Professor Nirmala Dorasamy from the Department of Public Management and Economics in the Faculty of Management Sciences is flying the Durban University of Technology (DUT) flag high in Russia.
The NRF-rated full professor is currently honouring an invitation from the International Office of the Faculty of Public Administration at Lomonosov Moscow State University, one of Russia’s leading institutions of higher learning.
According to a report published by the university, her first guest lecture attracted a large and diverse audience, including postgraduate students. The lecture focused on the relationship between accountability and responsibility in public service.
The audience included participants from a range of academic disciplines such as economics, sociology, political science, public and municipal administration, management, and human resources.
Professor Nirmala Dorasamy.
From the outset of her presentation, Prof Dorasamy offered a fresh perspective by breaking down the concept of accountability into four key dimensions: political, economic, legal and cultural. Due to the high level of engagement and numerous questions from attendees, the discussion focused primarily on the political and economic dimensions.
Drawing on extensive empirical data from African countries, she illustrated how political and economic accountability can both complement and conflict with each other, presenting unique challenges for governing institutions. The lecture further explored the gap between formal and real accountability in developing democracies, the tension between economic accountability and governments’ responsibility to citizens, and the influence of cultural and traditional structures on public service accountability.
Participants also reflected on how these challenges mirror broader global governance issues currently faced by countries around the world.
Prof Dorasamy, whose research interests include comparative public administration systems, global governance, and the role of Global South countries in transforming international institutions, will deliver a second open lecture on 12 March 2026 titled: “Reconfiguring Global Governance: BRICS, Inclusive Development Trajectories, and the Formation of a New World Order.”
The lecture is expected to attract students and scholars in the fields of public administration, political philosophy and comparative politics. The discussion will focus on several key themes of the contemporary global political agenda, including the transformation of global governance institutions, the concept of inclusive development and its practical application in BRICS countries and Africa, and the role of the BRICS alliance as a driver of change in the evolving world order.
Prof Dorasamy also maintains extensive academic affiliations with research centres in Australia, Egypt, India and Europe.
Reflecting on her experience in Russia, she said the visit has provided a valuable opportunity for academic exchange.
“My experience in Russia thus far has provided an important opportunity to engage with students and faculty in an international environment. The lectures and academic sessions, including engagement with postgraduate students under the BRICS exchange programme, have provided remarkable exposure to diverse academic cultures, broader intellectual exchange and cross-cultural teaching,” she said.
“Overall, my experience at Moscow State University has expanded my academic perspectives and further strengthened international collaborations, particularly in relation to the BRICS agenda,” she concluded.
Pictured: Professor Nirmala Dorasamy at Lomonosov Moscow State University in Russia.
Zandile Mahlobo
