On May 7, 2025, the 2nd Seminar on “Social Equity in Public Policy,” jointly organized by the School of Global Affairs and Public Policy (GAPP) at American University in Cairo (AUC), the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA), and the China Arab Network of Schools of Public Policy and Administration (CANSPPA), was held at AUC, Egypt. The seminar was co-chaired by Professor Shahjahan Bhuiyan, Associate Dean of the School of GAPP at AUC, and Assistant Professor Noura Wahby. Experts and scholars from China, the United States, Egypt, and other countries participated in the event.

At the opening ceremony, Professor Bhuiyan warmly welcomed the attending scholars and audience. He emphasized that the purpose of this seminar was to further discuss social equity in public policy, encouraging participants to freely express their views, and hoped the conference would contribute to creating a better world.

Following the opening, five speakers delivered keynote speeches in turn. Professor Jozef Raadschelders from Ohio State University presented on “The Study of Public Administration in Time: Past, Present, Future of an Endeavor for Fairness Always in Flux,” systematically analyzing the evolution and exploration of public administration research. Distinguished Professor Mary Guy from the University of Colorado Denver spoke on “The Evolution of Three Concepts in American Public Service: Social Equity, Gender Equity, and Emotional Labor,” delving into the theoretical development and practical impact of these key concepts. Former Egyptian Minister of Social Solidarity and Supply Nivin El-Kabbaj discussed “Bridging Inequality: Egypt’s Social Policies in a Changing Environment,” addressing Egypt’s social inequality issues and responsive policies. Professor Yijia Jing from Institute for Global Public Policy (IGPP) at Fudan University delivered a speech titled “Governing a Big Country is Like Cooking Small Fish? Exploring China’s Governance of Mega Provinces,” analyzing China’s governance models and experiences for its ultra-large provinces. Associate Professor Sean McCandless from the University of Texas at Dallas presented “Operationalizing Equity: Comparative Lessons from 10 Governments,” offering an in-depth, multidimensional comparative analysis of social equity practices. During the open discussion session, the keynote speakers engaged in interactive exchanges with the audience.

At the closing, Professor Bhuiyan expressed gratitude for the wonderful speeches and active participation from the attendees, expressing hope for continued in-depth discussions on the risks, challenges, and policies related to equity in public policy.