On October 2, 2025, within the framework of the 2025 PSPA–EROPA Conference, parallel sessions took place with the participation of a large number of scholars, experts, and policymakers from Asia-Pacific countries and beyond. This year’s theme, “Public Administration in the Age of Populism, Polycrisis, and Technological Transformation: Dilemmas, Dynamics, and Directions,” reflects the major issues that public administrations worldwide are currently facing amid a rapidly changing global context. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ba Chien, President of APAG and Chairperson of the EROPA Executive Council, together with Dr. Vincent Wong, Chair of the EROPA Resolutions Committee, attended the presentation session of APAG faculty members and international speakers.
The Vietnamese delegation, comprising lecturers from APAG, presented several research papers related to practical aspects of public governance in Viet Nam. Their presentations focused on institutional reform, decentralization and transfer of power, and collaborative governance for sustainable development. The studies received strong interest from international delegates thanks to their Viet Nam-specific perspectives, proactive and creative approaches, and open spirit of academic exchange and mutual learning among nations.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Hong Hai: From traditional public administration to modern national governance
In her paper, “From traditional public administration to modern and effective national governance in Viet Nam: A pathway to adapting to polycrisis and promoting development,” Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Hong Hai, Dean of the Faculty of Administrative Sciences, analyzed the transformation of Viet Nam’s public sector from a traditional administrative management model to a modern and effective national governance system. She emphasized that this transition is essential for adapting to multidimensional crises and fostering sustainable development.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Hong Hai, Dean of the Faculty of Administrative Sciences, APAG, delivers her presentation.
According to her, the traditional public administration, which is based on procedures, hierarchical authority, and compliance mechanisms, once played a crucial role in maintaining order and stability. However, as challenges grow more complex and volatile, this model has become increasingly rigid, slow to respond, and less innovative. Therefore, transitioning to a modern and effective governance model is imperative for Viet Nam to enhance resilience against multidimensional crises and promote long-term development. During this transformation, Viet Nam has made significant reform efforts and achieved notable results, such as streamlining its administrative apparatus, building a two-tier local government system, advancing digital transformation, and fostering innovation. Nonetheless, several challenges remain: institutional frameworks are not yet fully harmonized; management mindsets lag behind the requirements of modern governance; workloads have increased while staffing has decreased; digital transformation remains uneven; and infrastructure and civil service incentives are still inadequate. Additionally, the cultural diversity arising from administrative unit mergers has created new pressures on governance. From this analysis, she proposed key solutions, including legal harmonization, strong devolution tied to accountability, public personnel management reform based on performance, linking salaries to job positions and outputs, and enhancing capacity-building programs, all aimed at developing a citizen-centered, inclusive, and adaptive governance system.
Dr. Nguyen Thi Kim Chung: Inclusive and collaborative governance under the two-tier local government model
In her presentation titled “Inclusive and collaborative governance under Viet Nam’s new two-tier local government model”, Dr. Nguyen Thi Kim Chung, lecturer, Faculty of Law, APAG, analyzed several new aspects in the implementation of Viet Nam’s two-tier local government model as stipulated in the 2013 Constitution (amended and supplemented in 2025) and the 2025 Law on Organization of Local Government.
Dr. Nguyen Thi Kim Chung, lecturer, Faculty of Law, APAG, delivers her presentation.Since July 1, 2025, Viet Nam has implemented a two-tier local government model (provincial and commune levels) instead of the previous three-tier structure, with the aim of streamlining the administrative apparatus, enhancing governance efficiency and effectiveness, and ensuring the principle of Party leadership, State management, and people’s mastery. Dr. Nguyen Thi Kim Chung emphasized that decentralization in the education sector must be accompanied by stable revenue sources and effective coordination mechanisms. Based on this analysis, she proposed three solutions:
(i) ensuring adequate budget allocation under the principle that “resources follow functions and tasks”; (ii) establishing regulations for the participation of parents and communities, including the obligation to provide reasoned feedback; and (iii) promoting data sharing and interconnectivity among agencies for evidence-based monitoring and evaluation, thereby contributing to inclusive and collaborative education governance.
Dr. Tran Thi Vanh Khuyen: Collaborative governance in addressing sustainable development challenges
Dr. Tran Thi Vanh Khuyen, lecturer, Faculty of Administration and Governance, APAG - Ho Chi Minh City Campus, presented her paper titled “Collaborative governance in addressing sustainable development challenges: A case study of the Mekong Delta, Viet Nam”.
According to Dr. Tran Thi Vanh Khuyen, the Mekong Delta is facing numerous intertwined challenges, including climate change impacts and environmental degradation, as well as socioeconomic disparities. In this context, traditional governance models have shown limitations in addressing complex, cross-sectoral, and cross-boundary issues. Collaborative governance, involving multiple stakeholders, is considered a more suitable approach to mobilize resources, foster consensus, and promote sustainable development. Although the Vietnamese Government has issued various policies and institutional frameworks to promote regional cooperation, actual regional linkages remain superficial and less effective. Therefore, to enhance collaborative governance, it is necessary to establish a legally empowered regional coordination mechanism, transform the culture of cooperation, reform resource allocation, and expand the participation of the private sector and communities. These recommendations not only hold significance for the Mekong Delta but also provide scientific foundations for Viet Nam to innovate its governance model toward sustainability.
Dr. Tran Thi Vanh Khuyen, lecturer, Faculty of Administration and Governance, APAG - Ho Chi Minh City Campus, presents her paper.
The presentations delivered by APAG faculty members in the parallel sessions received strong interest from participating scholars. Their contributions at the 2025 PSPA–EROPA Conference not only showcased the research capacity of Vietnamese academics but also reflected a spirit of dialogue, learning, and international knowledge exchange.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ba Chien, President of APAG and Chairperson of the EROPA Executive Council, together with Dr. Vincent Wong, Chair of the EROPA Resolutions Committee, and APAG lecturers at the presentation session.