From July 14–19, 2025, a faculty–student delegation from the School of Public Administration and Policy, Renmin University of China, attended the 2025 Swiss–Asian Summer School (SASS) at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. Led by Professor Yang Hongshan, the group included PhD students Li Hailin, Cui Guanyun, Feng Siyuan, and Gao Feifan. Launched by the Swiss Graduate School of Public Administration (IDHEAP) at the University of Lausanne and hosted this year by NTU’s Nanyang Centre for Public Administration (NCPA), the program brought together 37 participants from seven institutions: Renmin University of China, Sun Yat-sen University, the University of Lausanne, NTU, Seoul National University, Yonsei University, and Chiang Mai University.

SASS opened on July 14 with remarks by Liu Hong, associate vice president of NTU, and Wang Jue, dean of NCPA, who welcomed the faculty leads and doctoral students. Nils Soguel, vice dean of IDHEAP, reviewed the program’s history and highlighted expectations for this year’s exchanges. Following the ceremony, participants engaged in six days of activities centered on two components: academic paper discussions and field visits.

                                 Group photo of the 2025 SASS Summer School

During the academic exchange sessions, faculty and students presented research spanning AI applications and regulation, digital transformation in public administration, open public data, policy experimentation and agenda setting, land-resource management, integrity and anti-corruption, public-service delivery, urban, local, grassroots governance, organizational decision-making, and international relations.

Professor Yang Hongshan delivered a keynote lecture, “Policy Experimentation in China.” He outlined China’s policy-making system and administrative structure, explained why large-scale experimentation has accompanied the reform era, detailed the organizational mechanisms and functions of pilot programs, and showed how these experiments spur policy innovation and improve the effectiveness and adaptability of public governance.

                         Professor Yang Hongshan delivers the keynote speech

Our PhD students—Feng Siyuan, Cui Guanyun, Gao Feifan, and Li Hailin—presented findings on land-degradation assessment and governance, determinants of willingness to support anti-corruption efforts, governance in aging communities, and AI applications in market regulation.

                                  PhD student Feng Siyuan presenting her paper

                               PhD student Cui Guanyun presenting his paper

                                PhD student Gao Feifan presenting his paper

                                    PhD student Li Hailin presenting his paper

On the afternoon of July 19, the Swiss–Asian Summer School concluded at NTU’s Nanyang Centre for Public Administration. In his closing remarks, Professor Nils Soguel commended the strong engagement of all participating institutions and the program’s scholarly outcomes. Faculty and students thanked the organizers, shared key takeaways, and expressed enthusiasm for future exchanges to advance the theory and practice of public administration.

                                             Academic exchanges at the venue