In-Service Training of Local Servants in Croatian Local Self-Government: between old Habits and new Ideas

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to research methods of in-service training of local servants in Croatian local self-government. The research conducted in the paper aims to contribute to scientific literature given that this area is relatively poorly researched and to determine to what extent the in-service training model is in accordance with the strategic model of human potentials development. To determine this, a legal analysis, an assessment of available documents on training programs and reports on local budgets in Croatian cities is being carried out. To examine more deeply the trends in the training of local servants and to answer the paper research question, a questionnaire was sent to Croatian cities. It is concluded that the importance of local servants training, which the scientific and professional literature strongly emphasizes, has not yet been recognized in Croatia as the legal framework does not emphasize the importance of training nor encourage its modernization, while at the same time very little funds for training are allocated from local budgets. The analysis of the questionnaire shows that the new trends in the training of local servants are very poorly represented and that ultimately the traditional (administrative) model of human potentials management still prevails in Croatian local and regional self-government.