It was the first ASSADPAM conference to be hosted by CPUT, with a keynote speech delivered by the honourable Minister of Public Service and Administration, Mr Richard Baloyi at the conference’s gala dinner. The theme of the conference was public management at a crossroad in a changing world. The aim was to develop and sustain an empowering environment where, through teaching, learning, research and scholarship, students and staff are able to create and apply knowledge that contributes to development.

The five subthemes of the conference were teaching and learning, policy and governance, social development, economic development and public finance, and environmental management.

The School of Public Management and Administration at the University of Pretoria was represented by three attendees at the conference, namely Mr Michel Tshiyoyo, Mr Richard Mthethwa and Ms Moody Maphalla. The ASSADPAM convenor of the conference, Professor Bullard, described it as an event that consisted of three insightful days of discussion, networking and learning.

Between 40 and 50 delegates had attended the event, which concluded with an academic publication capacity-building workshop on 7 September 2011.