The 2025 AAPA Annual Conference

Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, October 17-19, 2025

As the first quarter of the 21st century concludes, Asia stands at a decisive historical crucible, its trajectory defined by both remarkable institutional transformation and the sobering lessons of an imperfect past. This era of profound advancement has redefined the global order, yet it has also necessitated a vital reckoning with the systemic complexities and unintended costs inherent in rapid evolution. Acknowledging these shortcomings is not an exercise in criticism, but a strategic prerequisite for progress. By embracing this duality—honoring the strides made while rigorously distilling lessons from past challenges—the global community can transform the contemporary “poly-crisis” into a catalyst for the resilient, innovative governance required to navigate the future.

Against this backdrop, the 2025 AAPA Annual Conference was successfully convened from October 17 to 19 at the School of Public Policy and Management (SPPM), Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. Bringing together more than 200 leading scholars, practitioners, and students from approximately 60 prestigious institutions worldwide, the conference focused on the theme: “Public Administration in Asia: The First Quarter of the 21st Century and Beyond.”

October 17 | Pre-Conference Highlights

The conference activities commenced with the AAPA Board of Directors (BOD) Meeting, setting the strategic direction for the association. Simultaneously, the Doctoral Student Writing Workshop, co-hosted with the Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis (JCPA), offered a unique mentorship platform.

AAPA BOD Meeting

Doctoral Student Writing Workshop

By bridging the divide between high-level academic strategy and the nuances of publication execution, the workshop provided emerging researchers with direct access to editors from world-class journals. This initiative reflects a shared dedication by AAPA and JCPA to cultivating a globalized, elite scholarly community and championing the development of the next generation of academic leaders.

Shaping the Future of the Discipline

October 18 Morning | Asia-Pacific Public Administration Deans’ Forum

Moderated by Professor Zongchao Peng, Secretary of the CPC Tsinghua SPPM Committee, the forum centered on the theme “Asia-Pacific Public Administration Education.” This elite gathering brought together 3 vice presidents from world-renowned universities, 12 deans of distinguished public policy schools, and nearly 20 globally recognized scholars from 14 countries and regions.

Keynote Insights

• Professor Kilkon Ko (Vice President of Office of Information Systems and Technology at Seoul National University): Delivered a speech titled “Institutionalizing AI in Korea’s Public Sector: A Discursive Institutionalist Diagnosis.”
• Professor Hong Liu (Associate Vice President at Nanyang Technological University): Presented on “Approaching Public Administration in the Age of Global Asia.”
• Professor Weixing Hu (Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Macau): Addressed the forum on “Transforming Public Administration Education in the Era of Intelligent Digitalization.”
• Professor Xufeng Zhu (Dean of Tsinghua SPPM): Spoke on “Public Administration in Asia: From the First Quarter to the Next.”

Roundtable Consensus

Chaired by Professor Wei Zhong, Associate Dean of Tsinghua SPPM, the discussion fostered constructive dialogue among a distinguished panel of international experts:

• Professor Alfred Tat-Kei Ho, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at City University of Hong Kong;
• Professor Alexander Kotchegura, Professor at the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration;
• Professor Lizan Perante-Calina, Dean and Vice-President of the Graduate School of Public and Development Management at the Development Academy of the Philippines;
• Professor Ora-orn Poocharoen, Founding Director of the School of Public Policy at Chiang Mai University;
• Professor Sudarshan Ramaswamy, Dean of the Jindal School of Government and Public Policy at O.P. Jindal Global University;
• Professor Prakorn Siriprakob, Dean of the Faculty of Political Science at Chulalongkorn University.

The panel collectively advocated for a more integrated, future-oriented model of public administration education—one that bridges theory and practice, responds to shifting geopolitical dynamics, and reflects regional identities and global challenges.

Grand Opening and Global Perspectives

October 18 Afternoon | Opening Ceremony

The formal Opening Ceremony was presided over by Professor Xufeng Zhu, who emphasized the need for “agile pathways” to enhance institutional responsiveness in an interconnected landscape.

Welcome Remarks

• Professor Agus Pramusinto: President of AAPA and Professor at Universitas Gadjah Mada
• Professor Lan Xue: Distinguished Professor Dean of Schwarzman College at Tsinghua University and Co-convener of Public Administration Discipline Review Group of the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council, China

Keynote Highlights

The session, moderated by Professor Masao Kikuchi (Chair of the Department of Public Management at Meiji University), featured profound reflections on modern governance:

• Professor Pan Suk Kim (Professor Emeritus at Yonsei University): On navigating turbulence in a fragmented world.
• Professor Yongnian Zheng (Dean of School of Public Policy at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen): On the triple challenges of public policy in the age of AI.
• Professor Andrew Podger (Professor of Public Policy at Australian National University and Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia): On the 21st-century achievements and hurdles for Asian administration.
• Professor Leslie A. Pal (Chancellor’s Professor Emeritus at Carleton University and Founding Dean of the College of Public Policy at Hamad Bin Khalifa University): On the design and delivery of contemporary public services.

Exploring Specialized Frontiers

October 18-19 | Parallel Sessions

The conference featured 24 parallel sessions covering a vast spectrum of governance challenges. Specialized thematic sessions were organized by Sungkyunkwan University (South Korea), Khon Kaen University (Thailand), and Capital University of Economics and Business (China).

Concluding Excellence

October 19 Afternoon | Closing Ceremony

The closing ceremony, presided over by Professor Fanrong Meng (Professor of the School of Public Policy and Management at Xi’an Jiaotong University), celebrated the intellectual synergy achieved over the three-day event.

Keynote Remarks

• Professor Peter Nijkamp (Professor at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Fellow of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences): “High-Quality Development of Cities: A Citizen-oriented Micro Scenario Approach.”
• Professor Jiannan Wu (Chair Professor and Dean of the School of International and Public Affairs at Shanghai Jiao Tong University): “Building Non-Western Public Administration Theories: Insights from Chinese Collaborative Governance.”

Journal Announcement

Professor Alex B. Brillantes, Jr. (Professor Emeritus at University of the Philippines Diliman and Secretary-General of the Eastern Regional Organization for Public Administration (EROPA)) formally confirmed the continued publication of the Asian Review of Public Administration (ARPA). This journal remains a cornerstone of regional scholarship, serving as a joint publication between AAPA and EROPA to foster academic synergy across the Asia-Pacific.

Best Paper Awards

The session, chaired by Professor Junming Zhu, Associate Dean of Tsinghua SPPM, celebrated the intellectual rigor and innovative research showcased throughout the event. Professor Alexander Kotchegura unveiled the distinguished recipients of the Best Paper Award:

• Wenting Yang (Nankai University);
• Yiming Xiao (South China Agricultural University) and his co-authors.

A Concluding Success

In his closing remarks, Professor Xufeng Zhu extended his heartfelt appreciation to the AAPA for its steadfast trust and collaboration throughout the planning of this landmark event. He offered profound gratitude to the Conference Advisory, Academic, and Organizing Committees, whose strategic guidance and meticulous coordination were instrumental in the conference’s smooth and professional execution. Additionally, he recognized the tireless dedication of the Tsinghua SPPM faculty and students, who provided the vital logistical support and hospitality that made this global gathering possible.

Beyond celebrating these collaborative efforts, the conference established a forward-looking agenda for policy innovation across the region. By synthesizing the lessons of the past twenty-five years with the emerging challenges of the digital age, the event reaffirmed a collective commitment to developing the administrative capacities necessary for a prosperous, resilient, and sustainable Asia. As delegates departed, the 2025 conference was celebrated as a milestone in fostering the international dialogue required to navigate the next quarter-century and beyond.