Dr. Eka Akobia, Dean and Professor of Caucasus School of Governance and President of NISPAcee (The Network of Institutes and Schools of Public Administration in Central and Eastern Europe), participated in the 33rd NISPAcee Annual Conference, held from May 22–24, 2025, at the University of Economics and Business in Bratislava, Slovakia.
The conference, themed “Polycrisis and Multi-Level Governance: Impacts, Lessons Learned, Challenges and Opportunities,” brought together public administration scholars and practitioners to address the interconnected crises confronting governance systems across Europe and beyond. Keynote addresses were delivered by renowned scholars Prof. Jacob Torfing and Dr. Miroslav Beblavý.
Dr. Akobia chaired multiple sessions, contributed to institutional and academic panels, and presented her latest research to Working Group 1 (Local Government and Politics) - Her presentation analyzed the interplay between decentralization, democratization, and Europeanization, with special attention to institutional sequencing and the limits of external conditionality.
In her presidential capacity, Dr. Akobia also signed two landmark Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on behalf of NISPAcee:
- With the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA), represented by Executive Director William P. Shields Jr.
- With the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA), represented by President Mohamad Alkadry, alongside NASPAA Interim Executive Director Martha Bohrt and NISPAcee Executive Director Ludmila Gajdošová.
These agreements mark important steps in expanding transatlantic collaboration and promoting global partnerships in public administration education and research.
The conference also celebrated scholarly and professional excellence through the presentation of the following awards:
- Alena Brunovská Award for Teaching Excellence in Public Administration;
- Mzia Mikeladze PhD Thesis Award 2025 – recognizing outstanding doctoral research;
- NISPAcee Merit Award 2025;
- Allan Rosenbaum Award for Outstanding Contribution to Academia in the NISPAcee Region.
Eka Akobia has completed her term of presidency and rejoins the Nispacee Steering Committee as Immediate Past President. continuing to support NISPAcee's work to strengthen PA education and practice in Central and Eastern Europe.
Caucasus University continues to make a contribution to the functioning of the network, both in terms of human resources and institutional support. Faculty members of the university are actively involved in the network’s academic activities, including conferences and scholarly publications. Notably, strong Georgian participation in the conference highlights country’s growing contribution to public administration scholarship and practice.
