A comparative analysis of public affairs master’s programs in the United States and the Latin American region

Abstract

ABSTRACTNetwork of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration has been seeking to become a global leader in Public Policy & Administration (PPA) education by sharing knowledge and experiences across its members and other associate programs around the world. The Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region is part of this endeavor and Mexico represents a strategic partner for this network. Comparative studies of PPA higher education are relatively recent but only focus on the supply-side (programs offered by universities) among developed countries. A competency map framework was extended to considering the supply and demand-sides (universities and employers) of the PPA education market. By comparing official information of 301 master’s programs between the United States, LAC region, and Mexico, this study identifies similarities/differences of general characteristics and competencies from the supply side as a first part of an investigation. The results provide insights of PPA higher education between these countries and regions with some practical implications.