Welcome
Dr. Shpresa Kaciku Baljija is a distinguished scholar in public governance, recognized for her influential contributions to both research and the practical advancement of policies and institutions.
Dr. Kaciku Baljija is a board member of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) – Section on Organizational and Professional Development, where she plays a strategic role in advancing global governance initiatives and promoting innovative practices across the public sector.
Dr. Kaciku Baljija is the CEO and founder of the think tank ASTERA Management and Leadership Institute. She has earned her Ph.D. in Public Governance and Administration from Southeast European University and has completed advanced leadership and management training at the University of California, Berkeley. Additionally, she has served as an expert advisor to various international organizations and government institutions, assisting in capacity development for the Government of Kosovo, the Kosovo Assembly, and independent agencies.
Dr. Kaciku Baljija teaches at both public and private universities in the Republic of Kosovo, offering undergraduate and graduate courses in public governance, international relations, international security, local governance, and academic skills.
Dr. Shpresa Kaciku Baljija is a global speaker who actively participates in international forums, conferences, and high-level policy dialogues. Her research focuses on sustainable governance in the public sector and on public service integrity. Dr. Kaciku Baljija has published articles in reputable, international, peer-reviewed journals.
Keynotes & Expert Panels
American Association for Public Administration, Annual Conference 2026: Building a Bridge to Renewal and Resilience, Hollywood, March 20-24, 2026.
• Panelist: Workforce Equity in Practice: Gender, Leadership, and Organizational Outcomes.
• Moderator: SPOD's session "From Classroom to Public Service".
International Political Science Association, World Congress 2025, Seoul, South Korea, 12-16 July 2025.
• Panelist: Technological Revolution: The Role of Tech, AI, and Machine Learning in Political Corruption.
American Society for Public Administration Annual Meeting 2025, Washington, D.C., March 28 to April 1, 2025.
• Panelist: Fighting Corruption: Humans and Technology.
Conference Building a Flexible Public Service through Innovation and Collaboration, October 1-2, 2024, Pace University and NY Metropolitan Chapter of ASPA, New York.
• Panelist: Pressing Issues in Public Service.
International Political Science Association, Research Committee 20 on Political Finance and Political Corruption, Bi-annual Meeting, Pembroke College, Oxford University, UK, July 31- August 2, 2024.
• Panelist: Regulation, Oversight, and Enforcement.
Annual Meeting of the Academic Council on the United Nations System Global Governance and Sustainable Development: Revitalizing Research to Support Multilateral Solutions, United Nations University, Tokyo, and University of Tokyo, Japan, 2024.
• Panelist: Corporations, Law, Peace, and Justice.
Annual Meeting of the Academic Council on the United Nations System: Making, Keeping, and Sustaining Peace, United States Institute of Peace, Washington, D.C., June 21-22, 2023.
• Panelist: Women in Peace and Political Processes.
The World Bank Symposium on Data Analytics and Anti-Corruption, Washington D.C., October 25-28, 2021.
• Panelist: Using New Data Sources and Methods to Measure the Impacts of Corruption.
University of Bologna, Department of Political Science, 6th Interdisciplinary Corruption Research Forum, June 16-18, 2022.
• Panelist: Looking for New metrics to Measure Corruption and Anti-corruption Initiatives.
American Society for Public Administration Annual Conference Democracy Under Threat: The Future of Equality in a Post-COVID World, March 18-22, Jacksonville, Florida.
• Panelist: Trust, Equity, and Accountability.
North East Conference on Public Administration Responsive Public Service Needs Inclusiveness in a Diverse America Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, University at Albany, State University of New York, November 5-6, 2021.
• Panelist: Emerging Issues in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Public Service.
3rd Interdisciplinary Corruption Research Forum: Mechanisms of Corruption: Regional Perspectives and Potential Solutions, organized by the Quality of Government Institute and the Interdisciplinary Corruption Research Network. University of Gothenburg, June 7-9, 2018.
• Panelist: Measuring Corrupt Behavior: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods.
International conference Democracy and Legitimacy: The Role of the Third Sector in a Globalizing World, organized by the International Society for Third Sector Research and the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, July 10-13, 2018.
• Panelist: The Growth of NGO Sector in Different Contexts: Evidence and Implications.
Conference Good Governance in the Balkans: Status and Perspectives, European Fund for the Balkans and Regional Research Promotion Program. Croatia, 11 November 2013.
• Panelist: Community Inclusion in Planning of Local Development in the Republic of Kosovo.
Webinars & Guest Speaker
Webinars delivered for the STRADA Program, supported by EIT Manufacturing and the European Union.
Leading Innovation and Organizational Change, October 20, 2023.
Strategic Leadership and Management, October 27, 2023.
Open Lecture for the University of Prishtina, Department of Political Science, organized with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s Transformational Leadership Program.
Challenges to the Functioning of the Civil Service in the Republic of Kosovo in the Context of European Integration, May 15, 2018.
RESEARCH ARTICLES
Evaluating the effectiveness of whistleblower protection: A new index
Supported by the World Bank, the article was ranked among the journal’s top five most-downloaded pieces, highlighting the strength of its empirical design and its significant impact on evidence-based policymaking and governance reform.
Baljija, S., & Min, K. (2023). Journal Name: Data & Policy | Volume, Issue and Pages: 5, E28 | Publisher: Cambridge University Press.
Measuring Whistleblowing Perceptions among the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo
Baljija, S., & Rustemi, A. (2021). Journal Name: NISPAcee Journal of Public Administration and Policy | Volume, Issue, and Pages: 14, no 2.
Assessing Policies for Ethics and Integrity in State Administration
Article published as part of conference proceedings ''Governance in Public Sector: Challenges and Perspectives'', Faculty of Contemporary Social Sciences, South East European University, pp.189-208, ISBN 978-608-248-027-5.
Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo: Challenges in the Context of European Integration
Article published as part of conference proceedings ''Towards a Better Future: The Rule of Law, Democracy and Polycentric Development'', Faculty of Law, St. Kliment University, pp.250-260, volume 2. ISBN 978-608-4670-01-8.