Public Economy and Administration

The aim of the study is a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the functioning of the public sector with emphasis on its specific role related to the importance of modern public administration in a market economy. The scope of knowledge is designed to provide students with a theoretically and practically applicable overview of economic, legal and social contexts in the context of public administration. The Public Economics and Administration study programme aims to provide students of the programme with specific multidisciplinary preparation for the performance of professional and managerial activities of an economic and administrative nature in the public and non-profit sectors. The compulsory part of the study includes basic disciplines such as advanced microeconomics and macroeconomics, public economics, mathematics in economics and statistical data processing, economic policy theory, public finance theory, followed by a group of programme-oriented areas within public administration theory, social policy theory, European Union law, municipal and regional management and economics of public sector industries. The curriculum and the individual courses are designed to deepen students' abilities to acquire and sort relevant data and then analyse it with appropriate quantitative or econometric tools, which is essential for conceptual, planning and management work in public administration. During their studies, students are also encouraged to think critically and strengthen their ability to argue when presenting the results of their work. The frequent inclusion of practitioners in the teaching of profiling subjects contributes significantly to the correct understanding of the issues. An important aim of the study is also to encourage the interest of talented students in scientific research activities and to motivate them to start doctoral studies.

After successfully completing his/her studies the graduate is able to:

• define and describe the principles of the public sector in a broader economic and legal context;
• be familiar with information of an interdisciplinary nature needed to operate at different levels of management in the public sector;
• apply theoretical foundations by classifying and selecting knowledge, evaluating it and interpreting it accordingly;
• understand the content of contemporary professional texts in public economics, public administration and public finance;
• obtain and process relevant information in solving tasks and problems, using modern information and communication technologies;
• apply the tools of advanced economic analysis in public sector settings;
• independently formulate adequate conclusions and recommendations when making decisions in the public sector while respecting relevant legislative and ethical standards;
• clearly present the results of own or team work using modern technological applications;
• apply the acquired theoretical and practical knowledge and skills necessary for working in the management of public administration organisations;
• independently further develop their professional knowledge and skills, reflect developments in the field of public administration and keep in touch with the latest knowledge and development trends in this area.

Graduates of the follow-up Master's degree programme in Public Economics and Administration have a high-quality and professionally balanced knowledge and skills base that will enable them to successfully find work in public sector institutions, especially in public administration institutions, i.e. in ministries, state and local government offices or non-profit organisations. They can also find employment in EU institutions, consultancy related to the functioning of public administration or in the tertiary sector in general. Graduates of the programme are educated professionals with economic and other relevant expertise that will enable them to work in middle or senior management positions at all levels in the public administration and beyond (e.g. multinational bodies or non-profit organisations). The content of the programme predisposes the graduate to work in operational functions in mid- and senior-level management positions, with the corresponding responsibilities arising from the decisions taken in bodies responsible for public policy-making and for the promotion and implementation of local and regional development. With the emphasis on the international aspect of the studies and the ability to actively use professional English, the graduate is not limited to the domestic labour market.