A comparison of administrative science education in the D-A-CH region

Research duration: 01.03.2024 - 31.03.2025

Higher education for public administration in the D-A-CH region 

Administrative sciences, public administration, public management, public governance,... - in German-speaking countries, there are many names for a still young academic discipline that deals with administration, the public sector in general and the public service in particular. This discipline examines the structures, processes and interactions within public administration and its relationship to politics. 

In its early form, in the 18th and 19th centuries, administrative science was primarily concerned with public order and security as well as the regulation of social life through state intervention and was mainly legal in nature. Until the late 20th century, there was no reflective debate on administration; the focus was on legal norms, the legality of administration and the rule of law. Although this legal perspective provided a solid foundation, it often ignored other aspects, such as the social, economic and political dimensions of administration. It was only in recent decades that administrative science began to establish itself as an independent academic discipline. This development was accompanied by an interdisciplinary approach and the integration of theories from the social sciences, political science, economics and organizational studies. In particular, the introduction and spread of concepts such as New Public Management (NPM) and governance theories have helped to broaden the perspective of administrative science. NPM, with its focus on efficiency, performance orientation and market mechanisms, has strongly influenced the discussion on public administration and led to a paradigm shift in administrative practice. 

In the same way as administrative sciences changed, administrative science education has also moved away from its narrow focus on law and has become increasingly independent and interdisciplinary since the 2000s. This development can be observed throughout the D-A-CH region, but despite this similarity there are many differences, such as the disciplinary focus and the (service law) links with the civil service. 

The aim of this project is to draw up a systematic comparison of higher education administrative training in the D-A-CH region using the example of the Hessian University of Applied Sciences for Public Management and Security, FH Campus Wien and the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts in order to make similarities and differences visible. This should contribute to reflecting on the status quo, drawing attention to development potential and discussing existing training practice through international and interdisciplinary exchange.