Public Sector in the AI Age: Stakeholder Workshop at Alfred Nobel University, May 22 2025

On 22 May 2025, Alfred Nobel University, Dnipro, Ukraine, hosted the third stakeholder workshop in the AICOSERV series, titled “Public Sector in the AI Age: Needs, Barriers, and Untapped Opportunities.” Held virtually via Zoom, the event brought together over 30 stakeholders from regional public administrations, academia, civil society, and the tech sector, united by a shared goal: to harness AI for more inclusive, responsive, and co-created public services.

The session opened with an introduction to the AI-enabled co-creation model and its relevance for designing and delivering public services. Participants explored how AI can act not just as a tool, but as a structural enabler of innovation, reshaping how governments engage with citizens and how services are conceptualized and delivered

Picture 1: Dr. Yuliia Bartashevska presents the introduction to the AI-enabled co-creation model

This was followed by case studies from Ukraine and internationally, showcasing how AI is already transforming governance, from improving decision-making processes to supporting service personalization and proactive public engagement. These examples grounded the discussion in practical, high-impact applications.

Picture 2. Participants discussing the co-creation and participatory approaches in the public sector 

Participants then moved into breakout sessions, where they collaboratively mapped challenges, needs, and opportunities across various stages of co-creation. Discussions highlighted recurring concerns around system-level inertia, regulatory lags, skill gaps, and ethical governance, while also surfacing bold ideas and actionable opportunities for transformation.

The day closed with group discussions on the competencies and future-ready skills public servants will need to co-create AI-driven, citizen-centric services. Participants emphasized the growing importance of interdisciplinary thinking, ethical data use, systems leadership, and inclusive design capabilities.

Picture 3: Breakout sessions

Special thanks to Yuliia Bartashevska and Hanna Bondarovych for organizing this thoughtful, well-executed event, and to all participants for your contributions, engagement, and vision. Together, we are shaping the path for responsible, co-created digital governance.

Stay tuned for upcoming events in the AICOSERV workshop series – the journey toward AI-enabled public service transformation continues!

AI-enabled Co-Creation in the Public Sector: Stakeholder Workshop at Gdańsk University of Technology, 15 May, 2025
 

We were excited to host the second workshop in our AICOSERV series, this time focusing on “AI-Enabled Co-Creation in the Public Sector: Identifying Needs, Challenges, and Capacity Gaps.” Held on 15 May 2025 at the Faculty of Management and Economics at Gdańsk University of Technology, the event brought together public sector representatives and academics to explore what it truly takes to make AI-supported co-creation work in practice. With participants from the City Halls of Wrocław and Warsaw and engaged academic stakeholders, the workshop created a vibrant space for exchange on how to align emerging technologies with public value and inclusive innovation.

The day began with keynote presentations by Dr. Nina Rizun and Dr. Eng. Magdalena Ciesielska, who offered frameworks for thinking about AI not only as a technical tool, but as a catalyst for transforming relationships between institutions and citizens.

Picture 1: Dr. Nina Rizun presents the current landscape and future potential of AI in transforming public services co-creation"

Picture 2. Dr. Eng. Magdalena Ciesielska discusses the importance of co-creation and participatory approaches in the public sector 

Breakout sessions followed, giving space for participants to collaboratively map out critical skills, cross-sector competencies, and enabling institutional conditions required to advance AI-enabled co-creation in the public sector

Picture 3: Breakout sessions

We sincerely thank all participants -  Tomasz Janowski, Marcin Sikorski, Marita McPhillips, Artur Wawrzyniak, Marta Krukar, Kamil Rosa, Wojciech Krzosa, Justyna Wańkiewicz, and Marcin Adamski - for their energy, ideas, and dedication to exploring new approaches to digital public service innovation.

Key insights from the day included:

  • Let’s start not with what we know - but with what we lack, don’t understand, or hesitate to face
  • Innovation begins with shared understanding - across departments, sectors, and disciplines
  • Trust, soft skills, and open dialogue matter as much as tech and data
  • Tech moves fast - regulation rarely keeps up
  • Co-creation must flow both ways: to citizens, and back into public institutions
  • We need bridges - between tech and society, ideas and action
  • Unified processes and strong knowledge sharing make change possible
  • The future must be co-created - through honest conversation and collective curiosity

This was another important step in building a community of practice around AI and co-creation in public sector  -  and we’re only just getting started.

Stay tuned for the next events in the AICOSERV workshop series!

Responsible AI in Public Services: Stakeholder Workshop at Umeå University, April 9, 2025

We were thrilled to launch the first in a series of stakeholder workshops dedicated to exploring how artificial intelligence can be responsibly integrated into public services. Hosted by the AI Policy Lab at Umeå University, the workshop brought together a diverse group of participants, including policymakers, researchers, public sector professionals, and industry experts, to reflect on current challenges and co-create strategies for the ethical and sustainable use of AI.

Picture 1: Workshop opening

The event, titled "AI Technologies in Public Service: A Workshop for Identifying Needs, Challenges, and Solutions", centered around the theme "Ensuring Ethical AI: Aligning Technology with Human Values." It aimed to examine the growing necessity of integrating AI into public services in ways that are both effective and socially responsible.

The workshop opened with a powerful keynote address by Prof. Virginia Dignum, titled "Ensuring Ethical AI: Aligning Technology with Human Values," which set the tone for thoughtful dialogue throughout the day. Dr. Henry Lopez-Vega offered an insightful regional perspective, highlighting the specific challenges faced in Västerbotten related to AI adoption in public services.

Picture 2: Virginia Dignum inspirational talk: "Ensuring Ethical AI: Aligning Technology with Human Values"

Picture 3: Henry Lopez-Vega insightful overview on AI challenges in Västerbotten

Breakout sessions gave participants the opportunity to explore pressing questions in small groups, including what the public sector truly needs from AI, what competencies are required from professionals facilitating this transformation, and how diverse stakeholders can come together to build public services that are not only smarter, but also more transparent, inclusive, and sustainable.  Insights gathered during the workshop will inform the design of an interdisciplinary master’s level study program focused on AI technologies for co-creation in the public sector.

Picture 4: Breakout sessions (hybrid)

We are especially grateful to the workshop organizers - Nina Khairova, Nina Rizun, Henry Lopez-Vega, Viktoria Movchan, Virginia Dignum and the whole AICOSERV project team - for creating such a well-structured, inclusive, and inspiring space for exchange.

The workshop attracted representatives from Swedish government organizations, healthcare and transport authorities, municipal education and social services institutions, as well as university staff and researchers. In total, the event brought together around 25 in-person participants and 30 attendees who joined online. We sincerely thank all participants for their active engagement, thoughtful contributions, and shared vision of co-creating responsible AI for the public good.

This is just the beginning — we look forward to continuing the conversation in our next workshops.

Kick-Off Meeting, 17-18.12.2024, Gdańsk, Poland 

On 17-18 December 2024, the AICOSERV project officially commenced with a highly productive Kick-Off Meeting hosted by Gdańsk University of Technology. The event brought together representatives from the project’s consortium to align on its objectives and establish a collaborative framework for implementation.  A group of people posing for a photo Description automatically generated

(From left to right in the photo)

Day 1 Highlights

The first day provided a foundational understanding of the project’s objectives, structure, and management. The meeting opened with welcoming remarks from the hosting institution’s leadership – Dr Marta Kuc-Czarnecka – Vice-Dean for Organization of Studies, Prof. Michał Tomczak – Vice-Dean for Cooperation and DevelopmentA group of people standing in front of a projector screen Description automatically generated

Prof. Tomasz Janowski – Head of the Department of Informatics in Management, followed by institutional presentations that showcased the consortium's diverse expertise.

Dr. Nina Rizun, the project coordinator, presented a detailed overview of the project’s vision, highlighting the necessity of transitioning to citizen-centered public services and the transformative potential of AI technologies. Key sessions covered financial management, risk and impact management, and quality assurance, emphasizing administrative and compliance requirements. Sustainability planning was a central focus, with discussions on securing Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters funding to ensure the program’s long-term impact.

Day 2 Highlights

The agenda revolved around Work package 1 (WP1), which includes nine tasks essential for the development of the program, such as analyzing the subject area, understanding stakeholder needs, and designing the curriculum and supporting mechanisms.

A group of people sitting around a table Description automatically generated

Partners presented their approaches to the key tasks, discussing methodologies, expected outcomes, and timelines. Topics included the exploration of the context and needs for public service co-creation supported by AI, the preparation and execution of stakeholder workshops, and the integration of interdisciplinary learning approaches into the curriculum framework. 

The project team emphasized the role of collaborative workshops and interviews with practitioners to refine approaches, validate findings, and engage stakeholders. Detailed plans for preparatory activities, and conference/journal paper submissions were also outlined. The consortium collectively agreed on responsibilities for task leaders and timelines for deliverables. By addressing challenges, refining methodologies, and solidifying the project roadmap, the discussions set a productive tone for the upcoming phases of the AICOSERV initiative.

Main Outcomes
  1. Agreement on detailed timelines and responsibilities for project tasks.
  2. Commitment to workshop schedules for stakeholder engagement and validation.
  3. Development the plan for Call for Papers on curriculum design and operational mechanisms.
  4. Adoption of shared tools to align and refine task timelines.
  5. Emphasis on securing Ethical clearance for project activities

The Kick-Off Meeting underscored the consortium’s collective commitment to delivering an innovative and impactful educational program. Through collaborative discussions and strategic planning, the partners set a strong foundation for the project’s success.

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