ETGN Summer School on Agile Governance: AI, Leadership and Strategic Foresight

Programme Description

After two successful editions, the European and Transnational Governance Network (ETGN) is now welcoming registrations for the third ETGN Summer School on Agile Governance.

‘Agile governance’ is becoming a “must have” for governments, businesses and international organisations, due to accelerating technological developments, alongside existential risks such as climate change, diseases and geopolitical tensions. Truly agile organisations are able to anticipate future events, quickly adapt to disruptions and adequately respond to fast-changing environments, which is essential for survival and growth.

Since 2020, many institutions have adopted initiatives on agile governance, such as the Government of Japan and the US Government and Accountability Office. The governments of Canada, Denmark, Italy, Japan, Singapore, UAE and UK signed the world’s first “Agile Nations” agreement at a panel co-organised by the OECD and the World Economic Forum.

This summer school provides an in-depth introduction to agile governance, defined as adaptive, human-centered, inclusive, multi-stakeholder and sustainable policymaking. Trainers and participants will discuss emerging tools such as foresight and horizon scanning, regulatory sandboxes, GovTech solutions, artificial intelligence (AI), policy co-creation, citizen engagement and many more.

The summer school will feature lecturers from the ETGN network, governments, and international organisations, as well as the private sector, in an interactive environment which will include various groupwork sessions, as well as a social programme in Florence and the surrounding areas.

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Programme structure

The programme will pay particular attention to AI, its regulation and big data. The sessions will include a discussion of how AI and big data can support agile governance through key techniques such as machine learning for predictive analytics. Participants will discuss the opportunities and challenges of deploying AI and big data in government, and possible measures to promote the trustworthy use of these powerful technologies.

• Day 1: Setting the stage: why do we need agile governance?
• Day 2: Designing Agile Governance and Leadership in Crisis
• Day 3: Artificial intelligence, big data, and GovTech
• Day 4: Agile Governance in action
  
  
  

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Describe the notion of agile governance, and the ways in which agile governance can strengthen competitiveness, sustainability, and resilience in public and private sector;
• Compare and use different approaches to the design of agile governance, from the business and the public sector point of view;
• Identify opportunities and challenges of AI and big data in government work;
• Recognise ways in which effective public-private partnerships and an inclusive policy process can strengthen government agility.

 

Who should attend

• Policymakers at all levels of government;
• Senior and mid-career civil servants;
• Senior staff in corporations delivering public services;
• Early- and mid-career lawyers and economic consultants;
• Staff in tech companies developing tools for government;
• Researchers focusing on tech and governance.

 

A training certificate from leading European policy institutes

The participants of the summer school will receive a training certificate from the ETGN, a network of six European institutes that offer top-of-the-market executive education for policy professionals.

• College of Europe, Bruges Campus;
• College of Europe, Natolin Campus;
• EUI School of Transnational Governance (STG);
• Hertie School – The University of Governance in Berlin;
• Institut National du Service Public (INSP);
• SDA Bocconi School of Management.

Previous editions

This summer school builds on the successful previous editions that took place in 2022 and 2023. The previous editions brought together participants from international organisations like the United Nations Development Programme, UNESCO, national governments, and European institutions like the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, and many others.

Read past participants’ feedback:

“After attending the summer school I have the tools and knowledge to be less traditional and more goal-focused in my work in public administration.”

“The summer school exceeded my expectations. I thought it was going to be very scholarly and academic but actually the combination of policy level work presentations, academic work, and case studies captured my attention and provided a tremendous value to learning from different sectors and approaches”.

“My experience was extremely valuable not only in terms of the content raised by the speakers but also because of the personal experiences brought by the colleagues.”