On October 2, Eka Akobia, Dean of the Caucasus School of Governance (CSG) at Caucasus University and Past President of the Network of Institutes and Schools of Public Administration in Central and Eastern Europe (NISPAcee), participated online in a roundtable discussion at the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) 2026 Annual Conference.
The roundtable, titled “One Wor(l)d, Many Meanings: What Does a Globalized NASPAA Mean for Public Service Education?”, brought together representatives of public administration and public policy education institutions from different regions to discuss the evolving global identity of NASPAA and the opportunities and challenges of internationalizing public service education.
The discussion addressed the role of international partnerships, academic collaboration, accreditation standards, and shared public service values in strengthening public administration education across diverse political and institutional contexts.
In her contribution, Eka Akobia focused on the challenges facing public administration education amid democratic backsliding. She emphasized the importance of international academic networks, accreditation mechanisms, and institutional partnerships in safeguarding academic autonomy, educational quality, and democratic public service values. She also highlighted opportunities for closer cooperation between NASPAA and NISPAcee in supporting public administration education institutions operating in challenging political environments.
The roundtable featured representatives of Rutgers University, Northern Arizona University, the Catholic University of Chile, the University of Chile, and NISPAcee, providing a platform for exchanging perspectives on the future of global cooperation in public service education.
Eka Akobia's participation reflected the Caucasus School of Governance's continued engagement in international academic dialogue and its commitment to strengthening public administration education through global professional networks and institutional cooperation.
