How Can Technology Advance the Public Administration Discipline in Higher Education?

Abstract

This study investigates the contribution of technology in the public administration discipline by illustrating how and why public administration and technology are connected. A qualitative thematic analysis conducted using a sample of U.S. public affairs schools/colleges sheds light on the main topics of technology-related courses in the United States academia. The findings seem to confirm the positive interest in integrating technology in the public administration discipline. In particular, the top U.S. public affairs/administration colleges provide a variety of technology-related courses. The main topics covered are cybersecurity, big data, and information technology, among others. Nevertheless, the analysis stresses the importance of considering the dark side of technology tools applied to the public sector. Indeed, the critical theoretical review discusses some major concerns regarding accountability, bias decisions, discrimination, and inequality.