ESTABLISHMENT

The Institute of Public Administration (IPA) is established according to art.35, para. 3 of the Civil Servant’s Act (adopted in 2000). The organizational structure of its activities is adopted by regulation ¹ 82 in 2000. By its statute IPA is an executive agency under the supervision of the Minister of State Administration. For its institutional strengthening IPA was supported by Phare Project BG 9901-01. IPA has been providing a training of the public administration since 2001.

 

The mission of the institute is to provide training of civil servants from the administration, so as to contribute to the building up of a modern administrative system in the country.

In its activities IPA is pursues the following strategic objectives:

  to become a leading institution in the training of civil servants
  to turn training into an instrument for professional development and career of the employees from the public administration
  to prepare the administrative servants for working in an EU membership circumstances
  to contribute to the strengthening of the European values and principles of the good administrative activities, including the spreading of good practices
  to prepare the administrative servants for working in an E-government circumstances

The overall activities of IPA are in conformity with Strategy of Training of the Public Servants (adopted with resolution ¹ 85 of the Council of Ministers from February 14th 2002). The strategy evaluated the needs of new knowledge, determined the training priorities and proposed an institutional mechanism for its development. Therefore, the strategy can be considered as a Mid Term Program for enhancement of the public servant’s professionalism and for consolidation of the administrative capacity of the country for membership in the EU.

In the design of the training courses and seminars, IPA is guided by the annual analyses of the training needs of the civil servants, as well as by the strategic document of the government for development of the administration. Among them, a particular significance is given to the Strategy and plan for modernization of the state administration 2003-2006; The Strategy for utilization of the structural funds of the EU; the Concept of administrative service delivery based on the principle of “one stop shop”; the Concept and Program for financial decentralization, the strategy for building of and E-government.

IPA’s activities are regulated by a Statute and Internal Ruled and Regulations. An executive director leads the institute. The total staff of the institute is 24 people, divided into two directorates.
The “Training Programs” directorate consists of 18 employees, 10 of whom are training managers. They manage the overall training process: analysis of the training needs; development of study programs for seminars and courses; maintenance of close relations with the lecturers of the institute; manage the conduction of the training itself; evaluate the results of the training and study the experience of the other European institutes and good practices. The institute does not have permanently appointed teaching staff which allows a flexible approach to the selection of lecturers the achievement of higher effectiveness in the training process. Senior government officials, academic teachers and specialists from non-governmental organizations are attracted as lecturers in the Institute.
The “Administration Law, Financial and Economic Service” directorate maintains the overall functioning of the Institute. Eight experts are employed in it.

In accordance with the terms of the Strategy for Training, the administrative staff passes through training for career and professional development.

Training for Career Development

The training for career development pursues the formation of common administrative and leadership knowledge, needed for the effective performance of the public service. In accordance with the Strategy for Training of the public servants, IPA has developed the following training courses and seminars:
 Introduction to Civil Servicing – 3,5-day course for newcomers;
 Integration of Bulgaria to the EU – 2-day seminar for the experts from the central and the territorial administration;
 Contemporary Management Skills – 4-day course for employees, appointed for the first time at a managerial position;
 Counteraction to the Corruption in the State Administration – 2-day seminar for specific groups of managers and experts in the administration;
 The New Bulgarian Administration – Guarantee for the State System” – 2-day seminar for all experts in the administration, also available on-line (through the IPA website)

The compulsory training is centrally financed by the state budget via a special fund.

Training for Professional Development and Career

IPA offers a series of specialized courses, seminars and discussion forums in the following thematic programs:
 legal aspects of the administrative activity
 effective and efficient administration
 management of the administration
 administrative capacity for regional and local development
 preparation for membership in the EU
 assimilation of EU resources
 European experience
 information technologies and decisions (E-administration)
  foreign language training

The successful graduates of the IPA courses with minimal duration of 28 training hours receive a certificate. For participation in professional development courses and seminars are required a tuition fees, which are indicated in the catalogue of the Institute.

Annual Conferences and Meetings

IPA organizes national and international conferences addressing the most important subjects related to the functioning of the public administration. For some professional groups in the administration, traditional annual meetings are organized.

Tailor-made Training

IPA offers short-term tailor-made training. Knowledge and skills to specific groups from a given administration concerning new laws, regulations and other issues connected to the reforms in the administration are disseminated through this tailor-made training.

Awards for Achievements in Civil Services Development

In comformity with a recommendation of the Council for Modernization of the State Administration, in 2004 IPA conducted the first competitions for good practices in the following fields: provision of administrative services to the citizens, human recourses management, availability of on-line services to the citizens and the business, PR activities. Those interested in the awards granted and the conditions for participation can consult the IPA’s website. The best practices are presented and discussed in specialized courses and seminars.