Creating a New Curriculum to Prepare Public Administrators to Effectively Manage Public Works Programs

Abstract

Public infrastructure is the foundation of modern civilization, and may be the most significant factor in the quality of life for developed and developing nations everywhere. The debate about how to prepare professionals to meet the challenge of adequately managing the public infrastructure has existed at least since the earliest infrastructure was built by the Romans. Over the past 50 years, the public works profession has unsuccessfully attempted to create a system of formal educational programs in colleges and universities across the United States. In recent Public Works Management& Policy issues, Little and others have made compelling arguments for renewing efforts to create an educational curriculum that can provide public administrators and engineers with the skills to protect the public’s investment in public infrastructure. The messages from Gordon, Little, and Grigg should be a wake-up call to both the profession and to educational institutions concerning this unmet need.

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References

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