Government Leadership Training Programme: Digital Government and AI
2027
Are you a mid-career public servant who is ready for more responsibility? Digital and AI capability is quickly becoming part of what senior public service roles demand. Join us in Barcelona and build the expertise to lead these areas confidently, alongside other professionals from governments around the world. Each cohort is carefully curated to include a mix of countries and departments.
Ready for the next step in your public service career? You'll need to know your way around digital government and AI.
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. Most people arrive in public service having never been taught the subject they are now expected to lead on.
Public servants are being asked to make digital and AI part of how government works, often without the training, knowledge or confidence to do so. We support people across government to do this well.
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 covers digital government, AI in the public sector and AI sandboxes. You will work through real cases, leave with practical frameworks you can apply to your own setting, and get hands-on time in an AI sandbox you can use to test ideas.
Our reach so far
What participants say
“The programme has been really informative and really, really useful, and I think it’s going to be incredibly helpful for my teaching when I take it back home. I would recommend this programme to anybody who thinks that there might be a gap in their curriculum when it comes to teaching digital, particularly to students of politics and public policy.”
University of Sheffield, UK
“The programme was very informative. The most valuable part of the experience was seeing other colleagues share their experiences on AI, how they are integrating it into their curriculums, how they are designing their curriculums for public administration and public policy students, and the knowledge that they bring to the table.”
University of Pretoria, South Africa
“I learned a lot about the new topics broadly, and also about how to teach and what to teach, with many colleagues from around the world. It was very rewarding and productive. I’m going to go back to my institution and talk with my colleagues about developing a new core course for the entire master’s programme.”
KDI School of Public Policy and Management, Republic of Korea
Your instructors
The programme is led by our core team of global experts, with guest speakers announced closer to the dates.
Frequently asked questions
Who is this course 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 programmes
- 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 programmes looking to update curricula and educational offerings
How much does it cost?
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, accommodation and travel to and from Barcelona.
How do I apply?
Start by submitting the application. Where requested we will share further information about the programme. Places are limited and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to submit early.
We read every application and curate each cohort for a mix of regions, disciplines and institutions. The group is kept small on purpose — participants tell us that the other educators in the room are a part of the learning experience for them.
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.