On 4 June 2024, The Digital Cities for Change (DC2) team, led by Professor Jennifer Schooling, OBE FICE, convened a pivotal one-day workshop in the Lord Ashcroft Building at Anglia Ruskin University. This event aimed to provide a collaborative platform for local authorities to discuss and integrate public value into digitalisation initiatives, particularly focusing on AI use and related ethical concerns.
An interdisciplinary group of researchers from Anglia Ruskin University and the University of Cambridge facilitated the workshop. The agenda featured a series of insightful presentations, each shedding light on critical aspects of digital innovation and ethics in public sector applications:
- Public Value Creation: Emphasising the need for digital projects to prioritise public value to improve services, accessibility, and societal well-being.
- DC2 Digital Innovation Process (DIP) Model: Introducing a practitioner-validated framework for effective planning and implementation of digital innovations.
- DC2 Competency Framework: Presenting a structured approach to developing the skills necessary for digital initiatives centred on public value.
- AI - A Force for Good or ill?:Prof Neil Lawrence highlighted the crucial role of public sector leadership in governing AI, ensuring it benefits society while mitigating potential risks.
- Using AI in the Public Sector: Discussing the opportunities AI offers in smart cities and underscoring the importance of robust governance for ethical and effective AI use.
- Ethical AI for Public Sector Decision-Making: Focusing on the ethical development and use of AI, addressing fairness, accountability, and transparency.
Following the presentations, participants engaged in structured discussions, allowing them to reflect on their experiences and share insights with their peers. This collaborative dialogue was designed to foster a deeper understanding of the practical and ethical dimensions of digital transformation in the public sector.
As part of this project, the group is collaborating with Socitm to identify AI use cases in Local Authorities. To participate in compiling use cases, please complete the short survey provided here.
Contacts
• Professor Jennifer Schooling (jennifer.schooling@aru.ac.uk), Faculty of Science and Engineering, Anglia Ruskin University
• Dr Viviana Bastidas (vab44@cam.ac.uk), Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge
• Dr Kwadwo Oti-Sarpong (ko363@cam.ac.uk), Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge