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HUNGARIA |
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HUNGARIA |
IN-SERVICE TRAINING AND STAFF DEVELOPMENT
At present, there is no post-entry, pre-service training in Hungary. Existing training activities can be divided into two categories: training for civil servants specified by law and training that is decided and organised by individual ministries, central agencies, and other public administration organisations.
EU-related training forms a focal point in the training of civil servants. This is one of the few points where elements of an overall, public administration system-wide policy can be observed. EU-related training of senior civil servants receives special attention from the cabinet. By and large, the general goal has been achieved: all managers of central governmental organisations, from the level of departments heads up, have participated in at least one five-day course devoted entirely to EU-related topics. These topics include the history, administrative structure and operation of the EU, and the main sectoral policies and fields of legal regulation.
Substantially less systematic efforts and resources have been devoted to the lower levels of the administrative hierarchy. Nevertheless, ministries and central agencies put a relatively strong emphasis on EU-related training. However, this type of training is usually oriented towards EU sectoral law and policies; European and comparative public administration topics rarely form a substantial element of the curricula of these programmes.
Training for civil servants specified by law include two types of examinations: (a) the Basic Public Administration Examination System (BPS); and (b) the Special Public Administration Examination System (SPS). In addition, a new system of planning, financing and organising in-service training for civil servants was established by government decree 199/1998 (XII.4).
1. Basic Public Administration Examination System (BPS)
Every person entering into the civil service is required to pass a basic public administration examination within two years after obtaining employment. Civil servants holding a degree in law, public administration or economics are exempt. Training materials for the exam consists almost entirely of legal regulations concerning the existing Hungarian public administration system (constitutional, procedural, civil service law, etc.). Since regulations are changing quickly at present, the handbook is outdated within a relatively short period of time.
Training for local self-governments and deconcentrated organs is organised by county public administrative offices. The Hungarian Institute of Public Administration (HIPA) organises the exams for central government organs. Taking part in these preparatory courses is not obligatory, but eighty to ninety percent of those taking the exam do attend them.
2. Special Public Administration Examination System (SPS)
The special public administration examination was recently introduced by government decree 35/1998 (II.27). Every civil servant in a managerial position must pass the exam, and others may apply to take the exam on a voluntary basis. In this case, the supervisor must support the civil servant’s application. The civil servant must hold at least a bachelor’s level degree. Those who hold a university degree in law are exempt. The exam consists of two main sections:
- “Public Administration Management,” which only includes classic topics of public management to a minor extent. Instead, it embraces four sub-topics:
- EU organisational structure;
- legal-constitutional set-up of central government organisations;
- public finance and budgeting;
- modernisation of public administration and related executive tasks.
- A specialisation, which each examinee must, in agreement with his/her supervisor, choose from among forty-seven fields. This elective subject is supposed to be related to the individual’s field of employment. These subjects are based entirely on existing legal regulations concerning specific governmental sectors and sub-sectors (legal regulations on the civil service, on forestry/fisheries, on international commerce, on the central government’s budget, etc.).
Operational responsibilities are shared between HIPA and county public administrative offices. HIPA is responsible for the exams and related training for civil servants of the central administration, whereas county public administrative offices provide identical services for local self-governments and deconcentrated organs. Furthermore, HIPA is responsible for preparing exam materials (questions, written exam forms, standards, etc.).
3. Continuing Education for Civil Servants and Training PA Managers
A general planning system of training activities is being introduced in all sectors of the public administration system, both on the level of ministries and national agencies, and on the level of county public administration. Each civil servant is entitled to participate in professional training related to his/her career at least thirty hours every four years. The employer of a civil servant is obliged to ensure the necessary prerequisites for this training. Public managers are required to participate in at least one appropriate training programme every four years.
A key component of this new system is the emphasis put on the assurance of the appropriate quality of the training programmes provided for civil servants and trainers. The Hungarian Institute of Public Administration (HIPA) and a newly established body, the Public Administration Continuing Education Committee, share most operational responsibilities for this quality assurance system.
4. Training by Individual Ministries, Central Agencies, and other PA Organisations
Training provided within the framework of BPS and SPS is quite general. Thus, specialised training must be organised by individual ministries, central agencies, and local governments. Individual ministries and central agencies may require the self-governmental sector to participate in various training activities that belong to their field of responsibility. In addition to this, individual organisations (e.g., a local government) may decide to purchase training services from any corporate or public training service provider.
Civil servants of administrative organisations (usually central government) participate in a variety of (university and lower level) PA programmes offered by institutions of higher education.
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