Academic leadership program:
Digital government and AI
Learn to teach digital government and AI confidently with case studies, lesson plans and AI sandbox designs ready to use in your own classroom.
For educators of current and future public servants - including public managment, public policy and political science faculty, instructors in national public service academies and others preparing students for a career in public service.
Do you want to teach digital government and AI but don’t know where to start? You are not alone.
Our recent review of 200 masters-level degrees in the US and Europe found that fewer than 30 percent offer a course on digital government or AI even though these topics are becoming central to public policy and administration.
Many public affairs educators want to bring digital and AI issues into their teaching but lack the materials, knowledge or confidence to do so. We support educators around the world to teach these subjects. We have trained 350 professors, instructors and educators in 55 countries. 100 have gone on to teach using our materials.
If this sounds relevant, this leadership program is designed for you.
Delivered by Teaching Public Service in the Digital Age and the Datasphere Initiative, this three-day course will equip you with the skills to confidently teach digital government, AI in the public sector and AI sandboxes. It will provide you with ready-to-use teaching materials, including lesson plans, case studies, course outlines and reading lists, as well as the chance to explore an AI sandbox you can use in your own classroom or research.
“It was an extremely recommendable experience and a unique chance to learn from other countries facing the challenge of digital transformation of public administration education. I have received valuable insights into improving my teaching.”
-Dr. David Zellhoefer, Professor, Berlin School of Economics and Law, Germany
- Program type
- In-person course
- Location
- Barcelona
- Dates
- 12 – 14 May 2026
- Duration
- 3 days
- Course organisers
- Teaching Public Service in the Digital Age and Datasphere Initiative
What you will learn
This three-day program gives you practical tools to teach digital government and AI with confidence. You will work with practical, ready-to-use lesson plans, case studies, exercises and course outlines. You will also exlore how AI sandboxes can be used for teaching and research. At the end of the program you will join our global alumni network.
You will learn from faculty from UCL, the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford, AI and Society College at SUNY Albany, the Harvard Kennedy School, the University of Melbourne and Carleton University. They bring deep experience in digital government, AI governance and public sector innovation and have worked with governments and universities around the world.
Program outline
Day 1 - Teaching digital government
An introduction to the foundations of digital-era government and why they matter for public service. You will explore essential digital skills, components of digital systems, the opportunities and harms of using data and key principles such as open government. The day includes a site visit to the Barcelona Supercomputing Center.
Day 2 - AI in the public sector
A focused look at emerging AI technologies and their implications for public policy and administration. You will examine real examples of AI use in government, work with AI tools, explore AI governance and understand how digital-era skills connect to AI in the public sector.
Day 3 - AI sandbox lab
A hands-on introduction to sandboxes and how governments use them to test and explore new technologies. You will examine how universities can use sandboxes for teaching and research, design your own AI sandbox concept and identify opportunities to collaborate with other educators.
“The Teaching Public Service Digital Masterclass was an exceptional learning experience, offering a well-structured and insightful approach to integrating digital tools and strategies in public service education.”
-Dr. Pooja Paswan, Associate Professor, Jamia Millia Islamia University, India
Who this course is for
This program is designed for educators who teach or train current and future public officials. It is suitable for:
Professors, lecturers and educators teaching political science, public affairs, public management, digital government or related subjects
Academic researchers working on AI and public policy, technology governance, public interest technology, AI ethics and related fields
Educators and trainers from the public, private and nonprofit sectors who develop public sector training program
Those responsible for capacity building within the public sector
Policy analysts and advisers from the public, private and nonprofit sectors
Leaders of public administration schools or program looking to update curricula and educational offerings
How to apply
Start by submitting an expression of interest. We will then share full application instructions, including details on how to secure the early bird rate. Places are limited and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to submit early.
Do I need technical or programming skills to take part?
No. The program does not require any technical background. It focuses on how to teach digital government and AI governance, not on programming, data science or software development.
Meet the instructors
-
Dr. Amanda Clarke
Associate Professor of Digital Government
Carleton University -
Dr. Mila Gascó Hernandez
Associate Professor and Research Director of the Center for Technology in Government,
University at Albany – State University of New York -
Ayushi Roy
Lecturer in Public Policy
Harvard Kennedy School -
Dr. Roxana Radu
Associate Professor of Digital Technologies and Public Policy
Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford -
Dan Hill
Director
University of Melbourne School of Design -
Carolina Rossini
Director of Public Interest Technology
University of Massachusetts Amherst -
Sophie Tomlinson
Director of Programmes
Datashphere -
Tiago Moraes
Data and AI Specialist
Brazil National Data Protection Authority -
Michael Donaldson
Chief Innovation Officer
City of Barcelona
Cost
Early bird price: €2,000
Standard price: €2,800
Apply before 31 January 2026 to receive the early bird rate. The fee covers lunch, one group dinner, all training sessions, teaching materials and site visits. The program is held in Barcelona, a city known for its leadership in digital government and urban innovation, offering an inspiring setting for three days of focused learning and collaboration. Participants are responsible for their visa fees and travel to and from Barcelona.
Scholarships
A limited number of scholarships may be available for participants from developing countries. If you would like to be considered, please indicate this in your application.