It is a great honour to welcome the 2019 Annual Conference of Europe’s leading forum for the study of public administration and policy to Queen’s University Belfast in 2019. Regular participants in EGPA Conferences will be familiar with the intellectual stimulation, collegiality, dynamism and sheer enjoyment that is their hallmark. These are themes my colleagues and I on the Local Organising Committee are keen to maintain in this year’s gathering In proposing Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) as a venue to host the Conference to the EGPA Steering Committee, we were keen to emphasise the importance of the EGPA community engaging with more peripheral parts of Europe. Equally, it is important to profile our discipline in universities where public administration is an emerging rather than established field of academic inquiry. Indeed our Local Organising Committee reflects the diversity of disciplines and perspectives contributing to the study of public administration at QUB, with members coming from the Schools of Law, Management, and History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics.

The theme of this year’s conference – Public Administration across Borders – is inspired by global developments as much as European ones. We live in a time of re-bordering and border shifting, both virtual and real, and public administration research has an important role to play in how we understand and shape this transnational development. EGPA comes to Belfast at a time of particular significance for European borders in the context of Brexit, with Northern Ireland finding itself at the centre of debates about the future of UK-EU relationships. Northern Ireland is itself a polity of significance for scholars of public administration, with its unique system of devolved and consociational governance presenting distinctive challenges for the local bureaucracy. Its local governing arrangements are part of a broader set of institutions providing for cross-border North-South relationships between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and East-West relationships between the islands of Britain and Ireland. Belfast is an exciting, vibrant and inexpensive city that has been completely transformed over the twenty years since the signing of the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement in 1998 that brought about these new governing arrangements. To ensure delegates experience the best of the city during their visit, we are pleased to incorporate two iconic venues into the programme – the beautiful Belfast City Hall and the world famous Titanic Visitor Centre. And there is an awful lot more to see and do when you are here!

So, once again, we are delighted to host this year’s EGPA Annual Conference and to provide the forum and opportunity for scholars from across Europe and the globe to share ideas, develop new partnerships, build our PA research community and of course enjoy each other’s company. We very much look forward to welcoming you to Belfast next September! Prof. Muiris MacCarthaigh, Queen’s University Belfast Local Organising Committee of EGPA 2019

Queen's University Belfast is one of the leading universities in the UK and Ireland with a distinguished heritage and history. Founded in 1845 as Queen's College Belfast, it became an independent university in 1908. Today, it is ranked in the top 200 universities in the world (QS World Rankings 2019), and a member of the Russell Group of UK research intensive universities, combining excellence in research and education with a student-centred ethos. As the UK's ninth oldest university, Queen's blends its proud heritage with cutting-edge facilities for the best experience of University life.

The European Group for Public Administration (EGPA) is the regional group of the International Institute of Administrative Sciences (IIAS). EGPA provides a major contribution to IIAS 'mission: to develop public administration and public service at European and global level. The EGPA aims to be the European platform for public administration by bringing together academics and practitioners. EGPA contributes to the development of science and research ('PA as Science') in public administration through its 22 Permanent Study Groups and its specialized seminars on relevant contemporary themes. GEAP also contributes to the development of the profession ('art and craft') by providing a unique platform for exchanging best practices that support the work of public administrations and practitioners.

"2019 EGPA Annual Conference" smartphone app provides you with the most comfortable tool for planning your participation in the Annual Conference of European Group for Public Administration 2019.

Browse the complete programme directly from your phone or tablet and create your very own agenda on the fly. The app is available for Android and iOS devices.

To download mobile app, please visit Link or scan the QR code or type 'egpa2019' in Google Play or iTunes App Store."

Visit Belfast is a public-private sector partnership funded and supported by Belfast City Council, Tourism Northern Ireland and the private sector. It is the official tourism marketing agency for the Belfast City Region, dedicated to promoting Belfast as a city break, conference and cruise ship destination.