The bachelor’s and master’s programs in Public Administration and Public Management at Ghent University successfully renew their international accreditations

Both the European Association for Public Administration Accreditation (EAPAA) and the International Commission on Accreditation of Public Administration Education and Training (ICAPA) have granted both programs renewed recognition for another six years.

European Quality Assurance

Since 1999, EAPAA has supported programs in public administration and public management in improving and monitoring their quality. It is the only quality assurance authority in this field operating across Europe. More than 70 programs, including most of the leading institutes, have received EAPAA accreditation. The accreditation standards are closely aligned with European quality assurance guidelines for higher education, as developed by the European Commission, ENQA, and the Dublin Descriptors.

Global Recognition

ICAPA is part of the International Association of Schools and Institutes of Administration (IASIA). Its accreditation criteria are based on the Standards of Excellence for Public Administration Education and Training, developed under the leadership of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and IASIA. These standards set clear benchmarks for quality in public administration education and training, helping institutions worldwide to prepare students to become agile, technically skilled, and internationally oriented experts.
As the only global accreditation body in this domain, ICAPA not only provides international recognition but also contributes to knowledge development and capacity building. To date, ten institutions worldwide have received ICAPA accreditation.

Visit to Ghent

On 9 and 10 December 2024, representatives from both accreditation bodies visited the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration. They met with lecturers, students, alumni, and staff to gain a comprehensive understanding of the programs.

Strengths of the programs

The EAPAA delegation highlighted the broad, multidisciplinary approach as one of the key strengths of both programs. Students are taught by an experienced and highly qualified teaching team and benefit from strong institutional support. The commitment to educational quality was also positively assessed: courses and classes are continuously evaluated and improved, among other things through student feedback. The active involvement of the Study Program Committee and the Education Quality Assurance Unit contributes significantly to this process.

The bachelor’s internship program was explicitly praised for providing students with valuable practical experience. Lecturers are also well supported through mandatory teaching qualifications, introductory training for new staff, and an HR committee that promotes ongoing professional development. The academic research conducted within the programs was also recognized as internationally competitive.

The ICAPA delegation reached similar conclusions: the bachelor’s and master’s programs are well structured and produce graduates with the knowledge and skills required to become versatile professionals. They are equipped to reform and lead public institutions and are encouraged to think innovatively — fully in line with the programs’ mission. By anchoring education in four core pillars — economics, politics, law, and social sciences — students are thoroughly prepared for their roles in the public sector.

Looking Ahead

An accreditation process also offers an excellent opportunity for a program to reflect on its own performance and identify areas for improvement. From their external perspective, the visiting delegations of international peers provided several valuable recommendations to further strengthen the programs. These included reinforcing multiperspectivism (the ability to analyze issues from multiple viewpoints) at the course level, increasing variation in teaching methods, and actively working toward attracting a more diverse student body.
These recommendations not only provide concrete points for improvement but also serve as inspiration to further develop the programs and make them even more future-oriented.