The crisis of policy education in turbulent times: Are schools of public affairs in danger of becoming irrelevant?

Public policy schools in the global south: a mapping and analysis of the emerging landscape

“…Anheier (2019: 7) argues that the USA remains the birthplace of the policy school as we know it today, as well as the largest host of policy schools in the world. In fact, the first five policy schools were founded in the 1960s and 1970s in the USA, funded by the Ford Foundation (Evans et al 2019). Engelbert (1977: 228-229) describes the progress of the policy sciences in the USA as follows:…”

“…According to Rasmussen and Callan (2016), schools of public policy, among others, converge on practices because of pressures not only from a carrot-like impetus for policy schools to emulate perceived winners, but also increasing stick-like sanctions from national accreditation bodies. While such standardization bodies may be aiming to raise the quality standards of programs, this may also cause emerging schools to "adopt a run with the herd mentality" (Evans et al 2019). Additionally, the tension between having a local versus a global focus and brand may have implications for cross-border alumni mobility.…”

“…There is also opportunity to improve governance outcomes by educating and training future policymakers based on a system-wide perspective and emphasis on tri-sectoral collaboration. According to Evans et al (2019), the realignment of public service education with contemporary politics and policymaking would contribute to the restoration of trust in government.…”

Conclusions and Implications

“…As other scholars argue, (Blace, 2015;Henry, 2005;Pal & Clark, 2016), the government is the biggest employer of public administration graduates, specifically in the areas of budgeting and financial management, public policy, and program evaluation. Furthermore Evans et al (2019) has highlighted that public affairs education schools primarily anticipate and build the immediate and long-term skills needed by students entering public service leadership roles. The new Ethiopian education policy roadmap document also confirms that the higher education curricula are not geared toward the development of employability and other lifelong learning skills among graduates.…”

Public Administration in Ethiopia

“…As other scholars argue, (Blace, 2015;Henry, 2005;Pal & Clark, 2016), the government is the biggest employer of public administration graduates, specifically in the areas of budgeting and financial management, public policy, and program evaluation. Furthermore Evans et al (2019) has highlighted that public affairs education schools primarily anticipate and build the immediate and long-term skills needed by students entering public service leadership roles. The new Ethiopian education policy roadmap document also confirms that the higher education curricula are not geared toward the development of employability and other lifelong learning skills among graduates.…”