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The course is designed primarily for mid-level government officials, policymakers and other public sector professionals who are responsible for shaping digital transformation strategies and delivering citizen services. This may include those who are involved in designing, implementing, and regulating AI-driven public services, such as programme officers, project managers, policymakers, and regulators. It is suitable for those who are eager to learn about artificial intelligence (AI) and how it could be applied to enhance digital services for citizens in ethical, inclusive ways aligned with their national development goals. 

The maximum number of participants is limited to 35 persons.

Participants should have an understanding of the fundamentals of digital technologies and their role in improving public service delivery and driving development. The ideal participant is someone with prior experience in applying digital solutions to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of citizen services and is seeking innovative tools to further elevate service delivery.  The course is open to government officials and policymakers from all countries, but priority will be given to those who are from a developing country.   

Important additional requirements: 

• Applicants must hold an undergraduate degree in a relevant field or have a minimum of three years of experience in the above-mentioned areas if they do not hold a university degree. 
• Applicants should have experience deploying at least one digital technology in public service projects. 
• Possess a fluent level of English. 
• Complete the application questionnaire, provide a motivation letter and attach an up-to-date CV.
• Government officials and policymakers from developing countries, particularly women, are encouraged to apply. 
• Selection will be conducted by the course organizers, who will consider the above entry requirements along with an analysis of the application questionnaire and the motivation of each applicant.

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Describe the concept and importance of AI in enhancing citizen services and promoting inclusive digital development 
• Identify positive use cases for AI technology within government service delivery and develop approaches that leads to increased public trust 
• Evaluate whether AI deployment is responsible (ethical, privacy considerations), balancing tradeoffs between innovation and safety 
• Assess the feasibility of integrating AI tools into government services based on the current state of technology 
• Oversee implementation of AI projects and incorporate best practices from human-centered design, governance, and change perspectives

This course will be delivered online via Zoom, led by an instructor using PowerPoint slides, short videos, and other creative media. There will be a total of 5 sessions, each session to last for 2 hours. Sessions 1 to 4 will be held twice a week across 2 weeks while session 5 will be held 2 weeks after session 4.  To maximize interaction and engagement, there will be polls and surveys, breakout sessions for brainstorming and discussions, as well as short presentations throughout the course that encourage participants to draw on their specific environments. Participants will be assigned into small groups of 5-6 to facilitate teamwork and provide opportunities for networking. A final project will be given at the end of session 4, requiring participants to work in groups to identify an AI use case based on real-life scenarios including implementation measures and assessments of benefits and risks. The course will end with a final session held 1-2 weeks after, reconvening participants to present their final projects and receive feedback from instructors and peers. Participants will be invited to share their key takeaways from the course with the class.

Timeline of the live sessions: 

• Session 1: 25 March 2025 | 13:00-15:00 UTC
• Session 2: 25 March 2025 |13:00-15:00 UTC
• Session 3: 1 April 2025 |13:00-15:00 UTC
• Session 4: 3 April 2025 | 13:00-15:00 UTC
• Session 5: 15 April | 13:00-15:00 UTC

Students’ performance in this course will be determined using a combination of grades for pre-class short quiz, attendance and participation in class/ zoom session, and the final project: 

• Pre-training knowledge check: 10%
• Attendance: 15%
• Active/In-class contributions: 25%
• Final project: 50%

eek 1 | Session 1: AI and Governments
Topics Covered:

• Welcome and introduction; knowledge check debrief and learning objectives
• Definitions and key terms of AI
• Importance of AI adoption in government services

Learning Points:

• Get to know instructors and fellow participants
• Clarify the objectives of the course and what to expect in subsequent sessions
• Outline the definition of AI
• Describe the fundamental types and key terms of AI
• Explain the importance of AI adoption in governments, common applications, and its potential in elevating digital services to improve citizen experience

Week 2 | Session 2: Safe and Effective Use of AI – Part I
Topics Covered:

• AI benefits and risks evaluation framework
• Deep dives on efficiency, quality, accessibility

Learning Points:

• Make use of the evaluation framework to assess the benefits and risks of AI opportunities in digital government services
• Examine positive and negative impact cases on:
  • Efficiency
  • Quality and accuracy
  • Accessibility

Week 3 | Session 3: Safe and Effective Use of AI – Part II
Topics Covered:

• Deep dives on innovation and trust
• Barriers to AI implementation
• AI regulation

Learning Points:

• Examine positive and negative impact cases on:
  • Innovation and insight
  • Transparency and trust
• Identify key barriers in safe and effective AI implementation and how to overcome them
• Illustrate the need for AI regulation and balancing tradeoff with innovation to ensure effective and trusted services

Week 4 | Session 4: Strategies for Governance, Assessment, and Responsible AI Implementation
Topics Covered:

• AI governance
• Technical integration
• Change management and risk mitigation

Learning Points:

• Describe the core governance principles for AI and decision-making structures
• Assess technical requirements for AI implementation and integration within existing technology environments
• Identify change management and risk mitigation strategies for designing and implementing AI-driven government services

Week 5 | Session 5: Wrapping It Up
Topics Covered:

• Final project presentations and key takeaways

Learning Points:

• Develop perspectives on AI use cases and implementation approaches
• Summarize key learnings from the course and create a 6-month roadmap for AI next steps based on real-life settings