KosovaPAR2023 Conference

KosovaPAR2023 CONFERENCE

The European, the Western Balkan and other states are at different stages of Public Administration Reform in order to provide quality and efficiency and trust towards citizen’s needs. Coordination and planning for PAR is a cornerstone of this, and countries have established various practices related to strategic vision, institutions in charge, tools and multi-level coordination.

Dialogue and exchange of practices is a way to share good and bad practices and contribute to improving public administration and governance worldwide. This “PA Reforms for an Agile and Resilient Governance” international conference is the first of its kind to be organized in Kosovo.

The aim of this conference is to bring together academics, practitioners and experts from international organisations and countries which have succeeded in this process. The conference is organized by Ministry of Internal affairs of the Republic of Kosovo in cooperation with the Office of the Prime Minister and the University of Prishtina as well as international partners, the German Development Cooperation and International Financial Corporation WBG.

The conference, organized during two days, will be dedicated to the further exploration of PAR concept itself, international trends and approaches in order to pave the way for more practical and applied reforms in various contexts. Because the intent is to have an agile and resilient governance, this conference will help discuss different and concrete mechanisms with illustrative examples employed by states around the world to achieve, if achievable, such a goal. Hence, we will be discussing on how to transform governance from a rigid and ineffective to one that is agile, responsive to citizens, collaborative and able to make of the state an innovative actor, a governance that is both agile and resilient.

Covid-19 has shown that bureaucracies could be agile but also resilient in extreme situations. This conference will discuss ideas that could lead to agility and resilience at all times, bureaucracies that are able to invent and accompany the private sector in doing so (For more, see How to Make an Entrepreneurial State: Why Innovation Needs Bureaucracy, Kattel, Drechsler and Karo (2022))

Dear participants and delegates,

Welcome to the International Conference on Public Administration, KosovaPAR2023. The theme of the conference is "Reforms in Public Administration for Agile and Resilient Governance."

Therefore, we will be discussing governance that can adapt to new realities resulting from technological advancements and changing citizen demands. We will also address the concept of resilient governance in the face of multiple crises, as witnessed over the past three years.

In the premises of the University of Prishtina, on November 22 and 23, 2023, esteemed academics, public officials, and students from Kosova, the region, and around the world will engage in discussions about public administration reforms. These reforms aim to enhance the effectiveness of public administration, improve the quality of services for citizens, and promote good governance.

The location and timing for these discussions are ideal, considering that the steps taken in this field by the government I lead are moving in this direction, and the results are already tangible. This conference is a remarkable opportunity to share our experiences and learn from the best practices of other countries engaged in similar public administration reform processes. It is crucial that we fully engage in this conference and contribute to the discussions that will help shape the path of our future reforms.

I am confident that this conference will be an exceptional professional and cultural event. We are committed to progressive changes in public administration and open to learning from the successes and failures of other nations.

On behalf of the citizens of our Republic, I thank you for your participation in this conference, which, in addition to becoming an annual event, will be a turning point for changes in our country and beyond. I am pleased to invite all of you to not only attend the cultural program on the third day of the conference, but also to explore our beautiful Kosova, which I am sure will be an enriching experience for you.

Best wishes for the conference proceedings!

Dear participants of the PARKosova2023 Conference,

The process of reforms in the public administration is a priority for the Government of the Republic of Kosova. The reforms that have been achieved and planned for the future aim to increase the efficiency of the public administration. Our various reforms are based on the best European practices and standards and are in accordance with the EU Acquis and they have been consulted with both local and international experts throughout the entire process.

Collaboration and the exchange of experiences are crucial, and for this purpose, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in collaboration with the Office of the Prime Minister, is organizing the international conference in November 22-24, 2023. State officials, academics, experts, development partners and students from all countries in the region, the EU, and other parts of the world will gather at the conference to learn and share.

To participants from outside Kosovo, we extend a warm welcome in our country, believing that, in addition to intellectual exchanges during the conference, our traditions, the hospitality of our people, our culture, and the beauty of our natural landscapes will make your visit unforgettable.

Dear colleagues, representatives, and participants in the KosovaPAR2023 Conference.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kosova, in cooperation with the Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, the University of Prishtina, and with the support of our partners GIZ and IFC, is pleased to welcome you to the KosovaPAR2023 Conference, which will be held at the University of Prishtina on November 22-24, 2023.

The Republic of Kosova has undertaken a profound reform of its public administration, taking significant steps towards professionalizing public administration, increasing transparency, accountability, effectiveness, and providing better public services. The reform of public administration is an ongoing process, and exchanges between the executive, public officials and academics are essential and must frequently take place. Hence, the need to organize KosovaPAR2023 Conference has naturally come and is becoming a reality. KosovaPAR2023 is the launch of what will become an annual conference, addressing different themes related to public administration each year. As a premiere this year, the selected theme is: "Public Administration Reform for an Agile and Resilient Governance."

For two days, academics, public officials, students, and other participants from Kosovo and around the world will discuss various sub-themes related to the conference theme in different panels, which are proposed by the participants themselves or suggested by the organizers. This conference will also be a networking opportunity and the beginning of interinstitutional and international collaboration. We welcome all participants and invite you to actively engage in discussions during the conference.

Welcome to KosovaPAR2023 and to the Republic of Kosova!

KosovaPAR2023 CONFERENCE

The Ministry of Internal Affairs, responsible for public administration, aims to advance, reform and modernize the entire state administrative apparatus to serve all citizens, businesses and institutions of the Republic of Kosovo with efficiency, transparency, professionalism and impartiality.

The vision of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is the commitment to a modern public administration, which serves the public interest, meets the needs of citizens and businesses and successfully completes the EU membership process, supporting democracy and the rule of law. To achieve this vision, reforms and improvements are being conducted to ensure further democratization, economic development and the successful participation of the Republic of Kosovo in international organizations, including in particular support for EU membership and the development of administrative capacities for performed successfully within the EU. For these purposes, the horizontal management systems in the public administration require changes and improvements, while the overall performance of the public administration must increase significantly.

In terms of improving the provision of services, increasing the effectiveness of public service, promoting transparency and accountability, as well as improving policies, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has subordinate executive bodies whose objective is to fulfill these goals. In this way, the Kosovo Institute for Public Administration (KIPA) is a government institution established for the training of civil servants and increasing the sustainability of the civil service in Kosovo in order to develop and raise the quality of public services offered by the public administration in the country. Providing training programs adapted to the strategic and legal frameworks. The training program at KIPA is based on the Civil Servant Training Strategy and the legislation in force.

The University of Pristina is a higher education institution, globally recognized for professionalism, integrity, quality teaching, and research. In harmony with the needs of the economy and the market, it will establish and maintain quality standards, supporting the mobility and development of academic careers for staff and students, increasing the number of partners, and joining the European higher education network.

The mission of UP is based on academic development, scientific and artistic research, and the provision of higher education through programs of strategic and developmental interest to the Republic of Kosovo.

The University enables the mobility of programs, students, and academic staff on an ongoing basis, intending to reach the international level and competition in the market. The University is an autonomous public institution of higher education, which develops academic education, scientific research, artistic creativity, professional counseling, and other areas of academic activities.