From May 13 to 14, 2025, in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, a series of events took place within the framework of the Meeting of Heads of the ASEAN Network of Public Service Training Institutes (PSTI) for the 2025–2026 term. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Luong Thanh Cuong, Vice President of the Academy of Public Administration and Governance (APAG), led the delegation to participate in the event.
Representatives from PSTI member institutions across ASEAN took part in the events, including the Institut Perkhidmatan Awam (Brunei), the Royal School of Administration (Cambodia), the Civil Service Development Centre (Indonesia), the Public Administration Research and Training Institute (Laos), the National Institute of Public Administration (Malaysia), the Office of the Civil Service Commission (Thailand), the Civil Service College (Singapore), and the Academy of Public Administration and Governance (Viet Nam). Brunei currently holds the PSTI Convenor for the 2025–2026 term. The meeting also welcomed Dr. Alex Brillantes Jr., Secretary-General of the Eastern Regional Organization for Public Administration (EROPA). The opening ceremony was chaired by Dr. Norfarizal bin Othman, Director-General of the Public Service Department, Prime Minister’s Office of Brunei.
Since its establishment in 2018, the ASEAN PSTI Network has actively promoted cooperation and exchange among public service training institutions, supported the development of human resources, and enhanced the role of training institutions in transforming public service operations across ASEAN member states.
With the theme “Fit for the Future,” the event brought together senior leaders of public service training institutions across the region to foster collaboration, share best practices, and explore innovative strategies for advancing civil service development in the ASEAN region. The theme reflects the region’s shared commitment to preparing public organizations to become more responsive, agile, and forward-looking in the face of future challenges.
On May 13, Dr. Noor Maya Salleh, Director of the Institut Perkhidmatan Awam under the Prime Minister’s Office of Brunei, chaired the main discussion session of the Meeting, focusing on four key areas: (1) Introduction of PSTI activities scheduled for the term 2025 – 2026; (2) Presentation and discussion on the ASEAN PSTI Network Logo Competition open to all member countries; (3) Discussion and joint decision on the research collaboration plan and publication of research outputs; and (4) Presentations by member countries on their respective PSTIs, ongoing reforms, and future visions.
The afternoon session on May 13 centered around the theme “Building a Skilled Workforce in the Age of AI.” It began with a keynote presentation titled “Workforce Skills in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (AI),” delivered by Dr. Alex Brillantes, Jr., EROPA Secretary-General. This was followed by presentations from representatives of PSTI members, focusing on building a skilled workforce in the AI era across ASEAN countries.
On May 14, the program included field trips and experiential learning visits to observe sustainable agriculture models and local cultural preservation initiatives. These activities offered delegates a valuable opportunity to exchange insights and share experiences on the practical implementation of socio-economic development policies that aim for sustainability and cultural preservation. Participants also had the chance to study and explore innovations for sustainable development while conserving the traditional customs and heritage of local communities in Brunei.
As part of this event series, the APAG delegation actively participated in various activities. Prior to the official opening of the event, the delegation took part in a preliminary session with PSTI members to exchange and reach consensus on the discussion agenda and the network’s upcoming strategic directions. At the first plenary session on the morning of May 13, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Luong Thanh Cuong, Vice President of APAG, delivered a welcome speech on behalf of Viet Nam, the country that had just successfully concluded its term as PSTI Convenor for 2024–2025. He also contributed ideas and feedback on PSTI’s activities for the next two years, especially regarding the ASEAN PSTI Network Logo Competition, initiated by Viet Nam during its convenorship, and the research collaboration plan. Alongside leaders of other public service training institutions within the ASEAN PSTI Network, he discussed and reached a consensus on a joint research initiative aimed at identifying effective public administration practices among member countries to promote knowledge and experience sharing within the network. Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Cuc, from the Department of Science Management and International Cooperation, presented an overview of APAG, highlighting recent institutional changes following the merger of the National Academy of Public Administration into the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics.
During the afternoon session on May 13, Dr. Bui Thi Ngoc Hien, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Administrative Sciences, delivered a presentation titled “Building a Skilled Workforce in the Age of AI in Viet Nam.” The presentation emphasized the urgent need to equip the workforce with new adaptive skills aligned with job demands in the era of artificial intelligence. With the timely guidance of the Party and the strong commitment of the Government of Viet Nam in formulating and implementing national strategies on AI research and application, Viet Nam has made notable progress in developing an AI-ready workforce.
Delegates attending the Meeting of Heads of the ASEAN Network of Public Service Training Institutes (PSTI) for the 2025–2026 term.
As the PSTI Convenor for the 2025–2026 term, Brunei proposed several initiatives, including regional meetings, training workshops, and the official launch of the ASEAN PSTI Network logo. The logo will be selected through a design competition open to all PSTI member countries, and the official version is expected to be unveiled by the end of 2026. The logo initiative was first proposed during the PSTI Meeting held in Ha Noi, Viet Nam, in November 2024, with the aim of representing the unified identity, shared vision, and strategic goals of the ASEAN PSTI network.
