While the Standards are still relevant today, they do not refer to recent inter-governmental agreements and to the insights from the work undertaken by UN DESA/DPIDG and IASIA in the area of education and training. Most notably, the Standards were issued before the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted by 193 Member States. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognizes the importance of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all (Goal 4) and the need to build peaceful, just and inclusive societies that provide equal access to justice and that are based on respect for human rights (including the right to development), on effective rule of law and good governance at all levels. Goal 16 of the 2030 Agenda specifically calls for effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels. Indeed, public institutions play a critical role in the achievement of all the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and targets.
Revising and upgrading the Standards of Excellence represents a real opportunity to affect the world for good profoundly. The Standards are being reviewed to mainstream the Sustainable Development Goals and reflect new developments in public administration. The review will be conducted through a global and regional consultative process. It will take place between 2023 and 2024. All schools and institutes of public administration, networks, academia and representatives of international, regional and national organizations can contribute their ideas through an online survey and by attending the various meetings scheduled throughout the year.
The new Standards are expected to be published in the Fall of 2024 and will be available on the UNPAN website.
Informational Booklet and Background Documents:
First Meeting of the 2023 UN DESA/IASIA Task Force on Excellence in Public Administration and Training held on 18 April 2023
The aim of the First Meeting of the IASIA/UN DESA Task Force for the Review and/or Update the Standards of Excellence for Public Administration Education and Training was to:
- Share the rationale and considerations behind the creation of the Taskforce
- Introduce the Members of the Taskforce
- Provide an overview of the scope of the IASIA/UN DESA Task Force’s mandate and work
- Highlight and discuss the role of the Task Force members
- Agree on a Roadmap and timeline for the Task Force’s activities
Meeting of the Regional Chairpersons of the UN DESA/IASIA Task Force on Excellence in Public Administration Education and Training held on 19 June 2023
Call for Contributions on the Review and Update of the Standards of Excellence in Public Administration Education and Training
Regional online workshops, September - December 2023
Agenda Template
13 September: Africa (organization led by Prof. Ludeki Chweya in collaboration with IASIA and with UN DESA contributions) (session in English) with possible collaboration with ALGA of UCLG Africa; 56 participants. [Event page]
5 October: Europe (organization led by Prof. Rolf Alter and Prof. Frank Naert in collaboration with UN DESA and with IASIA contributions) (session in English) – Completed; 115 participants.
3 November: Asia and the Pacific (Organization led by Prof. Alex Brillantes in collaboration with UN DESA/UNPOG and with IASIA contributions) (session in English).
8 November: Americas (organization led by Prof. Rachel Emas in collaboration with UN DESA and with IASIA contributions) (session in English).
4 December: Americas (UN DESA/IASIA led by Mr. Cesar Alfonzo, from IASIA) (Portuguese session).
5 December: Americas (UN DESA/IASIA led by Mr. Cesar Alfonzo from IASIA and CRA from UNDESA) (Spanish session).
December: Middle East (organization in collaboration with IASIA and with UN DESA contributions) (session in Arabic) to be held at The Middle East and North Africa Public Administration Research Network (MENAPAR) Annual Conference, 7-10 December, Egypt.
Expert Group Meeting for the Review and Update of the Standards of Excellence in Public Administration Education and Training, March 2024
Contact Information:
UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA)/Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government (DPIDG)
Juwang Zhu
Director, DPIDG/UN DESA
Adriana Alberti
Chief, Programme Management and Capacity Development Unit, DPIDG/UN DESA
Email: alberti@un.org
Cristina Rodriguez-Acosta
Interregional Advisor, DPIDG/PMCDU
Email: Cristina.rodriguezacosta@un.org
Gregory McGann
DPIDG/UN DESA
Email: mcgann@un.org
International Association of Schools and Institutes of Administration (IASIA)
Najat Zarrouk
Director of Development, Knowledge Management and ALGA of UCLG Africa, President of IASIA and CEPA Member, Rabat, Morocco.
Email: najat_zarrouk@yahoo.fr/Najat6098@gmail.com
Allan Rosenbaum
Immediate Past President, American Society for Public Administration; Chairperson, Accreditation Commission, ICAPA/IASIA; Distinguished University Professor, Department of Public Policy and Administration Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
Email: rosenbau@fiu.edu
Cesar Geronimo Rojas Alfonzo,
Executive Secretary of IASIA, Brazil.
Email: c.alfonzo@iias-iisa.org
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