Abstract
Our last article was published in Volume 78 of the IRAS in December 2012. Since then, many events and projects took place or were initiated.
Besides the traditional statutory meetings of EGPA (end of January), IASIA and IIAS (late February), the 6th Trans European Dialogue (TED), in particular, is worth noting. It was held in Potsdam, Germany on 8 February 2013 on the theme: Education and Training in the European Public Sector. The TED6 participants focused their discussions on issues of education and training in public administration throughout Europe. Education and training is one of the core issues for ensuring the future institutional capacity of public administration and for stabilizing the future availability of qualified human resources. Although the Bologna reforms have achieved some streamlining of formal educational structures, there is still a high degree of diversity between educational programs and concepts in the field of public administration education. The participants underlined the current trends in both academic and professional education and training and compared the different educational approaches. We also discussed the need to define the governance system and principles of accreditation for ensuring the quality of education and training for the future leaders.
A large delegation of IIAS and IASIA participated in the Annual Conference of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) which was held from 15–19 March 2013 in New Orleans (Louisiana). It organized two panels and presented various interventions under the general theme of the Congress: ‘Governance and Sustainability, Local Concerns, Global Challenges’.
The IIAS was represented by the Director General and head of project development at the annual session of the Committee of Experts on Public Administration (CEPA) of the United Nations in New York from 15–19 April 2013. They presented oral and written contributions. Let us recall that Professor Pan Suk Kim, outgoing President of IIAS, is Vice-Chairman of CEPA while Valeria Termini, immediate past President of IASIA, is a member of the Committee.
The project group on Supranational Administration met in Geneva from 22–24 May 2013. The meeting took place at the WTO (World Trade Organization) in the presence of 93 participants representing 51 international organizations. The main topics discussed were: privileges and immunities; governance; the impact of Article 41 of the EU's new Data Protection Regulation for international organizations; staff rules; dispute resolution; standard of review in disciplinary procedures; new (types of) international organizations; codes of conduct, Archives of international organizations.
However, the highlight of this first semester was without a doubt the Joint Congress of IIAS-IASIA which was held in Manama, Bahrain from 1–6 June 2013 on the major theme of ‘Public Administration Futures: Professionalism and Leadership’. The following subthemes have also been addressed during the event: Future Risks and Strategies, Leadership for the Future, Innovative Service Delivery for the Future and Building Capacity for the Future.
The scientific programme was composed of:
Sessions of the IIAS Study Groups : the Project Group on Security; the Study Group on Quality of Governance and the Kick-off Panel Introducing the New IIAS Study Group on Civil Service and Politics – New Political Governance. The Third Intercontinental Administrative Forum on ‘Public Administration Reforms - Who Is More Useful: Internal or External Advisors?’ The debates led by Katju Holkeri, Counsellor Department of Public Administration – Ministry of Finance, Finland. The Forum has benefited from the presence of high level speakers such as Frannie Leautier – Executive Secretary of the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), Zimbabwe; Ahmed Al-Bahar – Former President Civil Service Bureau; Huang Wenping, Vice-Minister, China; Andrew Podger – Professor of Public Policy at Australia National University, former Head of the Departments of Health and Housing, and Former Public Service Commissioner for Australian Government; and Thamir Almotairi – Higher Committee for Administration Organization, Saudi Arabia. Policy Platforms related to the themes ‘Future Risks and Strategies’, ‘Leadership for the Future’ and ‘Innovative Service Delivery for the Future’ – a ‘Bridge’ between the Scientific and the Practitioner. Combining these perspectives, the debate presents knowledge of public administration issues on the topic of future risks and strategies by providing a range of points of view in a contradictory debate. The Braibant Lecture was presented by the Professor Gavin Drewry on ‘The Administrative Sciences from the Past to the Future (By a Roundabout Route)’. The IASIA Permanent Working dealt with the themes on the Education and Training Programme: aligning missions and quality; state-market partnerships and enterprise management; public sector reform; local governance and development; accountability, culture and trust; public sector financial, information and performance management; leadership, governance and public policy; management of energy, food security and welfare; diversity and gender in the public service. Plenary sessions and panels respectively :
Middle East Administrative Forum – the present situation with respect to public administration in the Arab region with a special focus on the region to provide the audience with a broad spectrum of views and food for thought for a fruitful debate. Scholars on political administrative relations and leadership – addressing the nature of and developments in the relations and interactions between politicians and top civil servants, and the (in)formal arrangements that shape how they relate to one another. Training for future public sector capabilities – Training constitutes a major leeway for the improvement of the performance of the public sector. Commemorative panel on OP Dwivedi, former member of the IASIA Board of Management. How to get published in Public Administration – do's and don'ts.
The IIAS Statutory meetings also took place during the congress. On this occasion, a well-deserved tribute was paid to Professor Pan Suk Kim, outgoing President of IIAS. The General Assembly that was held on 2 June 2013 unanimously elected the new President of IIAS: Professor Dr Geert Bouckaert from the Public Management Institute of KU Leuven (Belgium). He took up his position at the end of the Congress and is elected for a three year mandate. The same General Assembly elected the new editor-in-chief of IRAS, Professor Andrew Massey, and the new members of the Council of Administration for a three years term, from 2013 to 2016. The list of members can be accessed via the following link:http://www.iias-iisa.org/e/about/management/Pages/exec_committee.aspx
Finally, we also would like to inform you on the following new corporate membership:
China – The College of Administration of Jilin University, and Morocco – Université Al Akhawayn A Ifrane. The IIAS counts today 36 member States, 29 National Sections, 61 Corporate members and 4 International Organisations.
The Administrative Council of IIAS has also decided to accept the offer of Morocco, Member State of the IIAS, and to entrust it the organization of the 2014 Congress, which will take place in Ifrane.
The statutory meetings of IASIA
Meanwhile, the meetings of the Board of Management of IASIA were held, on 1–3 June 2013 and had to choose its new President for the 2013–2016 term. Professor Michiel S. de Vries (Faculty of Management Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen) was unanimously elected President of IASIA.
The Board of Management published information about the various activities of the IASIA (Revision of the IASIA mission statement, implementation of a database of experts, the programme of forthcoming events, and the progress of the work of the International Commission on International Accreditation of Public Administration Education and Training Programs, as well as the day-to-day management of the association).The applications of two new members were approved by the Board: The Taiwan Association for Schools of Public Administration and Affairs (TASPAA), Taiwan, China, and The College of Public Administrators (Chile). The IASIA network now consists of 183 members from 72 countries. The list of members is available via the following link: http://www.iias-IIAS.org/iasia/e/members/list/Pages/default.aspx.
Before giving a brief overview of the main event to come, we would like to devote a few lines to two items of important news.
First of all, The IIAS and its entities (IASIA, EGPA, LAGPA and AGPA) are pleased to announce the publication of their first Annual Report. In this document, covering the year 2012, you will find valuable information concerning the world of Administrative Sciences (Interviews, activities, summaries of debates from our events, publications, the knowledge portal, current and future projects, financial statements, etc…)
Secondly, we are working on our websites and are trying to give it a more professional and modern look. You will soon be able to see our brand new website with its more user-friendly menus: www.iias-iisa.org.
Regarding upcoming events, which will be subject to a brief report in our next chronicle, let us mention in particular: The Annual Conference of the European Group for Public Administration (EGPA), organized in close collaboration with the University of Edinburgh that will take place in Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom from 11 to 13 September. . It will be preceeded by a PhD Students Symposium on 9-10 September, at the University of Edinburgh. The 3rd Annual Conference of the Asian Group for Public Administration (AGPA The Sixth Euro-Mediterranean Dialogue on Public Management will take place in Marseille, France on 7, 8 and 9 October, 2013 on the theme: ‘Cultures for change, changes through Culture’. The Annual Conference of Latin American Group for Public Administration and the National Section of the INAP which will be organized in close cooperation with Gétulio Vargas Foundation in Rio de Janeiro in late October 2013.
We will talk about these events in our next chronicle. In the meantime, we wish you a great summer!