The 2021 Annual AAPA Conference was successfully held on 7thand 8thOctober 2021 bringing together participants from 30 countries from all the continents and featuring an impressive list of keynote speakers, addressants and panel discussions. The Conference was hosted by the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA) and was carried out in a hybrid format.The main theme of the conference –“The Future of Public Administration in PostCOVID-19 Period: Addressing Unprecedented Challenges and Seizing New Opportunities” reflected the current globally felt need for strong public institutions, effective decision-making and innovative solutions which are critical for building and maintaining the capacity of national governments to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, mitigate its implications and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).The choice of the conference sub-themeswas determined by the priority agenda of issues and challenges faced currently by the governments world over and comprised in particular:Public Healthcare Systems During Pandemic: Prospective Recipes for Effective PerformanceLocal Administration and Municipal Governance in the Times of EmergencyThe Role of State in Crisis ManagementDigital State and E-Government as Innovative Emergency InstrumentsNew Trends in Government and Society in post-COVID-19 PeriodProvision of Public Services in Times of CrisisThe opening plenary session was chaired by Professor Alexander Kochegura, AAPA Vice-President and featured welcome addresses from Professor Vladimir Mau, Rector of RANEPA; Professor Jiannan Wu, AAPA President; Professor Pan Kim,AAPA Ex-President, UN-ICSC Commission Member, ASPA International Director; Sofiane Sahraoui, Director General, International Institute of Administrative Sciences (IIAS); William Shields, Executive Director, AmericanAssociation of Public Administration (ASPA).The list of Keynote Speakers, who delivered very interesting and insightful presentations during the Opening Plenary session, included world-renowned scholars Professor Guy Peters from Pittsburgh University; Professor Allan Rosenbaum from Florida International University, ASPA President; Professor Ali Farazmand from Florida Atlantic University, Editor-in-Chief of theGlobalEncyclopedia of Public Administration and Public Policy.The two days of the conference incorporated 19 panel sessions providing a platform for an enriching exchange of views, experience and best practice of experts, scholars, practitioners and students from the Asian region and beyond. One of the highlights of the second day of the conference was a Presidents’ Panel entitled “Covid-19 Pandemic: Crisis, Governance, Transformation and the New Normal”chaired by Professor Jiannan Wu, AAPA President and featuring enlightening talk and presentations of AAPA Ex-Presidents – Professor Akira Nakamura, Professor Anthony Cheung, Professor Pan Kim and Professor Alex Brillantes.The Closing Plenary session chaired by Professor Alexander Kochegura, Professor Akira Nakamura and Professor Alex Brillantes provided an opportunity to assess the preliminary results and impact of the conference and to hold the Ceremony of Akira Nakamura Best Paper Award. On behalf of the AAPA 2021 Conference Organizing Committee Professor Alexander Kochegura expressed sincere gratitude to the leadership of RANEPA, AAPA Secretariat and all participants of the forum for their contribution to the success of the conference.

The 2021 Annual Conference of the Asian Association for Public Administration (AAPA)hosted by the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA) Call for PapersThe main conference theme:The Future of Public Administration in PostCOVID-19 Period: Addressing Unprecedented Challenges and Seizing New OpportunitiesDate: 7-8 October, 2021Place: RANEPA, MoscowDeadline of abstracts submission:1 July, 2021Conference website: https://aapa2021.ranepa.msk.ru AAPA website: http://www.aapa.asia Background context:The COVID-19 pandemic has plunged the whole world into a socio-economic and financial crisis of an unprecedented scale. The policy decisions taken now will shape the fate of millions and define the future of nations. Strong public institutions, effective decision-making and innovative solutions are critical for building and maintaining the capacity of national governments to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, mitigate its implications and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).The conference focuses on the issues of crisis management, best practices on how to transform governance and develop capacities of public institutions and regional/local administrations to address pandemic related challenges. Academicians, experts and practitioners are welcome to present and debate accumulated experience, emerging issues, trends and challenges, as well as good practices, strategies and innovative approaches that have proven their efficacy since the start of pandemic. The organizers of the conference inspire the participants to develop and reflect solutions and pathways to achieving the SDGs under new circumstances. Format:Depending on the epidemiological situation in the country, the conference can be held either entirely online or in a hybrid format (the on-site presence of a limited number of participants and the rest in distant mode)The best papers presented at the conference will be eligible for publication in one of the following international peer review journals: Public Organization Review (POR, https://www.springer.com/journal/11115), International Public Management Review (IPMR, http://ipmr.net), Urban Governance (UG, https://www.journals.elsevier.com/urban-governance) and Civil Service (CS, https://pa-journal.igsu.ru)Keynote speakers and panel discussants:Guy Peters (University of Pittsburgh), Ali Farazmand (Florida Atlantic University),Vladimir Mau (RANEPA), Anthony B. L. Cheung (Education University of Hong Kong),Akira Nakamura (Meiji University),Pan S. Kim (Yonsei University), Alex Brillantes (University of the Philippines)Conference Sub-Themes:The role of state in crisis managementDrivers and enablers of government effective performance in critical situationsCrisis leadership and emergency management: proven policy responses and innovative approachesAddressing COVID-19 related threats at national, regional and municipal levels: strategies, lessons and best practicesOverstrained public healthcare systems during pandemic:prospective recipes for effective maintenance and performanceInternational and regional cooperation in coping with the crisisProvision of public services in times of crisisRethinking and reinforcing public service delivery in crisisHow have public services adapted to the new situation: practical casesMulti-stakeholder cooperation in the delivery of servicesBest practice cases of innovative modes of urban service deliveryLocal administration and municipal governance in the times of emergencyEngaging citizens in crisis management at local levelStrengthening interface between central government, regional and municipal authorities in tackling the crisisAdopting urban infrastructure to emergency measuresInnovative approaches in addressing emergency issues Sustainable urban governance: challenges and solutions Digital state and E-government as innovative emergency instrumentsThe impact of e-Government on enhancing public sector performancePotential of digital technologies to address new and long-standingchallengesDigitalization and artificial intelligence in facilitating COVID-19 crisisrelated solutionsStrengthening science and technology in addressing inequalities in theCOVID-19 periodPublic management and civil service systems in Asia in comparative perspectiveCivil service and HR management in the times of uncertainty and scarcityPublic sector reform: new trends and prioritiesRetaining professionals and building leadership at different levels of government in the periods of uncertainty and tension Fast learning programmes and high quality professional development: isthere a contradiction?State and society in times of crisisTransparency, dialogue and interface with citizens in mitigating effects of the crisisSupport to vulnerable groups and recovery measures to businessesAccountability of authorities and trust in government: innovative “knowhow”Crisis perception by key stakeholders and the role of mass mediaTransforming governance for realizing the SDGsPandemic responses of respective countries from the perspective of Sustainable Development GoalsPublic policy innovations towards sustainable developmentSustainable governance amidst COVID-19 pandemic: best practice casesSUBMISSION GUIDANCE:Abstracts (no more than 500 words in English) for paper presentations should be sent as an email attachment to aapa2021@ranepa.msk.ru no later than July 1, 2021. All abstracts should include: (1) author(s) name, title, institutional affiliation, and address; (2) contacting information (email and phone); (3) paper title and its sub-theme; and (4) abstract including references. Proposed papers should feature high-quality theoretical, qualitative, or quantitative research. Empirical paper proposals will be evaluated based on the significance and quality of the research question, design, methods, data, and implications. Theoretical paper proposals will be evaluated based on the extent to which the proposal provides insight into a compelling public management subject, identifies foundational assumptions and key concepts, and results in meaningful critiques of accepted theory, asserts guiding propositions or testable hypotheses, or develops helpful conceptual frameworks and research agendas.After blind review process, letters of acceptance will be sent to authors by July 12, 2021. Full papers should be sent as an email attachment to aapa2021@ranepa.msk.ru no later than September 15, 2021. The conference scientific committee will review all submitted papers. The AAPA President will present Akira Nakamura Award and Anthony Cheung Award to the presenters who deliver the paper of the highest quality. Akira Nakamura Award will be granted to graduate students, researchers and scholars and Anthony Cheung Award to practitioners and public officials. To be considered for awards, the author(s) must submit the full paper to the conference organizer by the due date and complete the registration form.To register for the conference and to get more information please visit https://aapa2021.ranepa.msk.ru/ If you have other questions please write to us at aapa2021@ranepa.msk.ruNB. The conference e-mail address has been tested for its functionality. However, in order to reduce the risk of possible technical failures a reserve address – aapaconf2021@gmail.com has been set up and is regularly checked for incoming correspondence.AAPA 2021 Organizing Committee

Call for PapersThe 2021 Annual Conference of theAsian Association for Public Administration (AAPA)In collaboration with the Institute of Public Administration and Civil Service (IPACS) of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA) and the ASEAN Centre of the MGIMO University (MFA RF) on 7-8 October 2021, RANEPA, Moscow, Russian FederationMain Conference Theme: The Future of Public Administration in PostCOVID-19 Period: Addressing Unprecedented Challenges and Seizing New OpportunitiesThe COVID-19 pandemic has plunged the whole world into a socio-economic and financial crisis of an unprecedented scale. The policy decisions taken now will shapethe fate of millions and define the future of nations. Strong public institutions,effective decision-making and innovative solutions are critical for building and maintaining the capacity of national governments to combat the COVID-19 pandemic,mitigate its implications and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).The conference focuses on the issues of crisis management, best practices on how to transform governance and develop capacities of public institutions andregional/local administrations to address pandemic related challenges.Academicians, experts and practitioners are welcome to present and debate accumulated experience, emerging issues, trends and challenges, as well as good practices, strategies and innovative approaches that have proven their efficacysince the start of pandemic. The organizers of the conference inspire the participants to develop and reflect solutions and pathways to achieving the SDGs under new circumstances.The authors of conference submissions are invited to focus on one of the followingsub-themes.Conference Sub-ThemesThe role of state in crisis managementDrivers and enablers of government effective performance in critical situationsCrisis leadership and emergency management: proven policy responses and innovative approachesAddressing COVID-19 related threats at national, regional and municipal levels: strategies, lessons and best practicesOverstrained public healthcare systems during pandemic:prospective recipes for effective maintenance and performanceInternational and regional cooperation in coping with the crisisProvision of public services in times of crisisRethinking and reinforcing public service delivery in crisisHow have public services adapted to the new situation: practical casesMulti-stakeholder cooperation in the delivery of servicesBest practice cases of innovative modes of urban service deliveryLocal administration and municipal governance in the times of emergencyEngaging citizens in crisis management at local levelStrengthening interface between central government, regional and municipal authorities in tackling the crisisAdopting urban infrastructure to emergency measuresInnovative approaches in addressing emergency issues Sustainable urban governance: challenges and solutions Digital state and E-government as innovative emergency instrumentsThe impact of e-Government on enhancing public sector performancePotential of digital technologies to address new and long-standingchallengesDigitalization and artificial intelligence in facilitating COVID-19 crisisrelated solutionsStrengthening science and technology in addressing inequalities in theCOVID-19 periodPublic management and civil service systems in Asia in comparative perspectiveCivil service and HR management in the times of uncertainty and scarcityPublic sector reform: new trends and prioritiesRetaining professionals and building leadership at different levels of government in the periods of uncertainty and tension Fast learning programmes and high quality professional development: isthere a contradiction?State and society in times of crisisTransparency, dialogue and interface with citizens in mitigating effects of the crisisSupport to vulnerable groups and recovery measures to businessesAccountability of authorities and trust in government: innovative “knowhow”Crisis perception by key stakeholders and the role of mass mediaTransforming governance for realizing the SDGsPandemic responses of respective countries from the perspective of Sustainable Development GoalsPublic policy innovations towards sustainable developmentSustainable governance amidst COVID-19 pandemic: best practice casesThe 2021 AAPA Annual Conference will be jointly hosted by the AsianAssociation for Public Administration (AAPA) and the Institute of Public Administration and Civil Service (IPACS) of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA) in collaboration with theASEAN Centre of the MGIMO University. Depending on the epidemiological situation in the country the conference may be held either in fully online mode or in hybrid format (the on-site presence of alimited number of participants and the rest in distant mode). The programme of the conference will include a special panel formed by the pastand present AAPA Presidents.We encourage the submission of panel proposals on other topics related to the main conference theme.All panel proposals should be sent as an emailattachment toaapa2021@ranepa.msk.ruby April 15, 2021. A panel will consist of 4-5 presenters, each speaking for approximately 15 minutes, with 10 minutes left for discussion. Panel proposals should include: (1) session title, the chair, his/her institutional affiliation, and the address; (2) panelists and panel abstract including references.We invite submission of abstracts and papers that reflect on the above issues from academics and practitioners.Please find below information about submission of conference papers.SUBMISSION GUIDANCEAbstracts(no more than 500 words in English) for paper presentations should be sent as an email attachment toaapa2021@ranepa.msk.runo later thanMay 16,2021. All abstracts should include: (1) author(s) name, title, institutional affiliation, and address; (2) contacting information (email and phone); (3) paper title and itssub-theme; and (4) abstract including references. Proposed papers should feature high-quality theoretical, qualitative, or quantitative research. Empirical paper proposals will be evaluated based on the significanceand quality of the research question, design, methods, data, and implications. Theoretical paper proposals will be evaluated based on the extent to which theproposal provides insight into a compelling public management subject, identifies foundational assumptions and key concepts, and results in meaningful critiques ofaccepted theory, asserts guiding propositions or testable hypotheses, or develops helpful conceptual frameworks and research agendas.After blind review process, letters of acceptance will be sent to authors. Full papers should be sent as an email attachment toaapa2021@ranepa.msk.runo later than September 15, 2021.The conference scientific committee will review all submitted papers. The AAPA President will presentAkira Nakamura AwardandAnthony Cheung Awardto the presenters who deliver the paper of the highest quality. Akira Nakamura Award will be granted to graduate students, researchersand scholars and Anthony Cheung Award to practitioners and public officials. Tobe considered for awards, the author(s) must submit the full paper to the conference organizer by the due date and complete the registration form.The best papers presented at the conference can be eligible for publication in one of the following international peer review journals:Public Organization Review (POR,https://www.springer.com/journal/11115), International Public Management Review (IPMR,http://ipmr.net) and Urban Governance (UG, https://www.journals.elsevier.com/urban-governance). An agreement has been reached with thePublic Organization ReviewandUrban Governancejournals that they will prepare special issues to accommodate selectedpapers from the AAPA 2021 Conference.IMPORTANT DATESSubmission of Panel Proposals:April 15, 2021Abstract Submission Deadline:May 16, 2021Notification of acceptance/rejection to authors:June 05, 2021Final Paper Submission Deadline:September 15, 2021Conference Date:October 7-8, 2021You are kindly invited to help distribute this message to interested persons, institutions, agencies and networks. NB. The conference e-mail address has been tested for its functionality. However, in view of a wide geographic coverage by the conference participants and in order to reduce the risk of possible technical failures a reserve address –aapaconf2021@gmail.comhas been set up and is regularly checked for incomingcorrespondence.

On September 24th and 25th, the Annual Conference of the Asian Association for Public Administration (AAPA) 2020 online annual conference was successfully held. Hundreds of representatives from 17 different countries and regions, including South Korea, the United States, Philippines, India, Thailand, and Australia, exchanged their views on the theme of Towards Sustainable Asian Urban Governance: Emerging Theories and Innovative Practices. This annual conference was co-sponsored by the Asian Association for Public Administration, China Institute for Urban Governance of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the School of International and Public Affairs of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and the China-America Association for Public Affairs.On the morning of the 24th, the Asian Association for Public Administration (AAPA) held a general election for the chairman.Professor Wu Jiannan, the Director of the Department of Liberal Arts Construction of Shanghai Jiaotong University, Distinguished Professor of the School of International and Public Affairs, and Executive Vice President of the China Institute of Urban Governance, was elected as the sixth chairman of the association.While on the evening of the 24th, Zhu Xufeng, not only a professor and Associate Dean from the School of Public Policy and Management of Tsinghua University, but also an adjunct professor of School of International and Public Affairs of Shanghai Jiaotong University, chaired the AAPA Editors’ Forum. Yingling Fan, Jeremy Hall, Cathy Yang Liu, Jose A. Puppim de Oliveira and other four editors introduced internationally renowned journals in the field of public administration and urban areas. During the forum, they also patiently answered questions from participants.On the next day morning, The 2020 Annual Conference of the AAPA was held in the form of online conference .The opening ceremony was presided by Professor Wu Jiannan. Followed by that, Zhou Cheng, the Deputy Secretary of Party Committee from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, attended the conference and delivered a speech. Mr. Zhou Cheng pointed out that the theme of this conference had a broad vision and a high level of thinking. It included both historical depth and deep practical care. This conference took Asian urban governance as an entry point, promoted interdisciplinary and cross-country dialogue, and enriched urban governance practices in China and other Asian countries. The theme of the conference focused on the future of urban development and could provide a grand vision for exploring urban governance issues. Top experts and scholars in the field of global public administration, especially urban governance were gathered together in this conference. He believes that the convening of the conference would provide global scholars' some insights and wisdom on the future of urban governance. Professor Alex B. Brillantes, Jr., the fifth chairman of the AAPA, Professor Guo Hai, the chairman of the China-America Association for Public Affairs, and Professor Allan Rosenbaum, the president-elect of the American Society of Public Administration, also attended the opening ceremony and delivered their speeches.Eight well-known public administration scholars and experts from all over the world delivered informative keynote speeches on the opening ceremony. The keynote speech was divided into two stages. The first stage was chaired by Professor Heungsuk Choi from Korea University. Professor Anthony Cheung of the Education University of Hong Kong, Professor Lan Xue of Tsinghua University, Professor Allan Rosenbaum of Florida International University, and Professor Wu Jiannan of Shanghai Jiao Tong University respectively focused on four topics: the challenges and dilemmas of urban governance, the experience and lessons of crisis management in China's response to the COVID-19 epidemic, the ways to make the sustainable development goals and urban governance efficiency in reality, and lastly the introduction of digital urban governance by using the practice of Shanghai Yi Wang Tong Ban.The second phase of the keynote speech was chaired by Professor Agus Pramusinto from Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia. Professor Richard Walker from the City University of Hong Kong, Professor Yang Kaifeng from Renmin University of China, Professor Eko Prasojo from the University of Indonesia, and Professor Alex B. Brillantes from the University of the Philippines respectively discussed the topics below: Integrating Findings on Citizen Satisfaction: Lessons for Practice from the Expectancy Disconfirmation Model, Toward Sustainable Governance: A Diamond Model , Mainstreaming SDG’S and Strengthening Public Sector Reform: Lesson Learned from Indonesia, and the topic of “Indeed For Whom is Public Administration?”.15 sub-forums set up in the conference. Participants at the conference exchanged and discussed issues related to current challenges and future development of public administration and urban governance. Discussion topics mainly included governance and public administration issues amidst COVID-19 pandemic, cross-sectoral collaboration to address urban governance, and the new theoretical development on sustainable urban governance. Although these sub-forums spotlighted on various broader issues, but various methods and approaches of public administration and urban governance were explored through minor issues.The closing ceremony of the conference was presided over by Jiang Wenning, the Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of International and Public Affairs of Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Secretary of the Party Branch of the China Institute for Urban Governance. Akira Nakamura Awarding for Best Paper was held at the closing ceremony. A total of four papers have won this award. Zhang Pan from the School of International and Public Affairs of Shanghai Jiaotong University and Wang Huan of Renmin University of China are on the list of awards. Later on, Professor Guo Hai and Professor Wu Jiannan delivered closing speeches respectively. On behalf of AAPA, Professor Wu Jiannan expressed his sincere gratitude to all the participants, he also mentioned that AAPA will make the improvement of academic level of Asian Public Administration as its mission. Moreover, in order to establish and strengthen connections with other academic institutions and public administration practitioners, AAPA will work harder to provide a wider platform for public administration scholars in Asian countries to communicate and exchange ideas. Finally, the next representative of the organizers for the AAPA Annual Conference, Professor Alexander Kochegura of the Institute of Public Administration and Civil Service of Russia introduced and welcomed The 2021 Asian Public Administration Annual Conference.