EGPA and the Department of Administration and Organisation Theory of the University of Bergen would like to thank you for atttending the  2012 EGPA Conference which was held in Bergen (Norway) from 5-8 September 2012,  preceded by a PhD Seminar on 3-4 September 2012.

The Department of Administration published a wrap-up article about the Conference:

https://www.uib.no/admorg/nyheter/2012/09/the-34th-egpa-annual-conference

We hope you had a fruitfull experience and that you will join us next year!

The second day of the PhD Symposum is usually the busiest. This year was no different! Our participants gathered early at the Unibersity’s student centre to attend the first plenary session of day. Prof Dr Harald Saetren from the University of Bergen, provided our PhD students with a lecture on the theme  “The Critical/Crucial Case Method: What, Why, How?“. He defined what is a case, what is a case study and what is a crucial case. He introduced two views on case studies and theory building. Prof. Saetren also presented the crucial case research design as highly deductive. Further to the theoretical introduction, he presented an example from his own research and pointed out some examples of crucial case studies. He also explained why are crucial case studies rare. A discussion followed on what is the purpose of a crucial case study. Food for thoughts before heading back to the Department of Public Administration and Organisation Theory and break out into the three tracks.

The rest of the day was devoted to the track themes and at the end of the PhD Symposium, James Perry, University of Bloomington and Editor-in-chief of the Public Administration Review introduced the publication strategy. Something of crucial importance in a doctoral student’s career.

He underlined three important elements:

The first one is quality work. Under this item, he pointed out the importance to define the research question, the fact to situate it in the theory trends, the importance of the need to know what exists, what is new and the description of the method of research

Prof. Perry stressed the importance of social networking, of creating a network to get you visible in writing quality paper.

And finally, he made the difference between the elephant strategy vs the rhino strategy, meaning that it is more significant to have a focused strategy (rhino) rather than a dumping strategy (elephant) as far as trying to be publicated goes.

He also underlined the fact that the author will have to demonstrate the added value of the research to convince editors.

A discussion followed on the relation between the author and the reviewers. One of the discussant questioned him about the dilemma between rigour and relevance and another question was asked about the impact factor of the journals.

The discussion could have gone on and on but it was already time to close the symposium… The large majority of the participants will stay on and attend the main conference but in the mean time, certificates in hands, EGPA wishes them the best and hope to read them soon… why not on the International Review of Administrative Sciences?

Since 2006, it’s become a tradition for the European Group for Public Administration: the two days devoted to PhD students and young researchers is the introduction to EGPA. Not only to the Conference but also to the world of EGPA itself!  The symposium is designed to support young researchers in the field of Public Administration and Public Management to improve their research skills, to learn from colleagues and to enhance their opportunities for an academic career. Under the guidance of the co-chairs, 26 carefully selected doctoral students will have the chance to benefit from the experience of seasoned specialists but also confront points-of-views and experience between peers.

After the welcome words from Prof Per Lægreid, chair of the Local Organising Committee and Prof. Harald Saetren, both Professor at EGPA’s host institution, the Department of Administration and Organization Theory at the University of Bergen, it was two of the co-chairs’ turn, Christoph Reichard (University of Potsdam) and Prof. Ivar Bleiklie (University of Bergen) to address the students about the format of the symposium and the work to be done for the following day and a half. They were soon joined by the third co-chair, Eckhard Schroeter (Zeppelin University Berlin) who is substiting for Prof. Paola Mattei (University of Oxford).

After a presentation of Bergen University’s PhD Programme and its specificities by Gigliola Mathisen Nyhagen, the group was split into three different tracks with three different focus to start their works. And seeing how the first coffee break rolled out, it’s obvious that these young(er) minds have a lot to say and share!

Only a few days left before the opening of the EGPA Annual Conference! The EGPA/IIAS Secretariat in Brussels and the Local Organising Committee at the Department of Administration & Organisation Theory of the University of Bergen are working hard to finetune the last details of this important event.

We have published the general Conference programme, the PhD Symposium Programme and schedules for each study groups. You can also access all the papers from the Conference  here.

What’s more, to enhance the proximity to its participants, EGPA/IIAS has developed a smartphone application specifically for the conference: practical information, schedules, news … you will not miss anything of this events! The mobile version of the application can be viewed from any smartphone by following this link: http://egpa2012.mobapp.at.

Android smartphones or tablets owners can download the application directly from the Google Play Store.

See you soon in Bergen!

The President of EGPA has the pleasure to inform you that the  2012 EGPA Conference will be held in Bergen (Norway) from 5-8 September 2012 and will be preceded by a PhD Seminar on 3-4 September 2012.

The Conference is organised in collaboration with the Department of Administration and Organisation Theory of the University of Bergen.

As EGPA President, I am very satisfied to be able to organise the EGPA Conference in a Nordic Country and to alternate the place of our annual meeting from Western Europe (Toulouse 2010) to Eastern Europe (Bucharest 2011) and from South Europe (Madrid 2008) to North Europe (Bergen 2012). EGPA is the platform for Public Administration elsewhere in Europe and over the borders. EGPA organises dialogues with its partners: TAD, TED, MED and EGPA always provides, at the European level, an opportunity for all the academics and the practitioners to discuss issues with their respective points of view and their administrative cultures.

During this Conference, the sessions will be organised around the various themes of the different permanent study groups. We will continue the current discussion about: Public Administration and Reforms in times of crisis. We will take the lessons of the recent measures taken by the European Countries for facing the new challenges and the main problems.

Young PhD Students and Researchers will also have the opportunity to debate on the key elements of their research and will participate to the Symposium prior to the Conference.

On behalf of the EGPA, I would like to stimulate your participation and I wish you a very fruitful conference. I hope you find many opportunities for exchanging your ideas and for promoting new projects in the spirit of our community. I am convinced you will enjoy the 34^th EGPA Conference and the famous Bryggen waterfront, the “gateway to the Norwegian Fjords”.

Have a good and stimulating Conference!

Prof. Dr. Wim van de Donk

EGPA President

Welcome to Bergen for the 34^th Annual Conference of the European Group for Public Administration. Bergen is an international city with history and tradition, a city packed with charm and atmosphere. Bergen has given a warm welcome to its visitors for more than 900 years. Bryggen has become a symbol of our cultural heritage. The old Hanseatic wharf is architecturally unique and is perhaps one of the most familiar images in all of Norway.

Bergen is also “The Gateway to the Fjords of Norway”. It is surrounded by one of the world’s most spectacular tourist attractions – The Norwegian Fjords. Bergen is situated between the longest fjord Sognefjord north of Bergen and the beautiful Hardangerfjord in the south. Both Bryggen and the fjords have been included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List

Bergen is the second biggest city and also one of the largest academic centres of Norway. The University of Bergen was founded in 1946 and today serves more than 14,500 students. The Faculty of Social Sciences has around 2600 students and 7 departments representing a wide range of research interests.  The Department of Administration and Organization Theory conducts comparative analysis of public administration, organization and politics and is the main host of this conference. Social science in Bergen ranks among the most recognized faculties in Norway and has also a strong international standing. This is the main reason why Bergen is hosting the first EGPA conference ever in Norway.

It is a pleasure for me as Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee for the EGPA Conference, to invite you all to stimulating academic discussions as well as to warm hospitality and wonderful venues for post-conference tours.

Prof. Dr. Per Lægreid

Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee