TLDR: UNESCO and the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School are launching a free, 12-hour online course titled ‘AI and Digital Transformation in Government’ on November 10, 2025. This initiative aims to equip public sector workers worldwide with the essential knowledge and tools to responsibly utilize and govern artificial intelligence and digital technologies, addressing a critical global skills gap in public administration.
In a significant global initiative to bridge the digital skills gap within public administration, UNESCO and the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School are set to launch a free, open-access online course for public sector workers worldwide. Titled ‘AI and Digital Transformation in Government,’ the comprehensive 12-hour program is scheduled to commence on November 10, 2025. The course is designed to empower civil servants and public sector leaders across the globe with the necessary knowledge and tools to navigate the complexities of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation responsibly and effectively.
The partnership between UNESCO, renowned for its policy expertise, and Oxford’s Saïd Business School, recognized for its academic excellence, underscores a shared commitment to fostering ethical leadership in the digital age. The initiative is further bolstered by the SPARK-AI Alliance, a global network established by UNESCO and over 50 public administration training organizations, dedicated to strengthening AI and digital transformation capabilities within the public sector and promoting human-rights-based approaches.
The curriculum is meticulously structured into modules covering critical areas such as AI & Human Rights, Ethics, Data Governance, Inclusive Service Design, Leadership, and practical, hands-on experience with Generative AI tools. Initially, the course will be available in English and Spanish, with plans to expand to French, Portuguese, and Arabic soon after. Upon completion, participants will receive a joint certificate from the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, and UNESCO.
The necessity for such a program is highlighted by alarming statistics: the World Bank reports that the public sector employs one-third of the global workforce, yet fewer than half of the world’s countries have integrated AI into their national e-government strategies. Furthermore, only 21% address the ethical use of AI in public administration, according to UN DESA 2024 data. This leaves millions of public officials without clear guidance or adequate training in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
The collaboration was formally announced during UNESCO’s Global Conference on Capacity Building for AI and Digital Transformation in the Public Sector, held on June 4-5, 2025, at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.
Tawfik Jelassi, Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information at UNESCO, emphasized the strategic importance of this partnership, stating, ‘By combining UNESCO’s policy expertise with Oxford’s academic excellence, we aim to foster a new generation of public leaders equipped to drive digital transformation responsibly.’ Caroline Williams, Executive Director of Oxford Saïd Online, echoed this sentiment: ‘Our collaboration with UNESCO underscores our dedication to addressing global challenges through education. Together, we will develop education that not only imparts technical knowledge but also instill the values necessary for ethical leadership in the digital age. We are proud to partner with UNESCO in opening up this vital learning opportunity to governments and public leaders globally.’ Professor Matthias Holweg, an Oxford Saïd AI expert, added, ‘AI is the transformative technology of our time, and offers great potential for a public sector that often faces budget and staffing constraints. Not only can it help automate the simpler, repetitive processes and thus free up time for civil servants to focus on the complex decisions, it also can augment their decision-making by offering valuable insights from the data it has been trained on.’
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The first joint training initiative is scheduled to launch with pilot programs in Kenya and Cambodia, before being rolled out more broadly to all member states requiring this development for their civil servants.
