This course is designed for civil servants, policymakers, regulators, ICT professionals, interested in learning about the fundamentals of AI and its use and governance in the public sector.

The number of participants in this course is limited to 30. 

Members of the above-mentioned target population are invited to apply for the training if they meet the following criteria:

• Hold an undergraduate degree in a relevant field like public administration, public policy, social sciences, or engineering or have a minimum of two years of experience working in or with the public sector on technology policy or public services design, including artificial intelligence. 
• Possess a fluent level of English.
• Complete the application questionnaire available on the ITU Academy.
• 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 of each applicant.

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

• Describe AI systems and identify their core components 
• Relate AI systems to present-day use cases in the public sector
• Assess the risks and implications of an AI system 
• Develop the concept for an AI-based service in the public sector 

Participants will first be introduced to the basics of AI and its use cases in the public sector through a series of case studies and interactive lectures. 

Once they have a foundational understanding of the AI, ethical governance of AI and design thinking approaches, the participants will go through guided activities where they will apply the different concepts. 
In the final week, participants will be tasked to follow the entire process of devising an AI-based service in the public sector through groupwork. The group work will enable the participants to demonstrate their understanding of the subject matter by presenting a public service based on AI and sharing plans on the suggested governance of their service. During the final week, participants will deliver the end course presentation which they developed as part of the groupwork – this will be graded, and feedback provided by the instructors.

Dates and times of the live lectures:  

All lectures will take place between 12:00 and 14:00 CET (2hrs)

• Module 1: 
  •    Lecture 1: 14/01/2025 
  •    Lecture 2: 16/01/2025
   
• Module 2:
  •    Lecture 3: 21/01/2025
  •    Lecture 4: 23/01/2025
   
• Module 3:
  •    Lecture 5: 28/01/2025
  •    Lecture 6: 30/01/2025
   
• Module 4:
  •    Lecture 7: 04/02/2025
  •    Lecture 8: 06/02/2025
   
• Module 5:
  •    Lecture 9: 18/02/2025
  •    Lecture 10: 20/02/2025
   

• Quiz 1: 10%
• Quiz 2: 10%
• Quiz 3: 10%
• Group Work 1: 20%
• Final Presentation: 50%

A total score of 70% or higher is required to obtain the ITU certificate.

Module 1: Introduction to AI in the Public Sector

• Lectures:

  • Lecture 1: Challenges of digital transformation in the public sector
  • Lecture 1: AI use cases in the Public Sector
  • Lecture 2: Public procurement and AI
  • Lecture 2: Geo-politics of AI

• Learning Outcomes:

  • Discuss the opportunities and challenges of digital transformation.
  • Detail the benefits of AI in the public sector.
  • Identify the legal processes when utilizing AI.
  • Explain how AI can be used as a tool for diplomacy and politics.

Module 2: AI Fundamentals

• Lectures:

  • Lecture 3: AI project management cycle
  • Lecture 3: Understanding Data
  • Lecture 4: Types of AI systems (Part 1)
  • Lecture 4: Types of AI systems (Part 2)

• Learning Outcomes:

  • Define AI systems and describe their core components.
  • Identify the different stages in the AI project management cycle.
  • Identify metrics for the evaluation of AI systems.

Module 3: Public Service Design and AI

• Lectures:

  • Lecture 5: Design thinking approach
  • Lecture 5: Human-centric service design
  • Lecture 6: Designing AI-based public services

• Learning Outcomes:

  • Explain the basics of design thinking.
  • Apply design thinking to real-world examples.
  • Identify how AI integrates into the design thinking process.

Module 4: AI Governance

• Lectures:

  • Lecture 7: AI ethics basics
  • Lecture 7: Global governance of AI
  • Lecture 8: Different regulatory approaches for AI
  • Lecture 8: Applying impact assessment tools to AI systems

• Learning Outcomes:

  • Discuss ethical concerns, governance frameworks, and policies around AI.
  • Appreciate the potential risks and impacts of AI on society and the workforce.
  • Identify the various regulatory approaches of AI.
  • Apply impact assessment tools to AI systems.

Module 5: Developing an AI-Based Service in the Public Sector – A Hands-On Approach

• Lectures:
  • Lecture 9 and Lecture 10: Group work
• Learning Outcomes:
  • Identify the steps in developing an AI-based service.
  • Appreciate the process, considerations, and thinking methodologies for each step in developing an AI-based service.