Panel on Quality Improvement of PA programmes in Caucasus Region based on European Standards

The Panel on Quality Improvement of PA programmes in the Caucasus Region, based on European Standards, was jointly organised by NISPAcee and Caucasus University during the 23rd NISPAcee Annual Conference in Tbilisi, Georgia on May 22, 2015. It was organised in the framework of the project "Capacity Building of Caucasus Academic PA Programmes on the basis of EU Administrative Principles", supported by the International Visegrad Fund.

All participants of the NISPAcee Annual conference were invited to join the panel. However, its focus was mainly on participants from universities in the Caucasus countries who would like to improve their PA programmes.

The Panel was opened by Ferenc Jari, Ambassador and Coordinator for Eastern Partnership, International Visegrad Fund. He informed participants about the Fund and also about the actual funding possibilities for the Caucasus region.

The Panel was chaired by Elena Zakova from NISPAcee and project expert Gyorgy Gajduschek from Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary. They informed participants about the project itself and Evaluation of the Caucasus PA Programmes and Recommendations for Improvements based on European Standards.

In this connection, Taco Brandsen from EAPAA (EAPAA - European Association for Public Administration Accreditation) and Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands, provided information about the EAPAA Accreditation Procedure and Requirements.

Georgian project experts from Caucasus University, Nino Kakubava and Sergi Kapanadze presented information regarding the situation of Public Administration Education in Georgia andChallenges for Caucasus PA Programmes, especially for Caucasus University.

After the Panel and also during the entire conference, possibilities were offered for individual consultations with project and EAPAA experts on curricula development for Caucasus PA programmes.