The European Group for Public Administration (EGPA) celebrated its 50th anniversary with its largest conference in history, hosted by the University of Glasgow’s Centre for Public Policy in August 2025. This milestone event highlighted both the historical achievements and ongoing global impact of EGPA.
Dr. Ian C. Elliott from the Centre for Public Policy highlighted the conference’s growth and diversity:
“This year we had between 760-800 delegates structured across 23 Permanent Study Groups and 10 special streams, panels and workshops. The remarkable growth and diversity at the EGPA conference is a testament to how governments across the world are investing in research and education related to public policy, governance and administration.”
By comparison, the last time this conference was held in Glasgow, 25 years ago, only 90–120 delegates attended, mainly from the UK, with eight Permanent Study Groups and two keynote speeches. This dramatic increase reflects EGPA’s growing international influence.
Prof. Dr. Sabine Kuhlmann, newly elected EGPA President, emphasized the ongoing relevance of EGPA:
“In a time of perma crisis, growing challenges and wicked problems, the European voice of public administration is more important than ever.”
IIAS President Srinivas Voruganti highlighted the conference’s significance:
“The EGPA 50th anniversary conference is a legacy of excellence, commitment, and vision. The contribution of EGPA over the past five decades has helped establish inter-governmental relations, strengthen research, and bridge national and institutional divides.”
Throughout the event, participants engaged in rich discussions on governance, administrative reforms, and international collaboration, reinforcing EGPA’s role as a bridge between theory and practice. With representation from 59 countries and extensive participation across Permanent Study Groups, the conference underscored EGPA’s continued relevance and influence in shaping public administration research and practice.
Photos from the conference are available on Flickr, and recordings of the sessions can be accessed on the IIAS YouTube channel, allowing participants and the wider public to revisit the event and its discussions.
Looking ahead, EGPA is already preparing for its next annual conference, which will be held in Rome from August 24–27, 2026, organized in close collaboration with Sapienza University of Rome. Building on the success of Glasgow, the 2026 conference aims to gather an even larger and more diverse group of European and international participants, continuing to foster dialogue, innovation, and collaboration across the public administration community.
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