The Present and Future of Public Administration and Civil Service Discussed at the Academy of Public Administration

As part of the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, an international scientific-practical conference titled “Public Administration and Civil Service: Present and Future” was held.

The conference brought together a distinguished group of scholars, practitioners, and experts who contributed to the founding of the Academy and worked there over the years, as well as rectors from partner universities from different countries.

Speaking at the Plenary Session, Alikhan Baimenov, Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Astana Civil Service Hub, noted that due to various historical reasons, public administration as an academic discipline in our region was less developed compared to sectoral sciences, and for many decades it was detached from global trends and advanced research. In this context, “the creation of the Agency for Civil Service Affairs and the Academy of Public Administration was an important step in providing institutional support and expert guidance for public administration reforms. Time has proven the correctness of these decisions,” - he emphasized.

He also outlined several relevant areas for academic research in the field of public administration and civil service, including the analysis of the implementation of academic concepts and doctrines in specific socio-cultural and historical conditions, international indices, studying the relationship between sectoral reforms, political and administrative systems, ensuring a balance of powers, responsibilities, and resources, as well as harmonizing the long-term interests of the state with “quick wins,” debureaucratization measures, and increasing public trust.

The conference continued with breakout sessions and concluded with an alumni forum. More detailed information could be found via this link.