Experience of launching the Doctor of Public Administration programs in Russia

Abstract

The article discusses the prerequisites, approaches to the creation as well as the experience of starting the implementation of Doctor of Public Administration programs in Russia. First of all, it is noted that MPA level programs first began to be implemented in Russia at the Institute of Public Administration and Civil Service of the RANEPA more than ten years ago. Currently, among professional officials a request for Doctor of Public Administration (DPA) top-level training programs has arisen. When developing a new DPA-level educational program for Russia, it was necessary first of all to establish the requirements and criteria for the selection of candidates. Key parameters at the same time were the level and administrative orientation of the education of applicants, mandatory work experience in senior positions. The knowledge of the applicants is checked by comprehensive entrance tests, which include testing of understanding the system and mechanisms of public administration, a practical task to check the knowledge of a foreign language, as well as interviewing and evaluating of the concept of a socially significant scientific project. The first DPA program in Russia has a modular architecture of the educational process. Each of the 12 modules, which take place every two months with an average frequency, is devoted to various aspects of state and municipal administration. At the same time, practical exercises for the development of soft skills are integrated in each DPA module. The key goal of DPA training is to prepare and defend publicly significant research in the field of state and municipal administration.