The KPM Center for Public Management at the University of Bern is a leading institution for public management and public administration research in Switzerland. Since 2002, it has been addressing key questions related to the organization and governance of public tasks. As an interdisciplinary university institute with around 60 staff members, the KPM Center for Public Management combines academic excellence with societal relevance. It is a joint institute of the Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences and the Faculty of Law.
The KPM Center for Public Management is well connected both nationally and internationally and works closely with partners from public administration, politics, business, and civil society at the intersection of research and practice. It contributes to the University of Bern’s strategic priorities in politics and administration, sustainability, health and medicine, and digital transformation.
Its Key Research Areas include the organization and governance of the public sector, public management, constitutional and administrative law, political decision-making processes, and the relationship between the state and the market. Its international visibility is reflected in numerous publications in leading academic journals as well as top positions in public administration rankings.
The KPM Center for Public Management is also strongly engaged in teaching and continuing education. It offers a Bachelor in Political Science and Public Administration, a Master in Public Management and Policy, and a Master Minor in Administrative Science. At the doctoral level, it offers a Doctorate in the Administrative Sciences.
In addition, the Center provides professional and executive education, including the Executive Master of Public Administration and the CAS course “Management and Politics of Public Institutions”.
Beyond teaching and research, the KPM Center for Public Management provides research-based services for public institutions, including evaluations, expert reports, and applied research with direct relevance for public administration and policymaking.
