EduAsiaNews, Surakarta — Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta hosted the inauguration of the Central Board (DPP) of the Indonesian Association for Public Administration (IAPA) for the 2025–2028 period, held at the FISIP Hall, UNS, on Monday, 9 February 2026. The event was attended by the Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform (PANRB), Rini Widyantini, S.H., M.P.M., reflecting the government’s support for strengthening public administration and national bureaucratic reform.
Also present were the Head of the National Civil Service Agency (BKN), Prof. Dr. Zudan Arif Fakrulloh, S.H., M.H.; IAPA Chair, Prof. Dr. Mujibur Rahman Khairul Muluk, S.Sos., M.Si.; Mayor of Surakarta, Respati Achmad Ardianto, S.H., M.Kn.; and UNS Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs and Research, Prof. Dr. Fitria Rahmawati, S.Si., M.Si.
In her remarks, the Minister of PANRB highlighted that Indonesia continues to face strategic challenges ranging from limited resources and the impacts of climate change to shifts in political culture that significantly affect the nation’s geopolitical and economic dynamics. These conditions require the bureaucracy to continuously transform in order to provide public services that are adaptive, sustainable, and responsive to societal needs.
In this context, the bureaucracy is not only expected to operate administratively but also to make realistic, data-driven decisions. However, data integration remains a serious challenge in government governance and democratic management. Dispersed and poorly integrated data across institutions often hinders policy effectiveness and the quality of public services.
The government continues to promote strengthening information systems and service integration, including the modernization of digital governance systems, which are expected to become a key foundation for more effective and sustainable decision-making and public service delivery. Mobility and inter-agency collaboration are essential to ensure service integration runs smoothly.
In the course of bureaucratic reform, the President of Indonesia recently reminded that one of the main prerequisites for national progress is the establishment of an excellent bureaucracy. A strong and professional bureaucracy not only supports development in defense and security but also serves as a vital pillar in strengthening democracy and governance that is transparent, accountable, and integrity-driven.
Meanwhile, UNS Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs and Research, Prof. Dr. Fitria Rahmawati, S.Si., M.Si., expressed that it is an honor for UNS to host this strategic national event. The occasion carries special significance as it coincides with the 50th Anniversary of UNS, marking five decades of reflection and commitment to contributing to scientific development, community service, and governance with integrity and sustainability.
As a professional organization, IAPA plays a crucial role in advancing the science and practice of public administration in Indonesia. Amid increasingly complex social, political, and economic dynamics, public administration is expected not only to be adaptive but also grounded in ethical values, professionalism, and public interest orientation.
“The theme of today’s National Seminar, Culture, Bureaucracy, and the Future of National Governance, is highly relevant to the challenges we face. Bureaucratic reform is not merely a structural or procedural change; it requires cultural transformation, mindset shifts, and new ways of working among state apparatus. This is where the academic insights and critical reflections of IAPA members become essential,” explained Prof. Fitria.
Through its strategic objectives under the acronym DREAMTEAM, UNS continuously seeks to integrate cultural values, innovation, and tangible contributions to national development. “We believe that strengthening academic and professional networks, as exemplified through IAPA, is key to producing public policies that are more responsive, inclusive, and sustainable,” she added.
