Exploring the Bergen School of Administration and Organization Theory

I am applying for a study visit grant at the department of Administration and Organization Theory, Bergen University in the fall of 2013 on top of an ERASMUS scholarship. Due to its Scandinavian perspective, its theoretical advancements and profound resea rch training, the two courses of my choice "Organization and Politics" as well as "Methodology" would build on and substantially nourish the recurrent theme of my studies. This is looking at public administration (e.g. current issues I am interested in su ch as the causes and effects of political demission on state organization and vice versa) from an organization theory and political sciences' perspective. This tradition and school differs from what can be usually found in German programs and the American notion of public policy, but I got a glimpse of it during my undergraduate studies at Zeppelin University and my current graduate studies in Public Policy and Management at Potsdam University. I wish to broaden and strengthen my knowledge on public admin istration from this eye-opening perspective both theoretically and empirically. With a possible voluntary involvement in a joint German-Norwegian research project as a student assistant, the choice of research oriented courses in Bergen as well as my curr ent student research job with a professor from Zeppelin University I intend to seriously look into the possibility of completing a PhD after completion of my master degree. Still, it is utterly important to me to meaningfully relate theory to practical is sues and vice versa. My so far professional experience has granted me with diverse insights into several public organizations, moreover I looked into the management of an organization as well as the policy field of higher education in Germany from a respo nsible position for a year. Comparing these "learnings" with the Norwegian system of higher education, its current challenges and chances, would be a fruitful undertaking, too.