By Professor Liu Hong, Director of Nanyang Centre for Public Administration and Chair of School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Nanyang Centre for Public Administration (NCPA) at Nanyang Technological University   (NTU) in Singapore is one of the leading institutions in Asia that provides graduate education and executive training in public governance and administration. We offer wide-ranging programmes conducted in both English and  Chinese, including Master of Public Administration (MPA), Master of Science in Managerial Economics (MME), Masters of Arts in Contemporary China, and Executive Training Programmes. First launched in 1992, NTU was the first international university to provide executive training programmes for middle and senior ranking Chinese governmental officials. Committed to multidisciplinary approaches to addressing important policy issues, and focusing on Asia through a global and comparative perspective, NCPA is dedicated to preparing and inspiring future leaders for the public, private, and non-profit sectors. We aim to enhance the quality of governance with our cutting-edge curriculum, top-quality research, and extensive engagement in the policy community.

As a new NASPAA member, we hope to become more integrated with the public policy community and fellow schools of public administration worldwide. Through various NASPAA global platforms and collaborating opportunities with other member institutions, we aim to attain international recognition for our programmes with the highest quality of graduate education and executive training in public governance. More details about our programme can be found at www.ncpa.ntu.edu.sg

The Middlebury Institute of International Studies is a graduate school for students and faculty who want to contribute to continued positive change in the world.

Our students come from

 more than 40 countries and speak 30 languages, fostering an international community on our close-knit campus. Our curriculum across all degree programs emphasizes deep collaborative learning that immerses students in culture and language, and gives them the opportunity to acquire and apply practical, professional skills.

Our degree programs focus on areas of critical importance in rapidly growing fields, including international security, human rights and social change, translation and interpretation, sustainable development, and global management. Students build a foundation in theory at our coastal Monterey, California, campus, and also perform research, data collection, and internships in relevant locations around the world, like Colombia, Rwanda, Spain, and Nepal. They return to the classroom to analyze their experiences and findings, and formulate prospective policy-all alongside faculty who are both research experts and practitioners in their fields.

Institute alumni find fulfilling careers at organizations like the United Nations, U.S. State Department, and World Bank, as well as at for-profit companies in Silicon Valley, and in banking and consulting.

The Institute also oversees several prominent research and program centers, including the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, the Center for the Blue Economy, the Center for Social Impact, and the Center for Conflict Studies. Faculty, current students, and a global network of alumni actively address some of the most critical issues of our time.

Founded in 1955 as the Monterey Institute of International Studies, the Institute became an official graduate school of Middlebury in 2010, enhancing our network, resources, and worldwide reach. We are excited to join NASPAA, as we share their commitment to excellence in public service education and training.  http://www.miis.edu/

The University of Louisiana Monroe (ULM) offers a 36-hour online-only MPA Program designed for graduate students anywhere in the world. The degree program was created with the central purpose of producing graduates with the fundamental public management and policy analysis skills for professional careers in domestic and international public, nonprofit, and private sector organizations. This online program is open to students globally without previous public or private sector experience as well as individuals presently employed in the public or private sector seeking to advance their careers. The courses are offered in eight-week and sixteen-week formats every semester, allowing the degree to be completed in as little as 12 months. Students may choose from concentrations such as Public Management, Administration of Health, Administration of Justice, Administration of Education, and Administration of Management. In April 2016, the program was named one of the nation's most affordable by GradSchoolHub.com. ULM joined NASPAA to continue improving its MPA programming and to contribute to the MPA community while sustaining high standards. For more information on the program, visit http://www.ulm.edu/onlinedegrees/m_pa.html. 

The College of Public Affairs and Development (CPAf) of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), since its creation in 1998, has made - and is continuing to make - its mark in the fields of development management and governance, rural/community development, agricultural education, extension education, public affairs and development. CPAf is one of only two colleges and schools in UPLB that solely offers graduate academic programs. Particularly, CPAf offers a doctor of philosophy degree in development studies; master of science and doctor of philosophy degrees in community development, extension education, and agricultural education; master and master of science degrees in development management and governance; and a master's degree in public affairs. 

In addition to its academic program offerings, CPAf is also active in various research and public service programs and projects. Its research programs are geared along the thematic areas of community development, education, management science, information science, public administration, global studies, agricultural education, policy studies, development studies, and governance studies.

Under the current leadership of Dean Virginia R. Cardenas, CPAf is on track towards becoming a world-class graduate research and public service college. It continues to expand and improve its curricular and research programs to address development issues not just in the Philippines, but also in the ASEAN region and the global scene. 

https://cpaf.uplb.edu.ph

Pi Alpha Alpha Induction Ceremony at Savannah State University

The Master of Public Administration Program at Savannah State University celebrated its 30th anniversary on October 28, 2016. More than fifty people attended the event including current students, alumni, current and former professors, and family members. The Pi Alpha Alpha induction ceremony was a featured part of the evening's program. Five MPA students were inducted into this prestigious honor society (from left to right): Natavis Harris, Shenna Simmons ,Godlove Binda and Brianna Dean. Not pictured, Kiera McKinney, was unable to attend the ceremony because she is doing an internship with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation in their Miami field office. Dr. Otilia Iancu, MPA Program Coordinator and faculty advisor for the SSU PAA Chapter, led the students in the Pi Alpha Alpha oath and then presented them with their certificates and pins.