Think European – Act Regional

In the context of various uncertain conditions – global economic crisis, pandemic, war, changes in the European Union, etc., regions must find ways to gain a competitive advantage in the context of globalization. However, regional abilities to acquire and preserve competitive advantage depend on human resources – specialists in the region. Specialists, making decisions, formulating public policy, and implementing various activities in public, private, and non-governmental sectors are the biggest resource of regions as they may guarantee the attraction of investments, and the economic and social welfare of regional society. This is why specialists, having knowledge in public policy, public administration, and regional economics are needed for various governmental and public institutions as well as regional development agencies.

The Master’s degree joint study programme “Regional Development and Governance” is designed to train highly qualified public administration specialists-experts and analysts who are able to integrate fundamental knowledge of public governance and regional development, research, and expertise in the preparation and implementation of regional development programmes.

This joint study programme is provided by two universities – Vilnius University Šiauliai Academy (Lithuania) and the University of Pardubice Faculty of Economics and Administration (Czech Republic). After graduation, students are awarded a diploma of these two Universities.

The uniqueness of the programme “Regional Development and Governance” is primarily reflected in the interdisciplinarity as an essential characteristic of the professional field of public administration, characterized by the integration of public administration, management, politics, economics, law, and other study subjects. The programme is distinguished by the coherence of the themes covering regionalism (regional economics, regional policy context analysis, creative application of regional policy analysis methodology in order to improve the system, processes, implement innovations).

Secondly, the programme has a strong international (European) dimension, as working with an international group of teachers develops in-depth knowledge and skills to apply, adapt and develop regional development and governance tools in national (Lithuanian and Czech) and European Union contexts. These tools enable students from various countries to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of EU and other countries’ regional development programmes and projects, strategic resource management of regions and organizations operating in them, innovation, change management, interact with international citizen groups on regional development issues.

Thirdly, the digital and distance learning developed in the programme opens up opportunities for international counselling, and greater cooperation in networks, therefore, students can conduct international comparative research using the latest scientific sources, the latest regional policy sources, i.e. to professionally research, analyse the economic, social, political and legal problems of several countries in the regions, to evaluate and argue their proposed solutions to the selected countries on the issues of regional development and governance.

Concerning the features of change and perspectives in regional development and governance, strategic aims of sustainable development regions, European and world tendencies in the implementation of the new public governance paradigm in public administration, students will be able to:

Professionally investigate, analyse and complexly solve challenges of the EU and states’ regional development and governance, to intellectually, clearly and professionally render theories of regional development and introduce conclusions, to work out and implement programmes on regional development, to suggestively argue recommendations to auditoria of both specialists and non-specialists, to assess results of own and others’ performance, to consult on issues of perfection of performance and implementation of innovations;
Complexly integrate knowledge on regional development and governance when meeting the public interest and making innovative solutions based on democratic values and civic spirit concerning the creation of public welfare of regions and its governance, foreseeing possibilities for application of these solutions in the EU and world context;
Critically and systemically assess regional development processes and regional governance tendencies on local and international levels, foresee governance changes, assess alternative options of solutions and possible social and ethical consequences;
Creatively implement innovations in fields of own professional performance and improve learning skills necessary to continue completely independent studying.

Graduates can work the managerial and administrative work in state and local (municipal) government and public administration institutions, national and international organizations, businesses, regional development and consulting agencies, non-governmental organizations, research centres, where competencies for regional development and management expertise are necessary.

This programme is created for students, who are interested in political sciences, economics, law and management of public sector human resources, who would like to study in the international group in two universities, double their network, experience the link between theory and practice in EU and, the most important, would like to contribute to their regions’ social and economic development.

If you think this challenge is for you, you can apply to the Master’s degree joint study programme “Regional Development and Governance” now. All information about the study programme and application procedure you can find here.

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