XI Brazilian Meeting of Public Administration

The complexity of cities demands a multidisciplinary approach to solve their public problems. The article addresses the modernization of municipal public management in Brazil, highlighting the importance of training local managers and content related to urban management in Public Administration curricula. The study suggests that the qualification of municipal secretaries, especially of central bodies, can raise the standard of governance in Brazilian cities. Initially, we rehearsed some reflections on the applicability of the concept of city managers – common in the United States – in the context of the Brazilian case. However, the presence of significant obstacles, such as the strong influence of mayors and administrative tradition, highlights the need for other paths in this regard. Future research should focus on the reconnection of contents related to urban management in the curricula of graduate programs in Public Administration, aiming to train public managers aligned with the contemporary problems of urbanization and municipal administration.