On November 6, 2024, at the AAPA-EROPA-AGPA-IAPA Conference held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Cuc, Dr. Hoang Vinh Giang, and Dr. Nguyen Thi Kim Chung, lecturers from the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA), presented their papers at parallel sessions panel 38 and 39 under the sub-theme “Public Administration in a VUCA World.” Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ba Chien, NAPA President and Chairperson of the EROPA Executive Council, attended and observed the presentations by the NAPA lecturers and international speakers.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ba Chien, NAPA President and Chairperson of the EROPA Executive Council, with NAPA lecturers and international presenters in panel 38.
Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Cuc, Deputy Director, the Department of International Cooperation, NAPA, presenting her paper at panel 39.
With a presentation titled “A Hybrid of Postal Service-Based and Online Mode as An Alternative Public Service Deliver: A Case of Viet Nam”, Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Cuc, Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation, NAPA, introduced a method for combining postal services with online public services to improve public administrative service delivery. The presentation emphasized a user-centered approach to delivering public administrative services, where postal services act as a bridge between users and the relevant authorities by facilitating service requests and delivering results back to users. This service model is particularly beneficial for users who are unable to visit government offices in person or access online services. Integrating postal services demonstrates an innovative approach that ensures effectiveness, fairness, and inclusivity, and leaves no one behind in accessing public services. The presentation also proposed adopting a design-thinking approach to focus on user-centered public service delivery and to design creative, innovative solutions that effectively address challenges in providing public administrative services.
Dr. Hoang Vinh Giang, Deputy Head of Division, Faulty of Administrative Sciences, NAPA.
Dr. Hoang Vinh Giang, Deputy Head of Division, Faulty of Administrative Sciences, NAPA, delivered the presentation titled “An Exploratory Study on How Civil Servants Resolve the Pradoxes of Bureaucracy in a VUCA World. According to Dr. Hoang Vinh Giang, in Max Weber’s theory, the traditional administrative model often provides stability and consistency through rigid principles and vertical control. However, these characteristics bring limitations, especially in a constantly changing world where flexibility, innovation, and swift response become increasingly essential. Facing this paradox, civil servants must balance strict adherence to regulations with the need for flexibility to quickly adapt to changing realities. Through in-depth interviews with civil servants in various roles and regions across Viet Nam, the study explored strategies that civil servants employ to navigate the conflict between the rigidity of the administrative system and the demand for innovation and adaptation. By delving into the context of public management in Viet Nam, the study’s findings not only clarify how civil servants perform under the pressures of the VUCA world but also offer recommendations to enhance the responsiveness and efficiency of the public sector. Additionally, the research provides practical data for policymakers and reformers to build a more flexible and effective public administration system, equipped to meet the challenges of modern governance.
Dr. Nguyen Thi Kim Chung, lecturer of the Faculty of State of Law, NAPA.
Dr. Nguyen Thi Kim Chung, a lecturer at the Faculty of State and Law, NAPA, presented her paper titled “Good Governance and the Rule of Law in Viet Nam.” Emphasizing that good governance and the rule of law are foundational principles for sustainable development, Dr. Nguyen Thi Kim Chung proposed that Viet Nam needs to focus on eight key dimensions of good governance: rule of law, participation, responsibility, transparency, sensibility, effectiveness and efficiency, equity, and inclusion to achieve effective governance. She further highlighted specific interferences, such as between good governance and the rule of law; governance and transparency in combating corruption; citizen participation; and accountability in governance. Her study underscores the role of the rule of law in ensuring good governance, noting that corruption has seriously undermined the rule of law and subsequently affects good governance. This research offers practical insights for policymakers in establishing a socialist rule-of-law state within the context of modern, effective national governance.
The presentations in this session from Vietnamese lecturers sparked significant interest among scholars in attendance. The questions raised during the session reflected a keen interest in how public administration can address unprecedented challenges in today’s volatile context. Discussions also centered on enhancing flexibility and innovation in governance, as well as integrating technology and big data into current state management practices.
