Academy of Public Administration and Governance attends ISPPM 2026 International Symposium in Hong Kong (China)

The delegation was led by Dr. Bui Phuong Dinh, Vice President of the Academy of Public Administration and Governance; alongside Dr. Do Tat Cuong, Deputy Director General of the Department of Science Management, Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics; Dr. Nguyen Quang Vinh, Editor-in-Chief of State Management Review; and Dr. Vu Thi Cam Tu, Deputy Head of the Department of Training Management, Academy of Public Administration and Governance.

The ISPPM 2026 International Symposium was co-organized by AVSE Global, the Department of Public and International Affairs at City University of Hong Kong, and Audencia Business School (France). The Academy of Public Administration and Governance and the School of Business & Management at RMIT University Vietnam participated as partner institutions.

ISPPM 2026 represents the evolution of the Vietnam Symposium on Leadership and Public Policy (VSLP). After 7 editions, the forum has expanded into an international academic platform connecting East-West and Asia-Europe perspectives on public policy and public management. This year's symposium featured 40 scientific papers presented across 11 parallel sessions.

On the morning of October 15, 2026, the delegation attended the plenary session of the symposium. Prof. Bert George, City University of Hong Kong, Co-Chair of the Symposium and Editor-in-Chief of Public Management Review, delivered the opening address. Also attending the plenary session was Dr. Tran Phuong Tra, Audencia Business School, France.

At the keynote session, Prof. M. Jae Moon, Director of the Institute for Future Government, Yonsei University, South Korea, presented the paper "Public Policy and Management Between East and West: Connecting Perspectives, Shaping Futures." Prof. M. Jae Moon currently serves as Co-Chair of the Presidential Committee on Public Data Strategy of South Korea.

The plenary session concluded with a panel discussion titled "Bridging East and West in Public Governance: AI, Policy Innovation and Public Value in an Era of Transformation," moderated by Dr. Chu Tuan, RMIT University Vietnam and AVSE Global. Panelists included Prof. M. Jae Moon, Prof. Bert George, and Dr. Tran Phuong Tra.

Exchanges during the plenary session centered on prominent issues in contemporary public governance, including artificial intelligence, policy innovation, public value, and the capacity to connect governance experiences between East and West.

In thematic parallel sessions, members of the delegation of the Academy of Public Administration and Governance presented 3 scientific papers.

Dr. Bui Phuong Dinh presented a paper in Session A1 themed "Responsible AI, Human Judgment & Public Decision-Making." Delivering research on "Commune-Level Development Data Governance in Viet Nam," the presentation highlighted practical significance as Vietnam operates its two-tier local government model and accelerates digital transformation, wherein the commune level directly collects, manages, and utilizes data for governance. Accordingly, commune-level data must be managed under mechanisms clearly defining authority, responsibility, and oversight, integrated around citizens' needs to enhance public service quality, responsiveness, and public trust within the framework of two-tier local government operations. In Session A1, Dr. Bui Phuong Dinh's paper was presented alongside studies by scholars from Wuhan University and Xi'an Jiaotong University (China) on AI utilization in administrative decision-making.

Dr. Do Tat Cuong, Deputy Director General of the Department of Science Management, Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, presented the paper "Does Green Economic Diplomacy Mobilise Sustainable Investment? Dynamic-Panel and Heterogeneity-Robust Evidence from Viet Nam" in Session B3 focusing on climate risk, environmental regulations, and just transition.

Dr. Nguyen Quang Vinh, Editor-in-Chief of State Management Review, presented the paper "Digital Journalism and Policy Feedback in Vietnam: Citizen Participation and Administrative Responsiveness" in Session C2 on trust, discourse, and political participation.

The delegation's presentations introduced to the international academic community key issues arising from public governance practice in Vietnam, spanning data governance amidst digital transformation and sustainable investment mobilization to digital journalism, civic participation, and administrative responsiveness. The papers received constructive feedback and discussions from experts from Hong Kong, China, South Korea, Singapore, India, Indonesia, Europe, and the United States.

Attending the first day of ISPPM 2026 contributed to strengthening academic exchange and introducing research topics grounded in Vietnamese practice to the international scientific community. Simultaneously, it created opportunities for the Academy of Public Administration and Governance to expand connections with training and research institutions across Asia and Europe, gaining further experience in international research and publishing in public administration and governance.

On October 16, 2026, the delegation of the Academy of Public Administration and Governance attended the editor sharing session on international publishing experience and thematic sessions on the second working day. Simultaneously, the delegation held a working session with Prof. Bert George and representatives from the City University of Hong Kong to discuss potential cooperation in scientific research, publishing, and training.

The second day opened with an Editor Sharing Session chaired by Prof. Bert George, Co-Chair of the Symposium and Editor-in-Chief of Public Management Review.

The sharing session focused on international publishing processes, manuscript quality requirements, and strategies for developing a symposium paper into an article suitable for publication in international journals. Through this, researchers gained valuable insights into editorial, peer review, and manuscript refinement requirements prior to submission.

Following the sharing session, the symposium continued with two parallel thematic sessions. Session D1 on comparative social, fiscal, and welfare policy was chaired by Prof. Younes Ben Zaied, EDC Paris Business School, France. Session D2 on comparative development, sustainable transition, and institutional logics was chaired by Dr. Jungyeon Park, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore. Presentations focused on long-term care insurance, social security for platform workers, redistributive policies, just transition, and semiconductor supply chains.

Within the framework of the working visit, the delegation of the Academy of Public Administration and Governance held a meeting with Prof. Bert George and representatives from the City University of Hong Kong. Opening the meeting, Dr. Bui Phuong Dinh provided an overview of the functions, duties, training programs, and international cooperation activities of the Academy of Public Administration and Governance, while expressing a desire to strengthen cooperation with the City University of Hong Kong in areas of mutual interest.

Dr. Nguyen Quang Vinh, Editor-in-Chief of State Management Review, introduced the journal's development process and strategic orientation toward elevating quality and enhancing international integration, while discussing potential collaboration in peer review, editorial processes, and connecting with international experts and journals.

Dr. Vu Thi Cam Tu, Deputy Head of the Department of Training Management, discussed topics regarding student and faculty exchanges and training programs, highlighting possibilities to promote bilateral cooperation in academic exchange, teaching, and curriculum development.

Working session between the delegation of the Academy of Public Administration and Governance and Prof. Bert George alongside representatives from the City University of Hong Kong.

The working session took place in an open and pragmatic atmosphere. Both sides agreed to maintain dialogue to operationalize suitable cooperation initiatives in the coming period.

Attending the symposium and working with the City University of Hong Kong contributed to expanding international cooperation for the Academy of Public Administration and Governance, while laying a foundation for collaborative activities in scientific research, publishing, and training in the coming period.