„AI Technologies for Sustainable Public Service Co-Creation": A New Project at the FME | Faculty of Management and Economics at the Gdańsk University of Technology

Project Objective

As public services face increasing demands and complexity, the public sector is challenged to meet the evolving needs of citizens with limited resources. To address these challenges, there is a growing recognition of the importance of engaging citizens in co-creating public services and policymaking processes. Digitalization offers opportunities for such collaboration, and AI technologies have the potential to transform public services by improving efficiency, quality, inclusivity, and ethics.

However, effective co-creation requires more than just digital tools—it demands a deep understanding of citizens' needs and the development of comprehensive competencies among public sector employees. Existing master's programs often lack the interdisciplinary approach needed to equip graduates with the skills required for effective and sustainable co-creation in the digital era.

The AICOSERV project aims to bridge this gap by designing an innovative, transnational, interdisciplinary master’s program titled "AI Technologies for Sustainable Public Service Co-Creation."

Main Goals

The project’s overarching goal is to develop a fully integrated master's program that:

• Recognizes the pivotal role of citizen engagement in designing, delivering, and evaluating public services.
• Prioritizes vulnerable groups in the co-creation of personalized public services.
• Emphasizes AI-driven innovations for public service co-creation.
• Builds competencies for evidence-based decision-making in the context of co-creation.
• Addresses data management challenges to ensure effective AI integration in policymaking processes.

The project activities include creating shared mechanisms, such as recruitment requirements, integrated educational/training modules, a student service plan, a joint promotional strategy to attract diverse students, and standardized administrative and financial structures.

Partnership and Project Coordination

The project is coordinated by Gdańsk University of Technology in collaboration with institutions from five countries:

• University for Continuing Education Krems (UWK), Austria
• United Nations University Operating Unit on Policy-Driven Electronic Governance (UNU-EGOV), Portugal
• Umeå University (UMU), Sweden
• Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences (BUAS), Germany
• Alfred Nobel University (UAN), Ukraine

The project budget is €60,000.

Timeline and Local Coordination

The AICOSERV project, assigned to the Department of Informatics in Management, will run from November 1, 2024, to January 31, 2026 (15 months).

Gdańsk University of Technology Project Team:

• Project Manager: Nina Rizun, Ph.D.
• Institutional Coordinator: Magdalena Ciesielska, Ph.D., Eng.

The kick-off meeting is scheduled for December 17–18, 2024, at the Faculty of Management and Economics, Gdańsk University of Technology.