European University Programme Trains Public Sector Professionals to Become AI Experts

The familiar warning that those who fail to learn how to use artificial intelligence will quickly fall behind applies not only to businesses but also to the public sector. This recognition lies behind the AI4Gov-X initiative, an EU-funded project in which leading European universities have developed a comprehensive AI education portfolio for public administration professionals.

“While there are many AI courses available, ranging from a few days to a semester in length, there has been no university-level master's programme comparable to the one offered by AI4Gov-X, which is also complemented by modular short courses. The programme's quality is guaranteed by the participating institutions. The consortium, coordinated by Politecnico di Milano, brings together prestigious partners including BME, the University of Bologna, the Technical University of Madrid, KU Leuven, and several other renowned universities, each contributing outstanding courses,” Balázs Vince Nagy, Associate Professor at BME's Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and the University's AI4Gov-X project coordinator, told bme.hu.

It's easier with an AI counselor

Anyone wishing to use AI tools beyond personal purposes soon encounters practical challenges — for example, sensitive data cannot simply be uploaded to a standard AI account. Many people are also unsure about the tasks for which artificial intelligence can be genuinely useful. However, if an organisation has a knowledgeable colleague who can provide trusted guidance on such issues, adopting AI becomes far less daunting.

Such professionals are already in high demand, and the need will only continue to grow as digital transformation accelerates. 

“The paradigm shift will be comparable to the transition from typewriters to Microsoft Word. Over time, AI literacy will become a fundamental and indispensable skill for virtually every digital profession,” 

said András Czmerk, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and a BME member of the project team.

Preparing the entire public sector overnight in the technological, ethical and security aspects of AI is, of course, unrealistic. “But if every municipality, for example, had a middle manager equipped with the right knowledge and skills, it could significantly accelerate digitalisation within local government. Open-minded department heads with a willingness to learn and a good command of English are exactly the kind of participants this programme is designed for,” added Balázs Vince Nagy.

The programme welcomes applicants from a wide range of academic backgrounds — not only engineering graduates, but also those with degrees in fields like law or even the humanities. Students gain practical knowledge spanning ethics, legal aspects and the technical foundations of AI, enabling them to apply these skills in areas such as data processing, project management, proposal evaluation and public procurement. The programme also provides dedicated AI platforms where participants can safely experiment with AI-based projects in a controlled environment. After completing a common core curriculum in the first semester, students specialise in the second one according to their interests or the needs of their employer.

The programme is fully compatible with full-time employment, as all teaching is delivered online. 

Course materials are available on demand, consultations are scheduled at mutually convenient times, and participants can study according to their own schedules. This flexibility is particularly valuable for public institutions facing staffing shortages, while the AI capabilities acquired through the programme can contribute to substantial improvements in organisational efficiency.

Tuition for the master's programme is €3,000, which experienced project managers consider a highly worthwhile investment given the significant efficiency gains that can be achieved through the effective use of AI tools.

Applications are open until 1 October via the programme website using the application code 26HUBME01. The first cohort is expected to begin in November, and applicants who miss this intake will have another opportunity when the next cohort launches the following year.

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