Context
The SYNERGIA project was created in response to the growing complexity of managing public administration institutions (PAIs). Recognising the challenges faced by top managers, the Polish National School of Public Administration (Krajowa Szkoła Administracji Publicznej – KSAP) conducted a survey among Directors-General in Poland’s governmental administration. The survey confirmed the need for a programme focused on collaboration and knowledge sharing among PAIs from Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs). This collaborative approach would allow for the development of effective management solutions that consider the specific characteristics of public administration, including financial and organisational limitations. SYNERGIA was implemented within the framework of Poland’s Operational Programme, Knowledge Education Development (Program Operacyjny Wiedza-Edukacja-Rozwój – POWER) 2014–2020.
Objectives
SYNERGIA’s primary goals were to establish a network for cooperation and exchange of information among PAIs in CEECs. This included developing a new training and cooperation programme to improve the competencies of top PA managers, and to support the implementation of these new managerial solutions in practice. The project achieved these goals through the Education and Cooperation Programme (ECP), which offered workshops and training sessions led by international experts. These sessions covered various management topics such as project management, strategic management and human resource management. A core element of the ECP was teamwork, where high-level representatives from PAIs across Poland, Bulgaria, Latvia and Hungary collaborated to develop solutions for real-world management challenges faced by PAIs.
Implementation
The SYNERGIA project was implemented through a transnational partnership led by KSAP and included partner institutions from Bulgaria, Latvia and Hungary. The project operated from 2019 to 2023. A key aspect of the implementation was the steering committee, comprised of representatives from each partner institution and the head of the Civil Service of Poland. The committee provided oversight for the project. Additionally, each partner institution established a project team to manage day-to-day operations and appointed an ECP coordinator to ensure the programme’s content and implementation remained aligned.