Conceptualizing – Explaining – Implementing Good Administration
24–26 February 2027 | Ludwigsburg, Germany | Conference language: English
The Good Administration Congress 2027 brings together researchers, research-oriented practitioners and early-career scholars to explore one of the central questions of contemporary public administration: What constitutes good administration – and how can it be conceptualized, explained and implemented? Public administrations face increasing and often competing expectations, including legality, transparency, efficiency, innovation and resilience. The congress provides an international and interdisciplinary forum to discuss these challenges from the perspectives of law, public administration, public management and the social sciences.
Three Perspectives on Good Administration
The congress combines conceptual, empirical and practice-oriented perspectives on good administration. The three conference days are organised around a common narrative:
- Explaining Public Administration – Where We Stand
How are public administrations evolving? What drives administrative behaviour, and why do reforms succeed or fail? This perspective focuses on administrative decision-making, organisational performance, reform dynamics and governance under changing conditions. - Conceptualizing Good Administration – What We Want to Achieve
Which legal, normative and societal standards define good administration? Discussions address the rule of law, procedural justice, public values, legitimacy and the expectations of citizens and other stakeholders. - Implementing Good Administration – How We Get There
How can the principles of good administration be translated into practice? Topics include administrative reform, digital transformation and artificial intelligence, organisational change, innovation and the resilience of public institutions.
Call for Contributions
The Call for Contributions for the Good Administration Congress 2027 is now closed. Thank you for the many submissions and the great interest in our conference! All contributions are currently undergoing scientific peer review. Acceptance decisions will be communicated by mid-November 2026.
Registration & Participation
- Registration for the Good Administration Congress 2027 will be open from 6 November 2026 to 8 January 2027 (inclusive) .
- Conference fee: The conference fee is expected to range between €100 and €150. Final information will be published when registration opens.
- Conference dinner: Optinoal, 75 €.
- Lunch: Lunch at the university cafeteria on Thursday and Friday is included in conference participation.
- Registration will be managed through our conference platform Indico. Online registration will open on 16 November 2026.
👉 Visit the Indico Conference Portal
Programme, Venue & Accommodation
- The preliminary conference programme , including keynote lectures, panel discussions and scientific sessions, is available on our Programme page .
- The congress will take place at the Reuteallee Campus of Ludwigsburg University of Public Administration and Finance. .
- Room blocks have been reserved for conference participants at selected hotels in Ludwigsburg. An overview of the hotels and booking information is available on our Accommodation page.
Congress Awards
Outstanding contributions may be recognised with the following awards:
- Best Theoretical Innovation Award
- Best Empirical Paper Award
- Best Practice Impact Award
- Best Poster Award – Audience Choice
The final awards will depend on the number and quality of eligible contributions.
Organisation and Involvement
The Good Administration Congress 2027 is organised by Prof. Dr. Arne Pautsch, Prof. Dr. Michael Schorn and Prof. Dr. Anna Steidle from Ludwigsburg University of Public Administration and Finance, together with Prof. Dr. Bernhard Boockmann from the University of Tübingen.
At the same time, the Good Administration Congress 2027 marks the final academic event of the cooperative doctoral programme of the cooperative doctoral programme “Good Administration”, involving the University of Hohenheim, the University of Tübingen and Ludwigsburg University of Public Administration and Finance. The doctoral researchers of the programme will actively contribute their research projects to the conference programme and have the opportunity to discuss their work through poster presentations and direct exchange with international scholars. In this way, the congress will also provide a shared platform for showcasing the doctoral programme's research, engaging with new scientific perspectives and strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration.