In line with its Programme of Work for the 2023-2025 period, and as the continuation of previously conducted E-GOV Seasonal School events, ReSPA is organising the Seasonal School in Digital Transformation 2025 (Seasonal School 2025) with the overarching theme "Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning for Public Administration”.

In line with its Programme of Work 2023–2025 and building on previous eGov Seasonal Schools, ReSPA, SIGMA, and the GIZ Regional Project “Public Administration Reform in the Eastern Partnership Countries” are co-organizing the Seasonal School in Digital Transformation 2025, with the theme “Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning for Public Administration”. This year’s edition will be linked to the Western Balkans Digital Summit 2025, ensuring that the outcomes and insights are disseminated and aligned with regional digital agendas.

The Seasonal School will gather experts, policymakers, and practitioners from the EU, Western Balkans, and Eastern Partnership to explore responsible and inclusive use of AI in public administration. Through lectures, case studies, and peer exchanges, participants will learn about AI applications in service delivery, regulatory and ethical frameworks (including the EU AI Act and UNESCO recommendations), and skills needed for AI project management. The programme also aims to strengthen regional cooperation, peer learning, and networking, supporting governments in aligning with EU standards and adopting citizen-centered digital solutions:

• Day 1 – Foundations and Policy Landscape - The first day sets the strategic context of AI in public administration, beginning with a keynote on AI for Public Good. Sessions focus on AI in public service delivery, the EU AI Act and regulatory landscape, SMART REGUL(AI)TE for better regulation, and frameworks for ethical and trustworthy AI. The day ends with a panel on institutional readiness for AI adoption.
• Day 2 – Practical Implementation and Skills - The second day is hands-on, with sessions on AI education and skills for civil servants, data governance and interoperability, and AI as public infrastructure (privacy, inclusivity, international best practices). The afternoon includes a workshop on no-code AI tools using public datasets, followed by peer exchange and action planning where participants reflect on lessons and outline institutional next steps.
• Day 3 – Governance, Legal Foundations, and Regional Alignment - The final day looks at strategic AI governance models and introduces the AI4Gov-X Project to support AI readiness. Cristian Rupp will lead a session on the EU AI Act, GDPR interplay, and the AI Factory, followed by discussions on national alignment with EU frameworks and sharing of good practices. The school closes with future steps for institutions and regional cooperation, before transitioning to the Western Balkan Digital Summit 2025.
• Western Balkan Digital Summit 2025

Participants will join the Summit sessions to connect the school’s outcomes with wider regional and international digital agendas, gain insights from leading experts, and strengthen links between institutional initiatives and broader reforms shaping the future of digital governance in the Western Balkans.

Participants

This Seasonal School will bring together experts and researchers from the EU and Western Balkans, representatives of governmental institutions, holders of governmental data and AI application models, senior to mid-level professionals, members of the ReSPA Digital Transformation subgroup and winners from the Open Data Regional Challenge.

The Seasonal School in Digital Transformation 2025 will bring together participants from the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries, alongside EU experts, practitioners, and policymakers. Participants will include senior and mid-level public officials, members of the ReSPA Digital Transformation subgroup, representatives of governmental institutions, and specialists working on AI and digital governance.