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IASIA/IISA conference lures delegates from around the world

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The 60th IASIA/IISA conference went live on Monday 26 July 2021.

The 60th annual international conference of the International Association of Schools and Institutes of Administration and the International Institute of Administrative Sciences (IASIA/IIAS), co-hosted by Unisa, took place from 26 to 31 July 2021 as a fully virtual conference since countries were in various stages of lockdown as a result of the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic.

Almost 300 delegates joined the opening ceremony. Apart from South Africa, represented countries also included Dubai, Vietnam, the Netherlands, China, Belgium, Lesotho, Egypt, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Ethiopia, and India.

Initially planned as a face-to-face conference to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the conference in Bela-Bela, in the Limpopo Province, the organisers had to change it to a hybrid conference with a virtual component and, eventually, to a fully virtual-only conference as South Africa was in lockdown level 4 until a day before the conference started.

Despite all the changes and challenges facing the local organising committee, a total of 414 submissions were received after 21 calls for papers were issued. Of these 364 (88%) were accepted and 196 (54%) were scheduled.

The conference was organised in 14 parallel tracks, six plenary sessions, nine panel discussions, and two workshops.

Familiar faces welcomed the delegates at the opening ceremony. They included Senzo Mchunu, the Minister of Public Service and Administration; Professor Puleng LenkaBula, Unisa’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor; Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, chairperson of the UN committee of Experts on Public Administration; and Chupu Stanley, Premier of Limpopo. The President of IASIA, Dong Qing, and the President of IIAS, Dr Ra’ed BenShams, also had words of welcome for the diverse audience.

Covid-19—a catalyst for development

Senzo Mchunu (Minister of Public Administration and Management)

Bad as it is, the Covid-19 pandemic has served as a catalyst for development that would otherwise have taken a long time, the Minister of Public Administration and Management said at the opening of the conference.

“We have never experienced anything like this, and weren’t prepared for it. It exposed our inefficiencies in respect of technological advances,” Mchunu admitted. He explained that government’s business had to continue, while also ensuring that people’s livelihoods were protected.

Mchunu added: “One of the challenges that government faced, was that it had to communicate with people in rural areas [where] we have inadequate resources to roll out technology […]. We have shortcomings, but we must address them and move forward.

“There is a realisation that we need to invest more in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). With it, government can improve and deliver services faster and cheaper. What we found, is that public administrators are acting in silos. We have to integrate systems, with the help of 4IR. We have to overhaul public administration and embrace technological advances in order to be more efficient.”

Conference packs donated to local Limpopo schools

All the materials that the conference organisers bought to fill attendee conference packs will be donated to four schools in Limpopo province, Professor Liza van Jaarsveldt, Chair of the Local Organising Committee for IASIA/IISA 2021, announced at the closing of the conference. This donation forms part of a three-year community engagement project in the area.

Investec will be sponsoring the learners’ tablets for the next three years, while MTN will provide gratis access to the internet, as well as data and a zero-rated platform with content aimed at social development.

Dr Sofiane Sahraoui (Director-General, IIAS) and Prof Liza van Jaarsveldt (Chair: Local organising committee of the 2021 conference) during the final session.

“The objective is to support education and skills development that will prepare learners for 4IR. At Unisa, we are optimistic about how education, technology and connectivity can enhance the future, and improve lives,” Van Jaarsveldt said.

Each conference pack/bag, which contains a tablet, stationery, and a water bottle, will be handed over to the schools as soon as the lockdown regulations allow.

*By Ilze Crous, Communication and Marketing Specialist, College of Economic and Management Sciences

Teaser image sourced from the South African Government via Facebook.

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Publish date: 2021/08/04

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