2006:53 R

Evaluation of the subject of public administration at Göteborg University

Two options are offered in the subject: public administration with a political focus and public administration specialising in finance. The programmes offered at the School of Public Administration are strongly grounded in the local authority and regional sector, especially in the basic course units and the continuation and advanced units that specialise in finance. The qualification is marketed however as more generally focused than in fact it is, which is a problem. The panel of assessors claims that while the programme has a local authority and regional profile it could easily include more state and international administration, EU administration in particular, than it does today.

The impression of the panel of assessors is that the subject attains a high standard in the undergraduate programmes. The qualifications of the staff and their links with research are above all impressive, with 17 teachers with PhD´s on full-time appointments who, to varying extents, participate in the programme.

The teaching offered is good and varied and there is sound cooperation between the various elements in the programme. Good teaching of methodology is offered, for instance, both qualitative and quantitative. An additional strength in the programme is the scope for placements and the well developed network for study placements. These help to ensure that most of those graduating from the programme find relevant positions in the areas in which they qualify.

Increased internationalisation in the programme is needed with regard to the reading lists, the empirical cases used in the teaching, the number or incoming and outgoing students, as well as the working languages, for instance in written papers.

The School of Public Administration has 23 postgraduate students. An improved introduction to postgraduate study could enable the programme to start more quickly. The supervisors available in postgraduate programmes consist of four professors and two research fellows. The postgraduate students have no difficulty in establishing contacts with the supervisors and are offered sound possibilities of discussing drafts at seminars. However, the various seminars should be integrated more effectively as there is, for instance, a risk that postgraduate studies will concentrate too much around the four professors who offer supervision. What is particularly positive is that the postgraduate students have assistant supervisors from another university.

The fact that postgraduate students do not acquire knowledge of both quantitative and qualitative methodologies as a matter of course during their studies is problematical. A PhD who does not know enough about statistics may find it difficult to keep up to date with developments in the area. The postgraduate students should be offered greater possibilities of participating in undergraduate programmes, where they could help to supplement these programmes with more seminars.

More theses should be written in English to provide postgraduate students with training in meeting international audiences and the possibility of establishing international careers.