J 2022

The low demand for public administration programs in the Czech Republic and Slovakia: What may be behind it?

JAHODA, Robert, Ivan MALÝ, Juraj NEMEC and David ŠPAČEK

Basic information

Original name

The low demand for public administration programs in the Czech Republic and Slovakia: What may be behind it?

Authors

JAHODA, Robert (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Ivan MALÝ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Juraj NEMEC (703 Slovakia, guarantor, belonging to the institution) and David ŠPAČEK (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution)

Edition

Transylvanian Review of Administrative Sciences, ROMANIA, BABES-BOLYAI UNIV, 2022, 1842-2845

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

50602 Public administration

Country of publisher

Romania

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

Impact factor

Impact factor: 1.000

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14560/22:00127364

Organization unit

Faculty of Economics and Administration

UT WoS

000901652700007

Keywords in English

public administration program; demand; enrolled; Czech Republic; Slovakia

Tags

International impact, Reviewed
Změněno: 23/11/2023 11:10, Mgr. Pavlína Kurková

Abstract

V originále

The importance of public administration (PA) education and training is obvious, any effective public administration system needs an influx of a new and well-educated workforce. Compared to the (relatively) better situation in other Central and Eastern European countries, the Czech Republic and Slovakia represent a very specific case – the falling number of students in PA programs threatens the existence of the only programs with international accreditation (those at Masaryk University Brno and Matej Bel University in Banska Bystrica). The aim of this paper was to investigate the reasons why so few students apply and enroll in these EAPAA-accredited programs. Qualitative research is used to achieve this goal. In the opinion of the program chairs and our secondary analysis, there are multiple factors behind the very low level of demand which critically threatens the existence of the best master’s programs in the countries studied. A very specific issue that appears to be unique for both countries is free public university education with unregulated demand. Such an environment, combined with the performance-based funding of public universities and other higher education institutions, where the number of students is a decisive factor in the amount of the public grant to the university, generates an oversupply of places offered to secondary school graduates. The role of other potential barriers for the interest to study public administration is catalyzed by the ‘oversupply’ conditions. The questionnaire, the statements of program chairs, and our secondary analysis confirm that there is a role to be played by monitoring other potential barriers – the fact that programs are run in economics faculties, limited trust in politicians, government and public administration, the system of access to the civil service and salary levels in the public sector.

Links

LX22NPO5101, research and development project
Name: Národní institut pro výzkum socioekonomických dopadů nemocí a systémových rizik (Acronym: SYRI)
Investor: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the CR, 5.1 EXCELES

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