NISPAcee

30/05/2026

30/05/2026

📚🏆 Inspiring discussions, thought-provoking debates, and the celebration of excellence in public administration marked another outstanding day at the NISPAcee Annual Conference 2026.

One of the highlights was the Journal Discussion, which brought together leading editors from prominent public administration journals. Juraj Nemec (NISPAcee Journal of Public Administration and Policy), Maja Klun and Nataša Svržnjak (Central European Public Administration Review), Neamtu and Cristina Hintea (Transylvanian Review of Administrative Sciences), and Sabina Schnell (Public Administration Review) shared valuable insights into academic publishing, the peer-review process, and what authors can do to increase their chances of successful publication. The discussion was moderated by Martina Benzoni Balaz, Deputy Director of NISPAcee.

Another key moment was the roundtable discussion chaired by NISPAcee President Maja Klun and co-chaired by Hajnal, focusing on the role of knowledge, expertise, and evidence in strengthening democratic governance. Together with distinguished speakers John Bartle, Todor Tanev, Hoffmann, and Eckhard Schroeter, the discussion explored the challenges and opportunities facing public administrations in an increasingly complex information environment.

The conference also celebrated exceptional achievements in public administration research and practice.

🏆 The Allan Rosenbaum Award for Outstanding Contribution to Academia and/or Practice in Public Administration in the NISPAcee Region was presented to Juraj Nemec (Masaryk University, Czech Republic), recognizing his long-standing contribution to the field.

🏆 The Best Student Paper Award was awarded to Cătălina Saioc (University of Bucharest, Romania) for the paper "Ideal-type Coordination and Garbage Can Dynamics in Romania’s Ukrainian Refugee Response."

🏆 Juraj Nemec, as a member of the Award Selection Committee, presented the Best Comparative Policy Paper Award to the international team of authors of "Political Discretion and Administrative Authority: A Comparison of Chief Administrative Officers in 30 Countries."

Congratulations to all award recipients, speakers, editors, and participants who continue to advance public administration research, practice, and international cooperation across the NISPAcee region and beyond. 👏🌍

30/05/2026

RoseParty 🩷🩷🩷
Annual Conference NISPAcee SOFIA 2026

29/05/2026

✨ A truly inspiring start to Day 1 of the NISPAcee Conference! 🌍🎓
Yesterday brought together outstanding academics, institutional leaders, and public administration experts from across Europe, the United States, and Central Asia to exchange ideas, strengthen partnerships, and discuss the future of governance and public service.
🎤 The conference opened with welcoming speeches from representatives of partner institutions:
🇭🇺 István Hoffman - EGPA Representative and representative of Eotvos Lorand University, Hungary
🇩🇪 Eckhard Schroeter - ENPA President, German Police Academy, Munster, Germany
🇭🇺 Gyorgy Hajnal - Head of the EAPAA Board, Corvinus University, Budapest, Hungary
🇺🇸 Sara Rinfret - NASPAA President, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, USA
🇺🇸 John Bartle - ASPA President, University of Nebraska, USA
🇰🇿 Alikhan Baimenov - Chairman of the Astana Civil Service Hub, Kazakhstan
and conference organiser 🇧🇬 Albena Taneva.
💡 The keynote sessions offered inspiring reflections on today’s governance challenges and the future of public administration. Special thanks to:
✨ Thurid Hustedt - Dean of Graduate Programmes & Professor of Public Administration and Management, Hertie School – The University of Governance in Berlin, Germany
✨ John Bartle for his keynote presentation “Governing Uncertainty” — an insightful discussion on resilience, leadership, and navigating complexity in public governance.

The award ceremony was moderated by Primož Pevcin — Chair of the Award Selection Committee, Ljubljana University — and the award was presented by Ludmila Gajdosova - Executive Director to:
🎉 Áron Hajnal — Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary
📚 Award-winning thesis:
“Understanding Hybrid Regimes: How Are They Maintained and Operated?”

🤝 These moments are just a small glimpse into the rich discussions, inspiring exchanges, and international cooperation that shaped yesterday’s programme.
Looking forward to more inspiring conversations ahead! 🚀

28/05/2026

🎉 The NISPAcee Conference is officially open!

28/05/2026

🎉 The NISPAcee Conference is officially open!

Today, participants from across the region and beyond gathered in beautiful Sofia to kick off another edition of the NISPAcee Conference. 🌍✨
From the moment guests stepped onto the red carpet and entered the venue, the atmosphere reflected the spirit of the event — bringing together academics, practitioners, policymakers, and public administration professionals for several days of dialogue, learning, and networking.
The conference was officially opened by NISPAcee President Klun, marking the beginning of an exciting programme ahead.
Participants were also welcomed by Vice Rector Danova and Efremova, Minister of Labour and Social Policy of Bulgaria, whose presence highlighted the importance of this international gathering.

We are delighted to welcome everyone to Sofia and look forward to the inspiring sessions, exchanges, and experiences that make the NISPAcee Conference such a special event year after year.

Welcome to NISPAcee 2026! ✨

26/05/2026

📚 Interested in publishing in public administration and policy journals? Join us at the NISPAcee Conference for a special panel discussion dedicated to academic journals in our field.
The session aims to bring journals closer to researchers from our region, create space for open discussion, and help participants better understand publishing opportunities, journal profiles, and editorial expectations.
🗓️ 29 May | 14:00–15:30
🎤 Session: Journal Discussion
During the panel, editors of leading journals will present their journals’ focus, strengths, and opportunities for authors, followed by an open discussion with participants.
Speakers:
Nemec – NISPAcee Journal of Public Administration and Policy
Calin Hintea – Transylvanian Review of Administrative Sciences
Klun – Central European Public Administration Review (CEPAR)

💬 Do you have questions about publishing, peer review, journal selection, or expectations from editors? Feel free to leave your questions in the comments — selected questions will be addressed during the panel discussion at the conference

22/05/2026

🌹 Just one week to go until the NISPAcee conference evening!
As we are getting closer to the annual NISPAcee conference, we would like to gently remind participants of the official conference evening taking place on 29 May, hosted by the Department of Public Administration at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”.
This year’s evening is inspired by one of Bulgaria’s most iconic symbols — the rose.
May is the peak season in the famous Rose Valley, where the world-renowned oil-bearing rose is cultivated. Bulgaria is among the leading producers of rose oil, a product deeply connected to both cultural heritage and national identity, symbolising beauty, tradition, and refinement.
🌸 Dress code: PINK – ROSE
We encourage participants to embrace the theme in any way they like:
a subtle pink accessory, or
a more expressive rose-inspired outfit
From elegant details to bold interpretations, let’s bring a touch of colour and creativity to the evening.
Looking forward to an unforgettable night of informal networking, music, dancing, and celebration in Sofia!

more info: https://www.nispa.org/conference/2026/social-events

19/05/2026

📢 SIGMA Webinar – Delivering Value with Public Services
How can governments improve coordination, efficiency and accountability in public service delivery?
The upcoming SIGMA webinar on Governance and Co-ordination of Public Services explores how public administrations can strengthen cross-government coordination and deliver better value for citizens.
Key topics include:
• governance and coordination mechanisms in public services
• improving accountability and performance
• digital transformation in service delivery
• strengthening institutional cooperation
• practical approaches to better public management
🌍 In a context of increasing complexity in public governance, effective coordination across institutions is becoming a key factor for successful public service delivery.

📅 2 July 2026

🔗 More information: https://www.sigmaweb.org/en/events/2026/delivering-value-with-public-services/governance-and-co-ordination-of-public-services.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com

This webinar explores how stronger governance and coordination arrangements can support effective and coherent public service delivery, drawing on EU frameworks and practical experiences from EU enlargement administrations.

14/05/2026

🎓 Poster Session Spotlight at NISPAcee 2026 🤓
The Poster Session at NISPAcee 2026 will showcase emerging research, innovative ideas and ongoing projects from young scholars and researchers
Don´t forget to stop by:)
Poster sessions create valuable opportunities to:
• receive feedback from international experts
• discuss research in an interactive setting
• build academic connections
• increase the visibility of ongoing work

👤 Meet the Poster Session Coordinator: Bogdana Neamtu
Neamtu is Associate Professor, PhD, habilitated, and Chair of the Public Administration and Management Department at Babes-Bolyai University, Romania.
Her research focuses on the intersection of public law, public administration, public policy and urban planning, with a particular interest in sustainability, resilience and local governance.
As co-director of the Center for Good Governance Studies, she coordinates interdisciplinary research teams and contributes to international academic collaborations and comparative research projects across Europe.
She has extensive experience in leading and participating in national and international research initiatives, including Horizon projects, Marie Curie doctoral programmes and Fulbright research grants.

We are looking forward to seeing you soon:)
📍 Sofia, Bulgaria
📅 28–30 May 2026

more info: https://www.nispa.org/conference/2026/poster-session