18-19 June 2026, Bangkok, Thailand

ReSPA was honoured to participate in the 2026 Annual Meeting of the OECD Network of Schools of Government, under the theme “Leadership for Transformation.” Hosted by Thailand’s Office of the Civil Service Commission and its Civil Service Training Institute, the event brought together leaders of schools of government, senior public officials, academics, and international experts to explore how public services can build the capabilities needed to navigate rapid technological, demographic, and societal change.

The meeting opened with remarks by Professor Geert Bouckaert, Chair of the OECD Network of Schools of Government, Piyawat Sivaraks, Secretary General of Thailand’s Office of the Civil Service Commission, and Jón Blöndal, Head of Public Management and Budgeting at the OECD, followed by a keynote address by Pakorn Nilprapunt, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand. Throughout the two-day programme, participants exchanged experiences on strengthening public sector leadership, advancing AI adoption in government, and rethinking learning and development for civil servants.

Discussions on transforming public services featured distinguished speakers, including Kenneth Wong from the University of Hong Kong, Gaia Taffoni from the European University Institute, Manuel Pastor, Director General of Spain’s National Institute for Public Administration, and Nick Erdody, President of the Canada School of Public Service. The programme also explored the implications of artificial intelligence for government, with contributions from Alana Baker of the OECD, Kraiphol Aranyarat of the Supreme Court of Thailand, H.E. Ali Al-Marri and Fadi Salem of the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government, and Wei Zhong of Tsinghua University.
ReSPA contributed to the session “Rethinking Learning,” which focused on how schools of government can recognise, enable, and amplify learning that takes place beyond traditional classroom settings. As governments face increasingly complex challenges, the session examined how learning-by-doing and workplace-based development can become core elements of civil service learning strategies.

During the session, ReSPA presented the piloting of the Beyond Classroom Learning model in partnership with the National School of Public Administration of Croatia. The initiative was showcased as a multi-country effort designed to strengthen informal and experiential learning for public sector leaders. Jelena Mrdak, Acting Director of ReSPA, Valentina Miličić, Assistant Director of the Croatian National School of Public Administration, and Osman Bayraktar, Senior Learning and Development Consultant, shared how schools of government can evolve from providers of training programmes into architects of learning ecosystems that connect leadership development with real organisational challenges and everyday work.

“We are proud to embark on this journey towards developing a learning architecture for the new set of competencies required by the public administration of the future. Beyond Classroom Learning helps us connect leadership development with real work, real organisational challenges and continuous learning,” said Mrdak.

The session also featured perspectives from Meita Ahadiyati Kartikaningsih, Director at Indonesia’s National Institute of Public Administration, and Ra’ed BenShams, Advisor at Bahrain’s Ministry of Cabinet Affairs, offering diverse insights into how schools of government can better support leadership development and organisational learning in rapidly changing environments.

The presentation generated significant interest among participants and was followed by a rich exchange of ideas on workplace-based learning, informal learning methods, and the future role of schools of government. These discussions reinforced the importance of moving beyond conventional training models and creating learning systems that are embedded in the realities of public sector work.

ReSPA extends its sincere gratitude to Professor Geert Bouckaert, Jón Blöndal, Alana Baker, and Corey Steinhouse for their leadership and support, as well as to Piyawat Sivaraks and the entire team of Thailand’s Office of the Civil Service Commission and its Civil Service Training Institute for the outstanding organisation of the event.

We are also deeply grateful to the Royal Thai Government for its exceptional professionalism and warm hospitality during a particularly solemn period for Thailand following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, The Queen Mother, and Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendira Debyavati. Our thoughts and sincere condolences remain with the Royal Family and the people of Thailand.

Participation in the OECD Network of Schools of Government Annual Meeting once again demonstrated the value of international cooperation, peer learning, and innovation in shaping future-ready public administrations. Through initiatives such as Beyond Classroom Learning, ReSPA remains committed to supporting public sector leaders across the Western Balkans in developing the competencies, mindsets, and learning cultures needed to lead transformation and deliver better outcomes for citizens.