Semarang, September 9, 2025 — The Department of Public Administration, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Diponegoro University (UNDIP) organized an International Public Lecture entitled “Decentralization and the Future of Bureaucracy in the Global South.” The event featured Prof. Alex B. Brillantes, Jr., Professor from the University of the Philippines, a renowned expert in public governance and decentralization in Asia. In his presentation, Prof. Brillantes emphasized the importance of decentralization as an instrument for democratization and improving public service quality, particularly in Global South countries. According to him, the future of bureaucracy in this region is highly dependent on local governments’ ability to manage resources, build public trust, and strengthen cross-sector collaboration.
The event was opened with remarks from the Dean of FISIP UNDIP, Dr. Teguh Yuwono, M.Pol.Admin, who expressed his appreciation for the lecture. He stated that international public lectures like this are highly beneficial in broadening students’ perspectives and reinforcing UNDIP’s position in the global academic discourse on public governance. The lecture was led by Prof. Dr. Dra. Hartuti Purnaweni, MPA, Chair of the KBK Public Governance, Department of Public Administration, FISIP UNDIP, together with a team of lecturers, including Dr. Amni Zarkasyi Rahman, S.AP., M.Si.; Dra. Maesaroh, M.Si.; Junjung Sahala Tua Manik, S.Sos., M.A.P.; Nilam Adini Rakhma, M.A.P.; and Azaria Eda Pradana, S.AP., M.A.P.
The lecture was conducted in a hybrid format, allowing participation both on-campus at Tembalang and online via digital conferencing platforms. Also present were the Head of the Undergraduate Public Administration Program, Retna Hanani, S.Sos, MPP; Head of the Master of Public Administration Program, Dr. Dra. Augustin Rina Herawati, M.Si.; and Acting Head of the Doctoral Program in Public Administration, Ika Riswanti Putranti, Ph.D.
Students and participants came not only from Indonesia but also from various countries, demonstrating active engagement in the discussions. A notable moment occurred when a student asked about the comparison between decentralization in Indonesia and the Philippines, which Prof. Brillantes answered comprehensively by highlighting the differences in historical, political, and social contexts. Undergraduate and postgraduate students actively participated in the discussion sessions, reflecting a cross-generational academic enthusiasm for understanding global bureaucracy dynamics and their relevance to public governance practices in Indonesia.
“It is a privilege to engage in an academic dialogue with UNDIP scholars and students. The future of bureaucracy in the Global South depends on how we rethink decentralization not only as a structure but as a process that empowers people and institutions,” said Prof. Alex Brillantes, Jr., Ph.D.
Through this public lecture, UNDIP, via the Department of Public Administration, affirmed its role as an international academic dialogue platform that fosters cross-country idea exchange. Discussions on decentralization and the future of bureaucracy in the Global South not only enrich theoretical understanding but also provide practical insights for students and lecturers on how experiences in Indonesia and the Philippines can complement each other. With active participation from both national and international students, this event demonstrated that the future of public governance will increasingly be shaped by cross-generational, interdisciplinary, and transnational collaboration in building a bureaucracy that is adaptive, inclusive, and responsive to contemporary challenges.
