Registration
Start Date:
End Date:
Event dates
Start Date:
End Date:
Location

Johannesburg
South Africa

Global or multi-regional
Training topics
  • E-government
Training type
Training course
Training modality
Face to Face
Languages
  • English
Event mail contact
nokhanyo.yolwa@wits.ac.za
Financial support available
Yes
Tutors
  • Ntsibane Ntlatlapa
  • Lucienne Abrahams
Coordinators
  • Nokhanyo Yolwa
  • Ghazi Mabrouk
  • Angel Draev
Course level

Intermediate

Duration
35 hours
Price
$0.00
* Financial support available

Event organizer(s)

WITS logo
University of the Witwatersand (WITS)

Supported by

Global Gateway logo
Global Gateway

Description

This training is designed to help participants understand the key challenges and success factors involved in driving digital government initiatives. The programme focuses on three main areas to build knowledge and skills in a practical, engaging way.

The first area explores the value of digital transformation by examining how digital technologies create social and economic benefits. The second area dives into governance in the digital age, looking at how these technologies impact government operations, public services, and various sectors. The third area provides a critical evaluation of digital government strategies and focuses on building the capabilities needed to implement them effectively.

With generous support from the Global Gateway initiative of the European Union, participation in this training programme is free of charge for selected applicants. This includes accommodation, meals, and other planned learning activities during the training. Participants or their organizations are responsible for covering their travel expenses to Johannesburg, South Africa and visa costs, if necessary. 

This course is open for: 

  • Government officials and regulators 
  • Experts in digital government or digital service regulation
  • Lawyers, journalists, union officials, and NGO representatives in relevant sectors

The maximum number of participants is limited to 30 persons.

Members of the above-mentioned target population are invited to apply for the training if they meet the following criteria: 

  • Have an undergraduate degree in a relevant field or a minimum of three years of active sector experience in case an applicant does not hold a university degree. 
  • Have a fluent English language level.
  • Complete the application questionnaire and attach an up-to-date CV, a recommendation letter from the employer or a motivation letter. 
  • Government officials and policymakers from developing countries, particularly women, are encouraged to apply. 
  • Selection will be done by the course organizers upon considering the above entry requirements in addition to the analysis of the application questionnaire and the recommendation / motivation letter of each applicant

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: 

  • Assess the implications of digital disruption for the governance of society and the economy.
  • Evaluate Public Value Creation in Digital Government Innovations. 
  • Design of Digital Government Strategies. 
  • Define Emerging Core Systems for Digital Government. 
  • Determine requirements for Governance, Regulation & Ethics.
  • Evaluate Data-Driven and Evidence-Based Decision and Policy Making.
  • Pre- and post-course recommended reading materials. 
  • Interactive lectures with subject matter experts. 
  • The course will run for 5 days with 4 hours of face-to-face interactive lectures and 2 hours of either in-class practice exercises or group work per day. 
  • Group assignment and slide plus verbal presentation.
  • Short essay-type individual assignment

Attendance

  • Participants must attend at least 80% of the sessions to meet the attendance requirement.

Assignments

  • Group Assignment: 50% of the total score.
  • Individual Assignment: 50% of the total score.

Certification Criteria

  • Participants must successfully pass both the Group and Individual assignments.
  • A combined score of at least 70% across both assignments is required to qualify for the ITU certificate.

A participant who does not achieve a combined score of greater than 70% will be granted only one opportunity to revise or rewrite. 

Day 1 – Monday, 18 August 2025

  • 08:30 – 09:00
    Opening of the course
    • Introduction to the programme
    • Goal setting
  • 09:00 – 10:30
    Session 1a: Introduction and Positioning of Digital Government
    • Define adaptive governance during digital disruption
    • Explain the characteristics and evolution of digital government
  • 10:30 – 11:30
    Coffee Break (including group photo)
  • 11:30 – 13:00
    Session 1b: Continuation of Introduction and Positioning of Digital Government
    • Understand digital government as an integrated, socio-technical phenomenon in governance
  • 13:00 – 14:00
    Lunch Break
  • 14:00 – 20:00
    Extra-mural Activity

Day 2 – Tuesday, 19 August 2025

  • 08:30 – 10:30
    Session 3a: Developing Digital Government Strategy for Public Value
    • Differentiate forms of Digital Government Strategy
    • Harness digital technologies for a service state and whole-of-government approach
  • 10:30 – 11:00
    Coffee Break
  • 11:00 – 13:00
    Session 3b: Continuation of Developing Digital Government Strategy for Public Value
    • Explore openness and transparent governance (e.g., Open Government Partnership)
    • Discuss regulation impact assessment (examples from South Africa, UK, EU)
  • 13:00 – 14:00
    Lunch Break
  • 14:00 – 16:00
    Session 2: Introduction to GovStack
    • Introduction to GovStack and its architecture
    • Overview of core building blocks: digital identity, electronic data interchange systems, information mediator
  • 16:00 – 17:00
    Group Assignment Discussion
  • 18:00
    Group Dinner

Day 3 – Wednesday, 20 August 2025

  • 08:30 – 10:30
    Session 5a: Digital Transformation of Government – Administrative Perspective
    • Explore data-led governance and interoperability in digital public infrastructure
  • 10:30 – 11:00
    Coffee Break
  • 11:00 – 13:00
    Session 5b: Continuation of Digital Transformation of Government – Administrative Perspective
    • Assess impacts of digital innovation on government administration
    • Review public service digitisation processes and delivery channels
  • 13:00 – 14:00
    Lunch Break
  • 14:00 – 15:00
    Session 6: GovStack Session 2
    • Demonstration of GovStack implementation using Unconditional Social Cash Transfer (USCT)
  • 15:30 – 20:00
    Extra-mural Activity

Day 4 – Thursday, 21 August 2025

  • 08:30 – 10:30
    Session 7a: Data-Driven and Evidence-Based Decision and Policy Making
    • Explore big data, IoT, augmented reality, and policy modelling in governance
  • 10:30 – 11:00
    Coffee Break
  • 11:00 – 13:00
    Session 7b: Governance of Automated Decision Making
    • Address smart governance strategies and ethical frameworks
  • 13:00 – 14:00
    Lunch Break
  • 14:00 – 15:00
    Session 8: GovStack
    • Focus on the Information Mediator building block and digital sovereignty
  • 15:30 – 17:00
    Online Final Exam
  • 18:00
    Final Group Dinner

Day 5 – Friday, 22 August 2025

  • 08:30 – 10:00
    Session 9: Group Presentations
    • Presentations assessed by an academic/industry panel
  • 10:00 – 10:30
    Course Evaluation
  • 10:30 – 11:35
    Closing Ceremony
    • Welcome remarks, ITU and EU messages
    • Award of certificates
  • 13:00 – 14:00
    Lunch Break

Financial support available

ITU will cover training costs, accommodation for 6 nights, meals and training activities.

 

Registration information

Unless specified otherwise, all Â鶹ÉçÊÓƵ training courses are open to all interested professionals, irrespective of their race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, economic status and other diverse backgrounds. We strongly encourage registrations from female participants, and participants from developing countries. This includes least developed countries, small island developing states and landlocked developing countries.

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