Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, proudly hosted the Public Administration Theory Network (PATNET) Annual Conference 2026 from 26 February to 1 March 2026, marking a historic milestone as the conference was held in India for the first time. Organized in a hybrid format, the conference brought together over 50 participants across time zones, including scholars, practitioners, and thought leaders from across the globe under the theme “Multiplicity in Motion: Governance, Theory, and the Many Worlds of Public Administration.”
The conference commenced with the PATNET Fellows Workshop, which provided an engaging platform for emerging scholars to present their work, receive mentorship, and participate in intensive academic discussions. The workshop highlighted PATNET’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of public administration scholars.
The inaugural session featured distinguished speakers and global leaders in the field of public administration. Opening remarks were delivered by Professor John Bartle, President of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA). The keynote address was delivered by Shri V. Srinivas, Hon’ble Chief Secretary of Rajasthan and President of the International Institute of Administrative Sciences (IIAS). The conference was formally declared open by Professor Zubair Meenai, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia.
The conference witnessed participation from eminent scholars and practitioners including Professor Vivek Kumar (Dean, School of Social Sciences, JNU), Dr. Vishnu Ramdeo (Founder, Cultural Bridge e.V.), Anil K. Antony (National Secretary & Spokesperson, BJP), Professor Sriparna Pathak (O.P. Jindal Global University), Professor Vadym Pyrozhenko (University of Michigan-Dearborn, USA), Professor Michal Plaček (Charles University, Prague), Dr. Michele Tantardini (Penn State University, USA), Dr. Triparna Vasavada (Penn State University, USA), Dr. Christopher Tyler Burks (University of Arkansas, Little Rock, USA), Professor Jyotirmayee Tudu (JNU), Dr. Sanhita Joshi (University of Mumbai), Meytal Masuri (University of Haifa, Israel), and Professor Hillary Knepper (Pace University, USA), among others.
The Hon’ble Vice Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia, Professor Mazhar Asif, personally interacted with international participants and engaged in meaningful conversations, reflecting the University’s commitment to global academic exchange and collaboration.
A key highlight of the conference was a visit to the Parliament of India, where international participants engaged in an interactive session with students and faculty of the Master of Public Administration programme at Jamia Millia Islamia. This experience provided a valuable opportunity to connect theoretical discussions with institutional practice and democratic processes.
The conference successfully fostered rich academic dialogue, global collaboration, and engagement with diverse epistemological perspectives in public administration. Scholars presented research papers, participated in plenaries, and contributed to discussions advancing theory and practice in governance.
The event concluded with a valedictory session where the conference was formally declared closed by Professor Mohammad Mehtab Alam Rizvi, Hon’ble Registrar of Jamia Millia Islamia. In his address, he warmly welcomed delegates from multiple countries and appreciated the collective efforts that brought this historic conference to India. He particularly acknowledged the leadership and dedication of Dr. Pooja Paswan, Chair, PATNET, whose efforts made the successful in-person convening of the conference possible. The next PATNET Conference will be held at Kent University, Ohio, U.S.A.
The successful organization of PATNET 2026 reflects Jamia Millia Islamia’s commitment to fostering global academic engagement and advancing critical and plural perspectives in public administration. The conference stands as a landmark event, strengthening international scholarly networks and paving the way for future collaborations.
Source : Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi