From November 14th -17th 2017, International Conference on Public Administration (12th ICPA) and International Symposium on West Africa Studies(1st ISWAS) was held at the University of Ghana and University of Cape Coast respectively. Scholars from the United States, Ghana, Japan, South Africa, Ethiopia, Nigeria and other countries attended the conference.

Mr. Wang Zhiqiang, Chairman of the UESTC Council thanked the University of Ghana for the organisation. He mentioned that, since 2005, the conference on public administration has influenced the field of international public management and provided platform for public administration scholars to discuss academic issues.

The vice chancellor of the University of Ghana expressed the hope that delegates will share academic views on the field of public administration. Professor Philip Duku Osei, deputy rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, Professor Harvey L. White, past president (2007-2008) of the American Society for Public Administrative, and Professor Jiang Xiaoping, executive member of the council of Chinese Public Administration Society (CPAS), delivered speeches. The theme for the 12th ICPA was “Managing across Organizational Boundaries: Innovation and Collaboration”. Mr. Robert J. Freeman, executive director of the New York State Committee on Open Government, and Professor Zhao from the School of Public Affairs and Administration of UESTC, spoke on the theme.

On the November 17th, the first International Symposium on West Africa Studies was held in University of Cape Coast on the theme “Promoting Social and Economic Development in West Africa from Global Perspective”. Professor Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, vice-chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, delivered a speech on behalf of the organizers of the forum.  Professor John McPeak of the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University and Prof. Akwasi Osei of Delaware State University delivered a speech on “The Role of Pastoralists' Tradition/Cultural Institutions in Climate Change Resilience in West Africa” and “Africa, China, and the New Global Dispensation" respectively.

Eight scholars including Dr. Shanil Haricharan of the University of Cape Town, South Africa and Dr. Obi Berko O. Damoah of the University of Ghana were employed as overseas researchers of the CWAS-UESTC, and Professor Zhao, Director of CWAS, issued them a letter of appointment.  Dr. Justina Namukombo from the University of Zambia won the “Best Paper Award, and other five papers won the “Best Paper Nomination Award”. Professor Zhao hopes that, the participating scholars will learn about Ghana and understand West Africa, strengthen their attention to social development, conduct joint research, and promote economic and social development in West Africa.