Institute of Public Administration

The Institute of Public Administration studies the complex problems facing the public sector in the 21st century, from climate policy to the effects of digitalisation. Its researchers analyse, explain and help come up with solutions to the challenges of society today.

The institute is located in The Hague. This makes it easy for its researchers to come into contact with partners: ministries and international organisations, but also other organisations such as the Association of Municipalities in the Netherlands or water boards. The researchers from the Institute of Public Administration therefore play an important role in decisions that affect many people.

Academic collaboration

The research is conducted within six research groups:

European Governance
International Governance
Public Sector Management
Comparative Public Sector Reform
Digitalization and Public Policy
Public Affairs & Public Policy

The Institute works closely with a few other Leiden faculties. It provides the Economics, Public Administration and Management programme together with the economists from the Faculty of Law, for instance. Here students acquire knowledge in areas such as economics, public management, political science and law, which helps them navigate complex financial-economic issues.

EU policy and international governance

The European Governance group studies the effect of EU policy at different levels. A decision taken by the EU must be converted into national legislation: air quality standards, for instance. The different levels of public administration – from Brussels to the municipality – are involved in implementing such rules. The researchers in the EU Governance group study how this process is given shape.

Organisation of the public sector

The Public Sector Management and Comparative Public Sector Reform groups focus on the organisation of the public sector, such as in municipalities and provinces, but also water boards, hospitals and educational institutions. How do these organisations work? What counts as the public sector? The group has a specific interest in public leadership, leadership within a changing organisation, for example, and how to get the buy-in of the whole organisation.

Digitalisation

Within the Digitalisation and Public Policy group, the researchers want to find out such matters as how digitalisation affects policy and administration, and what opportunities there are for innovation and the improvement of public administration. They look, for instance, at how data is used for policy as well as how data science and artificial intelligence can be used in its implementation.

Interaction with government

The Public Affairs & Public Policy group studies the interaction between government and businesses, organisations and citizen groups. How do get your message across to politicians? How does lobbying work? Their research findings end up with the parties who will make practical use of them, such as the Professional Association for Public Affairs.

The Leiden Leadership Centre in The Hague is a platform for research and teaching in the field of public leadership. It explores new ways to successfully shape public leadership in complex situations, both now and in the future. Interdisciplinary and international, LLC works in partnership with academics and practitioners in the field of public leadership at the point at which theory and practice meet.