The Hertie School's Executive Education (Berlin), the LUISS School of Government (Rome) and the International School for Government at King's College (London), offer an intensive learning experience for public policy and management executives in three European capital cities.

Initiated and supported by leading personalities of administration and academia, this programme offers a deep understanding of policy and management processes in each capital. Comprising of three 3-day modules in Rome, Berlin and London, the programme contributes to building a network among participants heading for future leadership positions.
 

Please apply though our application portal: www.application.hertie-school.org

After registering, please select "Executive Programmes" in the drop down menu and then “European Capitals” and upload the following documents:

  • Your CV (PDF format);

  • A motivation letter (PDF format, max. one page);
  • For scholarship applicants only: Please provide a link to a two-minute video explaining who you are and why you are the ideal candidate to be selected.

Public executives gain insights for strengthening European cooperation in the CAPITALS programme

Yet another edition of the European Capitals programme connected 24 executives from Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium, France, Czech Republic, Austria, Georgia, Ukraine and Montenegro.

Learn more!

Outline

The future of the European project seems uncertain due to conflicting roles played by national governments, the European Union and other transnational bodies. All scenarios, however, have one important feature in common: the increasing interconnectedness of national administrations, both directly across member states and indirectly through numerous transnational institutions, agencies and organisations all over Europe.

Curiously, it is this very aspect of European integration that is often overlooked by existing executive education programmes in public management and public policy: the growing extent and intensity of cross-border ties between national administrations and branches of government in several member states. National administrations need a better understanding of how to move forward within the European multi‐level governance architecture. This requires sensitivity towards the models and cultures of different national public administrations in Europe.

If the European project is to grow horizontally rather than hierarchically in terms of governance, public administrations and agencies, member states will increasingly be called upon to create effective cross-border ties at policy and operational levels.

In response to this need, the European CAPITALS programme will provide:

  • An insider’s view on the operations of government in Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom and other European countries,
  • Analyses of current policy issues relevant to governments across Europe,
  • First‐hand insights as well as training and peer‐learning opportunities with regard to best practices in leadership and management in European administrations.
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Idea

The Hertie School (Berlin), LUISS (Rome) and King’s College (London), aim to educate a new generation of policy-makers and public managers by offering a European public policy and management programme called European CAPITALS. This programme is intended for executives and high potentials who aspire to become effective, outward-oriented and visionary leaders. It is designed to help them learn from other countries’ policy and management experience and to address the main challenges they are facing.

Despite their long-standing participation in the EU and the fact that all are parliamentary democracies, Germany, Italy, France and other European countries display strong differences as far as the functioning of government is concerned. Coordination at the European level is limited to a thin layer of internationalised civil servants whereas the bulk of government bodies remain immersed in their national legal, institutional and intellectual contexts.

This is more of a concern today, as policy preparation and coordination within the EU has become more intergovernmental. National governments can no longer limit themselves to being knowledgeable on the way “Brussels” and the EU institutions work. They cannot rely solely on initiatives from the EU. Especially in case of the Brexit, the situation is very complex and a profound understanding of specifically “British” ways in public policy and administration is becoming more and more crucial.

Current and future leaders need first-hand experience of how other countries work and modernise. Government executives need to be prepared for dealing with their counterparts in Berlin, Rome, London, Paris and other European states.

The programme contributes to building a pan-European network of future leaders by:

  • Sharing the best public management practices and providing evidence-based policy reforms from the participating countries;  
  • Focusing on current policy issues and the emerging challenges all public and private organisations face;
  • Building on participants' skills to turn the programme into a cross-country management and policy lab.
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Programme design

The three country modules to be held in Rome, Berlin and London, will offer practical insights and a state-of-the-art curriculum , including:

  • Expertise: high quality seminars by academics employing various interactive learning formats,
  • Dialogue: meetings with leading experts from government, business, and civil society,
  • Insights: visits to relevant institutions to gain first-hand insights into their inner workings,
  • Public Events: invitation to take part in public discourses and engage with distinguished speakers,
  • Peer-learning: participants are co-producers of knowledge, co-designers of the process, and co-creators of the outcome.

Given the high degree of interaction among the group, each module will also provide room for discussion, group work and reflections. All modules will include seminars by academic experts, dialogue sessions with leading practitioners, visits to relevant institutions, networking and group building activities.

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Participants

European Capitals is an executive programme that contributes to building a network among participants bound for future leadership positions. The programme is designed for:

  • National civil servants and other government officials who aspire to DG level positions,
  • Civil servants from European institutions and international organisations,
  • Senior diplomats and civil servants from EU member states as well as from other countries, preferably from Eastern partnership countries,
  • Executives from private organisations, business associations, and NGOs.
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Schedule

The next edition of the European CAPITALS programme will take place in Rome, Berlin and London throughout 2024.

Rome Module: 17 - 19 April 2024

Berlin Module: 05 - 07 June 2024

London Module: 11 - 13 September 2024

The European CAPITALS programme is an intensive learning experience, combining 3-day modules taught in Rome, Berlin and London by eminent figures from academia, government, public and private organisations. It relies on participants' active involvement and builds on the wealth of their skills and experience. 

Please note: This programme is offered on an annual basis. In case you cannot participate in one of the modules, you will be able to complete the programme the following year.

Applications for CAPITALS 2024 has closed. 

Course Fee

€ 7,100 (excluding travel arrangements).

A limited number of scholarships is available.

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