Education and training of public professionals. A framework for analyzing differences among European PA/PM programs

Description

Despite global mega-trends and widespread NPM/NPG-inspired administrative reform efforts, the landscape of professional PA/PM-programs in Europe shows a diversified picture: The programs’ features mirror the differences in the various national civil service systems and educational traditions. In our study, we aim to shed light on this national distinctiveness in European countries. We conceptualize the realm of government authorities as a field that is characterized by similarities as well as major differences in the countries under study. By drawing on Bourdieu's concepts of field, capital and habitus, we, i.a., aim to (a) identify what kind of capital (cultural, social, symbolic) participants of professional programs/training currently accumulate in the course of their studies; (b) analyze how these forms of capital prove useful in a certain administrative system ("economy of exchange"); (c) explain if and how the accumulated forms of capital might impact the administrative system and the attuned habitus of (future) top civil servants – thereby ultimately evoking change. Under the umbrella of the conference theme, these insights and ideas might be carried further in order to discuss what forms of capital and habitus currently constitute the capabilities of an administrative system (in contrast to other systems) and if / how they can or should be (re)shaped with respect to outcome targets. In this line of reasoning, an emphasis on the crucial role of top civil servants is essential.

Period	12 Feb 2020 → 13 Feb 2020
Event title	Trans-European Dialog (TED)
Event type	Unknown
Degree of Recognition	International