Research at the Department of Public Administration and Policy

Our research has a wide and innovative remit across public administration and policy.

We combine robust knowledge of the theoretical and methodological foundations of these fields with expertise that reaches across disciplinary boundaries to address global challenges in collaboration with diverse stakeholders.

Our vibrant international research community of early-career and established researchers is theoretically-informed and demonstrates a commitment to methodological pluralism, with particular strengths in qualitative, collaborative, and participative approaches.

Our research centres and clusters discuss recent developments in research, policy, and practice, facilitate mutual support and collaboration, and deliver joint activities and outputs. The Department also organises a range of other research activities, including writing retreats, ‘work-in-progress’ sessions, and ad hoc seminars, that bring staff, PhD students, Research Associates, and public servants together.

Centres:

• Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Government (CAIG)
• Institute of Local Government Studies (INLOGOV)

Clusters:

• Publics and Power
• Sustainability and Governance

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Our research is interdisciplinary, as reflected in our partnerships with colleagues across the fields of geography, engineering, health, computer science, regional development, and social policy. We collaborate with research centres across the School, College, and University, including the The Institute for Data and AI (IDAI); Birmingham Institute for Sustainability and Climate Action (BISCA); Centre for Elections, Democracy, Accountability and Representation (CEDAR); Centre for Urban Wellbeing (CUWb); Birmingham Leadership Institute (BLI); and City-Regional Economic Development Institute (City-REDI).

Knowledge exchange and impact

We have a proud tradition of fostering knowledge exchange and impact across public administration and policy. Our faculty has world-leading expertise in engagement, co-production, and action research with policy-makers and communities across diverse policy areas.

INLOGOV facilitates ongoing dialogue with policy-makers through a range of outputs and events.

Research projects and outputs

Our research is published extensively in the leading journals in the field, including Policy Sciences, Policy & Politics, Public Administration Review, Political Studies, Evidence & Policy, Governance, British Journal of Politics and International Relations, Environment and Planning C, Energy Policy, Environment and Planning B, Data & Policy, Journal of Urban Technology, and Urban Studies. Our researchers have also published a series of influential and highly-cited research monographs and edited collections on topics including institutionalism, policy ideas and design, and sustainability transitions.

Our research has been supported by major national and international funders, including the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Horizon Europe, and the British Academy.

Further details of our research outputs and activities can be found on our research portal. Find out more about our latest research by browsing our academic and doctoral researcher profiles.

Academic leadership

We organised the inaugural UK Association of Public Administration (UKAPA) conference in 2024 and the Political Studies Association (PSA) annual conference in 2025. We lead networks that foster learning and change between academics, policy actors, and communities, including the Global Citizens’ Assembly Network, Social Prescribing, Assets and Relationships in Communities Network, and UoB Community Collaborations Community of Practice.

We are the home to the leading interdisciplinary journal Local Government Studies. We sit on editorial boards of other leading international journals, including Public Administration and Development, Teaching Public Administration, Journal of Deliberative Democracy and Action Research Journal. We also have active representation in many academic networks, including the UK Association in Public Administration (UKAPA), Political Studies Association (PSA) International Public Policy Association (IPPA), European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR), Participatory and Deliberative Democracy Specialist Group, Critical Interpretive Policy Network, Special Interest Group on Governance and Decision-Making Processes for the World Conference on Transport Research Society.