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.
(From left to right in the photo)
- Naci Karkin - United Nations University Operating Unit on Policy-Driven Electronic Governance (UNU-EGOV, Portugal)
- Tomasz Janowski - Gdańsk University of Technology (Poland)
- Nina Rizun - Gdańsk University of Technology (Poland)
- Nina Khairova - Umeå University (Sweden)
- Magdalena Ciesielska - Gdańsk University of Technology (Poland)
- Noella Edelmann - University for Continuing Education Krems (Austria)
- Yuliia Bartashevska - Alfred Nobel University (Ukraine)
- Anna Bondarovich - Alfred Nobel University (Ukraine)
- Aleksandra Revina (online) - Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences (Germany)
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 Development
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.
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
- Agreement on detailed timelines and responsibilities for project tasks.
- Commitment to workshop schedules for stakeholder engagement and validation.
- Development the plan for Call for Papers on curriculum design and operational mechanisms.
- Adoption of shared tools to align and refine task timelines.
- 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.