The annual meeting of the Directors of Institutes and Schools of Public Administration (DISPA) took place in Paris from 19 to 20 May 2022. The conference is always hosted by the country holding the rotating EU presidency. This time the host was the French National Institute of Public Administration (INSP), where Bernadett Antal, head of the International Office, represented the University of Public Service.
The conference was opened by Maryvonne Le Brignonen, Director of INSP. The INSP is the successor of the National School of Administration (ENA), founded in 1945 by Charles de Gaulle. In her greeting, the Director outlined the key elements of the institutional restructuring.
The conference's main topic was the contribution of behavioural sciences and psychology to the training and selection of civil servants. A panel discussion followed the opening speech. The panellists expressed their views on how the introduction of behavioural sciences into policymaking opened up new prospects for transforming people's actions and represented a challenge for the training of civil servants.
In the afternoon, the participants could discuss their experience with the use of behavioural science in European countries or in schools dealing with public servants training.
Another panel discussion followed the group workshops. The panellists analysed what role psychology, specifically psychological assessment, should play in selecting civil servants.
The first day ended with a plenary discussion, which exposed helpful information on the use of personality assessment in recruitment processes.
The second day of the conference started with a wrap-up plenary session. The audience could get a recap of the discussions and main takings from the workshops and the plenary discussion. Later the speakers presented how crucial the public administration schools are for international cooperation.
The conference ended with introducing the next DISPA meeting host, the upcoming EU President, the Czech Republic.
The participation of the UPS at the DISPA meeting has established new relations, and will undoubtedly lead to mutually fruitful collaborations. We look forward!