Master di Artificial Intelligence for Public Services

Specializing Master in Artificial Intelligence for Public Services

Artificial intelligence will increasingly permeate people's lives. Public Administration (PA) must integrate it and address this technological transformation while ensuring accessible, effective services that protect citizens' rights.

The Master in Artificial Intelligence for Public Services is an internationally-oriented training program that provides the skills to design, implement, and manage AI in PA with a human-centric approach.

Born from a collaboration between the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and the Politecnico di Milano, and managed by POLI.design, the program focuses on approaches and tools to shape the future of public institutions. Its goal is to train AI Functional Specialists, professionals capable of managing AI in public organizations such as UNESCO, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Joint Research Centre (JRC), and the European Commission.


The Master's program lasts twelve months, starting in September 2025. Below is an outline of the academic activities:

Online classes on AI fundamentals, service design basics, ethical aspects, and related regulations (concepts, processes and techniques, human-centric approaches, and ethics-AI relations).
In-person events (one in Milan and one in Madrid) exploring AI in public administration.
AI4Gov Dialogues, talks with experts on AI in public services.
Hands-on projects, both individual and group-based, culminating in a final project on integrating AI into public services.


Online classes and in-person events


Available seats : 40

Module 1 | Hours: 9

AI in/for the Public Sector

Introduction to AI in the public sector and its applications that foster digital transformation in public administration. Focus on the steps required to design and implement AI-powered public services. Analysis of case studies involving various types of public administrations (topics explored include the geopolitics of technology, the evolution and state of the art of AI from the perspective of European regulations, and the design process for AI-powered public services). Emphasis on user-centered public service design to innovate internal processes and services within public administration.


Module 2 | Hours: 21

Basic Concepts and Techniques in AI

Overview of techniques for developing and implementing AI-based services with particular attention to the public sector. Focus on the differences between types of knowledge, the main knowledge representation techniques (for data extraction, machine learning, and deep learning), and the objectives achievable with knowledge representation techniques. Teaching data visualization techniques as well as other creative approaches to handling data and analyzing existing systems and services using AI.


Module 3 | Hours: 30

Service Design for Human-Centric AI

Introduction to service design and the co-creation of AI-driven public services involving various stakeholders. Overview of the design cycle: from problem definition and framing to idea generation, solution development, and concept prototyping for testing. Insights into user research and service prototyping to understand how AI impacts design (both as a design tool itself and as a core technology for the implementation of public services).


Module 4 | Hours: 15

AI and Ethics

Study of the most relevant ethical and legal aspects of introducing AI into public services, with a focus on practical and theoretical tools to address these issues. Overview of general concepts and the legal framework for AI in Europe, with particular attention to "privacy and data protection." Analysis of case studies related to GDPR and the AI Act, intellectual property, and copyright regulation (including practical examples on data licensing and open data policies).


Project Work | Hours: 341

Hands-On Project

Four individual and group project experiences (multidisciplinary and multicultural) aimed at proposing a series of public services using different AI techniques. Predefined themes include: AI for public procurement, Design of AI-based services and interactions, AI for active listening and citizen participation, AI for improved governance of data and knowledge.

Requirements:

The university Master's program is open to candidates holding a Bachelor's or Master's degree (or equivalent) in the following fields: Architecture; Civil Engineering-Architecture; Design; Information and Publishing Systems; Civil Engineering; Automation Engineering; Safety Engineering; Telecommunications Engineering; Electronic Engineering; Management Engineering; Computer Engineering; Urban and Environmental Planning; Economics; Public, Business, and Advertising Communication; Political Science; Public Administration Studies; Business Economics; Statistics; Techniques and Methods for the Information Society; Communication Theories. The Master's Scientific Committee reserves the right to evaluate candidates with different academic backgrounds if their educational and professional experience aligns with the program's objectives.

Requirements

The university Master's program is open to candidates holding a Bachelor's or Master's degree (or equivalent) in the following fields: Architecture; Civil Engineering-Architecture; Design; Information and Publishing Systems; Civil Engineering; Automation Engineering; Safety Engineering; Telecommunications Engineering; Electronic Engineering; Management Engineering; Computer Engineering; Urban and Environmental Planning; Economics; Public, Business, and Advertising Communication; Political Science; Public Administration Studies; Business Economics; Statistics; Techniques and Methods for the Information Society; Communication Theories. The Master's Scientific Committee reserves the right to evaluate candidates with different academic backgrounds if their educational and professional experience aligns with the program's objectives.