked with other institutes for broader reach.
ORTIGPS programmes
Our Team

Institute Leadership

N
Prof Nghamula Nkuna
Academic Staff
Nghamula.nkuna@univen.ac.za
L
Dr Lufuno Kone
Academic Staff
Lufuno.kone@univen.ac.za
Collaboration

Partnerships & Stakeholders

Through partnerships with government, regional bodies and donor agencies, the ORTIGPS hosts policy dialogues, publishes policy briefs and trains leaders to champion ethical and transformative governance.

Government Bodies
National and provincial departments collaborating on policy research.
Regional Bodies
African Union, SADC and regional governance institutions.
Donor Agencies
International donors funding applied research and capacity building.
Academic Institutions
Partner universities for collaborative governance research.
Civic Organisations
Civil society co-producing knowledge for inclusive governance.
Traditional Authorities
Traditional leaders engaged in governance and development.
ORTIGPS partnerships
Strategic Alignment

Aligned With Continental & National Priorities

UNIVEN Vision 2040
Leading in engaged scholarship
National Development Plan 2030
Strong institutions & quality education
African Union Agenda 2063
The Africa We Want
SDG 16
Peace, justice and strong institutions
Get in Touch

Enquire About Our Programmes & Short Courses

Contact us to learn more about the MPM, MMM, MDM and PhD programmes, short courses, or research collaboration opportunities.

Prof Nghamula Nkuna
Nghamula.nkuna@univen.ac.za
Dr Lufuno Kone
Lufuno.kone@univen.ac.za
Quick Links
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