Digital Transformation in the Public Sector

Introduction

Governments across the globe are increasingly recognising the potential of digitalisation for the improvement of public services, government transparency and communication with citizens. Yet digital transformation is not only about installing new technologies. It requires institutional readiness, informed policy choices and a culture of innovation. At the heart of this process lies the need for strategic leadership, inclusive thinking and cross-sector collaboration.

This course responds to these challenges by supporting professionals from government institutions and development organisations to better understand and shape digital transformation in the public sector. Through hands-on sessions, expert facilitation, peer exchange and visits to pioneering Dutch institutions, participants will explore how digitalisation can drive good governance, citizen participation and more adaptive institutions.

The course highlights key themes such as organisational change management, responsible integration of artificial intelligence, data driven working and public data ethics, as well as cyber security resilience. Participants will discuss digital reforms from a policy perspective, with a strong focus on governance models, institutional culture and citizen engagement. Practical tools, real-world examples and action planning will help participants apply what they learn in their own institutional contexts.

Key Information

This course is intended for policy and decision makers at national, regional, and local levels, as well as project managers and development professionals. Gain practical insights about digital transformation in the public sector from global examples and case studies. The course will cover both the opportunities for more effective city management and citizen engagement. Together with experts, we explore the challenges for digital transformation related to interoperability, usage of AI, privacy, and security.

The course fee is € 3.895*. Group discounts are available if you participate with three or more colleagues.

After this course, participants will receive a professional certificate of completion from The Hague Academy for Local Governance.

*Professionals working in local government or for local NGOs on the DAC list of ODA-recipient countries (OECD) may qualify for a reduced course fee. Contact us for details.

Learning objectives

After this course, participants will receive a professional certificate of completion from The Hague Academy for Local Governance.

The course helps participants to:

• Conduct a digital maturity assessment of their organisation and identify priority areas for needed development and improvement
• Integrate important policy aspects for designing digital public services that are inclusive, accessible and responsive to diverse community needs
• Apply change management approaches to lead digital reform within public institutions or development initiatives
• Integrate data-driven decision-making practices into policy development and service delivery
• Strengthen cybersecurity frameworks and ensure data privacy compliance, including practical responses to emerging digital threats
• Analyse ethical and legal aspects of Artificial Intelligence and identify success factors for effective and responsible AI integration in the public sector
• Promote open government practices by adopting open data tools that support transparency, accountability and citizen engagement.
• Develop a practical action plan that applies the course learnings in their home countries or organisations through a structured change management approach

Experience

The training programmed is designed to be interactive and grounded in real-world practice. Participants engage in self-assessment, structured group discussions, and collaborative exercises throughout. They visit several Dutch governmental institutions and innovation hubs that are advancing digital governance, including:

• TU Delft AI Hub, where participants explore how artificial intelligence is being used in the public sector to enhance decision-making, service delivery and system optimisation.
• The Ministry of Health, where participants learn from a real-life case of organisational change during the Covid-19 pandemic.
• The Open State Foundation, where participants learn about open data tools and digital platforms that enhance government transparency and citizen oversight. Participants are introduced to civic tech innovations that enable citizen participation and strengthen trust between citizens and institutions.
• The Control Room of the Future at TU Delft ESP Lab, a simulation that is used to prepare for cyber incidents, emergencies and digital disruptions. The simulation environment is used to test public service scenarios, assess system vulnerabilities and evaluate response strategies.
• Living Lab Scheveningen, a guided tour along Scheveningen beach where participants see first-hand how the municipality collects and applies real-time urban data. Through sensor networks embedded in public infrastructure, participants learn how data is gathered on environmental conditions, crowd flows and public space usage.
• The Municipality of Amsterdam, where participants visit city innovation teams and explore how data is used to improve operational efficiency and service design.