Program Overview

Comparative Public Administration Program

Description

The Comparative Public Administration program at Universit‡ della Svizzera italiana addresses the structure, dynamics, and impacts of five institutional frameworks on public communication. This is done from an international comparative approach using the Swiss political and administrative system as a base reference. The countries to be discussed have been selected due to their representativeness as well as their overall role as partners of Swiss administrative and political institutions (Canada, China, Germany, India, and Brazil).

Objectives

• Be able to identify the salient characteristics of the Swiss Politico-Administrative System.
• Be able to identify the salient characteristics of the main political systems.
• Understand the various analytical tools used to compare and contrast the historical roots and current trends of politico-administrative systems around the world.

Teaching Methodology

The program features traditional lectures and multimedia exercises. It also includes the presence of external speakers and the active use of audio-visual material to deepen the analysis and understanding of the various administrative and political systems.

Assessment

• Participation: 10%
• TV Series Exercise: 30%
• Final Paper: 60%

Bibliography

• Hassenteufel, Patrick, de Maillard, Jacques. Convergence, transferts et traduction. Presses de Sciences Po, 2013.
• Kuhlmann, Sabine, Wollmann, Hellmut. Introduction to comparative public administration: administrative systems and reforms in Europe. Second edition. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2019.
• Painter, Martin., Peters, B.. Tradition and Public Administration. 1st ed. 2010. London: Palgrave Macmillan UK, 2010.

Program Details

• The program is part of the Master in European Studies in Investor Relations and Financial Communication, and the Master of Arts in Economics and Communication in Public Management and Policy.
• It is offered as a suggested elective course in the 2nd year of the Master in European Studies and as a lecture in the 1st year of the Master of Arts in Economics and Communication.
• The program is taught in English.
• It is worth 6.0 ECTS credits.
• The program is offered during the Autumn semester of the academic year.