معرفی
Maria Asensio is an Invited Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science and Public Policy at ISCTE-IUL (Lisbon University Institute) and an Integrated Researcher at CIES-Iscte - Center for Research and Studies in Sociology. She also serves as a principal investigator at the National Institute of Administration (INA, IP), a board member of the Institute of Public and Social Policies (IPPS-IUL), and participates in scientific committees for doctoral programs in Public Policy and Public Administration. Additionally, she is a member of the scientific committee of the ISCTE Observatory of Democracy and Political Representation.
Her academic qualifications include a PhD in Political Science from the Autonomous University of Madrid (1994-2001), a Master's Degree in Social Sciences from the Juan March Institute (1992-1994), and a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Sociology from the Complutense University of Madrid (1987-1992). She has also completed numerous technical specialization courses from institutions including the University of Michigan, Politecnico di Milano, and the National Institute of Administration.
Maria Asensio's research focuses on the intersection of comparative political science and public policy, examining how theoretical models, institutions, and political preferences influence public policymaking. Her work particularly analyzes healthcare systems, welfare state policies, and public administration reforms, with attention to the impact of economic crises on policy decisions. She investigates the determinants of public opinion regarding welfare systems and explores immigration and integration policies related to health services.
Her recent scholarly output shows a strong emphasis on healthcare policy and public administration reform, with publications appearing in high-impact journals including Social Policy and Administration (Q1) and Journal of Social Policy (Q1). Her work often employs comparative approaches across European countries and utilizes large-scale survey data like the European Social Survey. Current research directions include the transfer of learning in public administration, the impact of training on public service quality, and digital transformation in governance.
- 2019 article in Social Policy and Administration: 14 Web of Science citations
- 2019 article in Journal of Social Policy: 7 Web of Science citations
- 2021 article in Healthcare: 3 Web of Science citations
Maria Asensio has taught at multiple institutions including University of Coimbra (2001-2008), University of Évora (2008-2011), ISCSP-UL (2011-2018), Universidade Aberta (2013-2016), and ISCTE (2010-2012, since 2017). She has participated in significant research projects such as the Norface-funded 'Healthdox: The Paradox of Health State Future' (2014-2018) and coordinated the report 'CAF Challenges to Promote Public Sector Capacity' under the Portuguese EU Presidency (2021). She regularly presents at international conferences including IASIA, EGPA, and CLAD, focusing on digitalization in public administration, leadership in governance, and the relationship between training and public service performance.
