ABSTRACT
Public Administration, in a broad sense, can be divided into rule of law, rationality, efficiency and efficacy, and political democracy and public ethics. Gradually the requirements were increased regarding the educational background of persons working within public administration as with the further development of the welfare state it became obvious that the municipalities needed more trained officials. Public Administration programmes in Sweden have developed along two lines. Firstly, at the universities there have long been programmes targeted towards employment within the civil service. Secondly, there are those Public Administration programmes directed at local officials. Parts of these programmes gradually merged into one, training students within the general field of Public Administration. The present challenges for Swedish public administration are to be found in the fragmentation of public administration and in the effects of internationalisation, especially since Sweden joined the European Union. There has also been a slight shift from public administration towards public management.
