Trans-European Dialogue 2027

Public administration and management research has long drawn most of its ideas from Western, industrialised democracies. Yet Asia and the Global South have become major sites of administrative change, with large-scale reforms, fast-moving technology and some of the most inventive experiments in governance. Research from these regions has grown accordingly, but it is still often used to illustrate or apply theories made elsewhere, rather than to produce new ones.

This special issue of Public Management Review aims to change that. It invites authors to treat practice in Asia and the Global South as a starting point for theory: to test, question or extend established approaches, and to propose new concepts and explanations. It does not look for a single theory of these regions, which are far too diverse for that, but for context-sensitive contributions that also say something useful for policy and practice.

At its meeting on 27 October, the Council of Administration of the International Institute of Administrative Sciences (IIAS) appointed Professor Dr Diana Stirbu as the Institute's Director General for the term 2027-2029.

The International Association of Schools and Institutes of Administration (IASIA) presented its 2026 awards at the closing ceremony of its Annual Conference in Athens, on 15 October.

The IASIA Board of Management has announced changes to its composition and to two Vice-Presidencies.

The IASIA Annual Conference in Athens hosted the first dialogue session between IASIA and MENAPAR (Middle East and North Africa Public Administration Research).

The IASIA closing ceremony in Athens included a special tribute to IIAS Director General Dr Sofiane Sahraoui, who will step down at the end of the year.

From 17 to 20 November, IIAS 2026 brings the public administration community to Seoul. The programme includes the presentation of the IIAS Governance Index results and the Braibant Lecture.

From 12 to 16 October 2026, the International Association of Schools and Institutes of Administration (IASIA) held its Annual Conference in Athens, hosted by EKDDA, the National Centre for Public Administration and Local Government. Under the theme “Rethinking Governance for a Changing World”, the conference gathered 400 delegates from 57 countries and marked the 65th anniversary of the association. Athens was a conference grounded by learning and history but also new projects and connexions.

Brussels, 23 October 2026 – The IIAS Governance Index was presented for the first time to the IIAS community at the IASIA 2026 Annual Conference in Athens, hosted by EKDDA from 12 to 16 October. In a session titled “When Rankings Are Not Enough”, participants were introduced to the thinking behind the Index, its overall logic and the main methodological choices that shape it.

The European Group for Public Administration (EGPA) invites scholars and practitioners to propose new initiatives for its 2027 Annual Conference, taking place at Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary, from 24 to 27 August 2027. EGPA provides a European forum for public administration scholars and practitioners to present research, exchange perspectives and develop collaborations across public administration, public management and public policy. The call welcomes proposals for three formats: Permanent Study Groups (PSGs), Ad Hoc Groups (AHGs) and Specialised Panels (SPs). EGPA looks forward to welcoming new initiatives, perspectives and research communities that will enrich its 2027 Annual Conference and contribute to the development of public administration research across Europe and beyond.

The conference introduced a call for papers across fourteen thematic tracks and an interactive programme to help participants navigate its activities.