Public Administration Education in Europe: In Need of Convergence and Europeanization?

Abstract

The study of governance and public administration has a long history in the European context. On the European continent there is an ancient concern with the study of public administration. The institutionalisation of Public Administration as an academic field is more recent. As an independent and integrated field of study of its own, Public Administration is a relatively young academic discipline. Elements of what are now interdisciplinary academic programmes in Public Administration have been taught for many years (especially administrative Law). The study of the subjectmatter – government activity, governance, the administrative process, public policies – may be traced back for centuries. Public Administration as an independent, integrated discipline amounting tot full academic degree programmes has become institutionalised and developed only during the last four decades.