Digital transformation has become a defining priority for governments worldwide. As public institutions navigate rapid technological change, the need for strategic leadership, institutional readiness, and citizen‑centred innovation has never been more urgent. The Hague Academy for Local Governance addresses this global demand through its intensive, practice‑oriented course: Digital Transformation in the Public Sector, taking place from 16–20 November 2026 in The Hague, Netherlands.

This in‑depth programme equips public sector professionals with the knowledge, tools, and leadership skills required to design, implement, and sustain digital reforms that enhance governance, transparency, and citizen engagement.

Course Overview

Governments increasingly recognise the transformative potential of digitalisation. However, true digital transformation extends far beyond adopting new technologies. It requires:

Institutional capacity
Policy coherence
Ethical data governance
Organisational change management
Cross‑sector collaboration
A culture of innovation

This course supports professionals from government institutions, development organisations, and innovation units to understand and shape digital transformation in their own contexts. Through expert‑led sessions, peer learning, and field visits to pioneering Dutch institutions, participants explore how digitalisation can strengthen governance, improve public services, and foster citizen participation.

What Participants Will Learn

The programme covers a wide range of themes essential for modern public administration, including:

Organisational change management
Responsible integration of Artificial Intelligence
Data‑driven decision‑making
Public data ethics
Cybersecurity resilience
Governance models for digital transformation
Citizen‑centred service design
Institutional culture and innovation

Participants engage in hands‑on exercises, real‑world case studies, and collaborative action planning to apply these concepts to their own institutions.

Key Learning Objectives

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

Conduct a digital maturity assessment of their organisation and identify priority areas for improvement.
Integrate policy considerations for designing inclusive, accessible, and citizen‑responsive digital public services.
Apply change management strategies to lead digital reform within public institutions.
Use data‑driven approaches to strengthen policy development and service delivery.
Analyse ethical and legal dimensions of AI and identify success factors for responsible AI adoption in the public sector.
Develop a practical action plan to implement digital transformation initiatives in their home institutions.

Course Structure and Experience

The training programme is highly interactive and grounded in real‑world practice. Participants engage in:

Self‑assessments
Group discussions
Peer‑to‑peer learning
Collaborative exercises
Field visits to Dutch institutions leading in digital governance

Previous course visits included:

Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management Participants explored how the ministry enhances online citizen participation in infrastructure projects.
Utrecht Data Walking Tour A hands‑on experience demonstrating how municipal data is used to improve public services.
Municipality of The Hague Visits to innovation teams to understand how data improves operational efficiency and service design.

Key Information

Course Dates: 16–20 November 2026
Location: The Hague, Netherlands
Course Fee: €2,950 (includes training materials, drinks, and warm lunches)
Discounts: Available for groups of three or more
Certificate: Participants receive a professional certificate from The Hague Academy
Reduced Fee: Available for professionals from DAC‑listed ODA‑recipient countries

Scholarship Opportunity

A fully funded scholarship is available for municipal professionals:

Under the age of 38
From countries on the DAC list of ODA‑recipient nations
Working in local government
Passionate about driving digital innovation

Application Deadline: 15 July 2026

Experts Involved

The course features leading experts in digital governance, including:

Dr. Dara Sherwani Acting Head of Information Science, American University of Kurdistan. Researches user trust in online content and predictive social media behaviours.
Shahenda ElNaggar Programme Manager at The Hague Academy, specialising in digital governance and public policy in the MENA region.
Jèron Perus Strategic Advisor at the Dutch National Office for Identity Data, responsible for safeguarding citizen data.