Artificial Intelligence for Public Services

Course

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.

Didactics

Attendance

Attendance is mandatory for 70% of online classes, one of the two in-person events, and 50% of the AI4Gov Dialogues.

Training objectives

The Master in Artificial Intelligence for Public Services transfers theoretical and practical skills. Below are its educational objectives:

• Understand the potential of data to design efficient public services and evaluate their social and ethical impacts.
• Identify what AI can achieve in various application areas, with a specific focus on governance.
• Acquire methods and tools to propose human-centric AI projects for public services.
• Evaluate and procure AI-based systems from third-party companies, manage innovation in public procurement, and foster public-private partnerships.
• Formulate informed and critical judgments on AI in public services.

Didactic Modules

The program spans twelve months and awards a total of 60 ECTS credits. Students engage in four theoretical modules, four project works, and a final project.

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.

Title Released

University Master’s Diploma in Artificial Intelligence for Public Services jointly awarded by Politecnico di Milano and Universidad Politécnica de Madrid.

Employment Opportunities

The Master’s program serves as a turning point for anyone interested in designing, implementing, managing, administering, and integrating AI within public institutions. It provides the tools to become an AI Functional Specialist, a role linked to the following positions:

• Digital Innovation Specialist
• AI Services Manager
• AI Governance Expert
• Digital Transformation Manager

Admission

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.

The formal evaluation of the study title eligibility is by Politecnico di Milano. As a consequence the formal application should be done on the website www.polimi.it (the steps are described in the following weblink).

In particular, the steps that you will have to follow are those mentioned from page 1 to page 8 (by clicking on the following link you will find yourself directly in the same page shown on guidelines).

Deadlines

To participate in the selection process, candidates must complete the online application form by the following deadlines:

• Italian citizens/foreign nationals with a qualification obtained in Italy and Italian/EU citizens with a qualification obtained abroad: July 25, 2025.
• Non-EU citizens with a qualification obtained abroad: June 25, 2025.

Price

The cost of the Specializing Master is 12.000 € (11.500 € participation fee + 500 € registration fee at Politecnico di Milano). Exempt from VAT under Article 10 of DPR 633/72.

PROMO

EARLY BIRD: -10%
The promotion for those who have clear ideas, know which educational path can enrich their future, and can’t wait to get back to the classroom.

Deadline application: within May 16, 2025
Deadline for sending the signed contract and payment of the deposit of the participation fee: within May 30, 2025

FAMILY SUPPORT: -50%
A chance to gift your siblings the encouragement they need to invest in their future.

POLI.NETWORK: -50%
A promotion designed to strengthen the bond and identity among members of the Politecnico di Milano community.

FRIEND TO FRIEND: -20%
An opportunity to gift to a friend to make education the foundation of their growth.

BACK TO SCHOOL: -1.000€ on Specializing Masters
The discount for those who have already trusted POLI.design and Polimi, and wish to return to study and build their future.

BUSINESS BOOST
The discount designed for companies that recognize training as a crucial factor for growth.

The “Business Boost” discount provides a variable reduction on the participation fee for two or more employees of public administrations. Specifically, the discount amounts to:

• 15% on the participation fee for the first and second employee’s enrollment
• 20% on the participation fee for the third employee’s enrollment
• 25% on the participation fee from the fourth employee’s enrollment onwards

Faculty

Master Board

Francesca Rizzo
Scientific Director

Marzia Mortati
Academic Director at POLIMI, Service Design Area

Oscar Corcho
Academic Director at UPM, AI Area

Camilla Roveri
Administrative Assistant

Gianluca Misuraca
Founder, former Executive Director from 2021 to 2024 – Head of Scientific Committee

Claudio Feijóo
Founder, former Scientific Director from 2021 to 2024 International relationships Coordinator