Peking University, April 24, 2018: On April 24, 2018, in Leo KoGuan Building, Craig W. Thomas, professor and associate dean for academic affairs of Evans School of Public Policy and Governance, University of Washington, delivered a lecture titled “The Theory and Practice of Collaborative Governance in the United States”. More than 60 scholars and students from Peking University, Tsinghua University, Renmin University of China, Development Research Center of the State Council and other units attended the lecture.
Professor Wang Puqu, dean of Institute of State Governance Studies presided over the lecture. He introduced that Professor Craig W. Thomas was a world-famous specialist in public management and leadership, environmental policy and management, and collaborative governance, and had successively published hundreds of essays in these fields, having a wide and significant influence in international educational circles.
Professor Wang Puqu presiding over the lecture
After that, Professor Craig W. Thomas started his lecture with the discuss about American collaborative governance theory. He considered that thanks to collaborative governance’s great attention to government’s function and its designability, there exists huge differences between collaborative governance and other theories and practice patterns like organic collaboration. Then, he introduced his recent researches. These researches attempted to design principles for collaborative governance practice through approaches like empirical research and computer simulation. At last, Thomas emphatically introduced the progress of launching collaborative governance research with Netlogo, and then, he made a brief conclusion about this lecture, coming up with key propositions of further researches.
Craig W. Thomas delivering lecture
Professor Wang Puqu made a penetrating comment on this lecture. He pointed out that Craig W. Thomas’s work is extremely creative and illuminating. He considered that Craig W. Thomas’s research differed from western countries’ voluntary corporate governance theory, concentrating on government’s function in collaborative governance. Especially his analysis about governments’ choices towards different collaborative governance strategies is of great illuminating meaning to comprehensively recognize western public governance theory, and offers valuable experience for China’s characteristic research and practice on public governance.
Afterwards, the audience enthusiastically communicated with Professor Craig W. Thomas. Professor Craig W. Thomas offered detailed answers to audience’s questions and further introduced the reasons for his option in the research.
At last, Wang Puqu expressed thanks towards Professor Craig W. Thomas’s wonderful lecture and wished for the further cooperation. Professor Craig W. Thomas conveyed thanks to Institute of State Governance Studies’ meticulous arrangement and enthusiastic reception. He said that it was the first time for him to visit China and Peking University. He had a perfect impression and was looking forward to the further cooperation with Peking University Institute of State Governance Studies and Chinese scholars.
Written by: Wang Xiaokun
Edited by: Hu Rong
