Global Scholars Gather at IUJ to Explore “Asian Perspectives on Good Governance”

The International University of Japan (IUJ) hosted the 2nd International Workshop on Asian Perspectives on Good Governance on May 15–16, 2026, at IUJ and NASPA New Otani in Niigata.

The workshop was co-organized by the IUJ Research Institute (IRI) and the Nanyang Centre for Public Administration (NCPA), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, and coordinated by Professor Chengwei Xu of GSIR. The event brought together 35 scholars, policymakers, and practitioner-scholars from leading institutions across Asia, Europe, North America, Africa, and the Middle East.

Participants discussed a wide range of topics related to governance and public administration, including regional integration, public sector reform, sustainable development, digital governance, and the growing impact of artificial intelligence on policymaking and higher education.

Opening the workshop, Professor Liu Hong, Associate Vice President of NTU and Director of NCPA, emphasized Asia’s growing role as a source of governance innovation. Professor Hiroshi Kato, Vice President of IUJ, highlighted the importance of international academic collaboration in addressing global governance challenges.

The workshop also featured a keynote address by Professor Arkebe Oqubay, former Senior Minister and Special Adviser to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, titled “The Governance of Economy in Asia: Rethinking and Moving Beyond Western Models and Colonial Legacies.”

In addition, IRI Director Professor Zhang-Zhang YingYing conducted a Garden Talk @ Sakura Lane on strategic people management and sustainable development, drawing on Japanese management practices and innovation ecosystems.

Throughout the workshop, participants examined how Asian and Global South perspectives can contribute new approaches to governance beyond traditional Western frameworks. Discussions also explored the emergence of “Asian models” of governance and their increasing relevance to global policy discussions.

The workshop concluded with discussions regarding a forthcoming collaborative handbook project tentatively titled Asian Perspectives on Good Governance, as well as a cultural tour of Minamiuonuma that provided opportunities for further academic exchange.

A detailed workshop report is available below as an attachment.

Report