23-25 October 2024, Budapest, Hungary

The Directors of Institutes and Schools of Public Administration (DISPA) convened a meeting titled "Artificial Intelligence: Challenges in Public Service Training" in Budapest.

ReSPA supported the attendance of the Western Balkans public administrators to exchange and gain valuable insights on AI's transformative role in reshaping public sector training systems.

After welcoming the participants by Gergely Deli, Rector of the Ludovika University of Public Service (LUPS), and Gábor Kemény, Vice-Rector for Institutional Development,  Anna Mitelmann, Head of the European School of Administration, Christiane Keutgens, Deputy Head of the European School of Administration, added insights into AI's integration across European public administration.

Keynote speakers included Balázs Klotz, the Director of the Institute for Public Administration Further Training, who presented the Hungarian System of Further Training of Civil Servants; Laura Jugel, Legal and Policy Officer at the European Commission, who provided an overview of the EU's regulatory framework for AI, and Péter Domokos, political advisor from the Hungarian Ministry of Public Administration, who shared insights on artificial intelligence in public service.

Representatives from the EIPA, Martijn Pluim and Michaela Sullivan Paul, presented survey results gathered from DISPA members, highlighting the varying stages of AI adoption across European public services.

Best practices were presented on a range of AI applications across Europe: Empowering Public Servants with AI in Germany, AI-Supported Management and Innovation in Finland, Application of AI in Planning and Implementation of Training Courses in Italy, AI in Training Evaluation and Chatbot Development in Bulgaria, AI-Supported Management and Innovation in Spain, AI in Training Planning and Implementation in the Czech Republic, and AI in Training, Evaluation, and Chatbot Development in Portugal.

In-depth workshops explored practical AI applications in the daily use of AI, the use of AI in scientific research, leadership training, and diplomatic education.

The closing remarks by Gábor Kemény underscored the Hungarian Presidency's commitment to fostering AI-driven advancements in public service training, setting a forward-thinking agenda for the future of civil service education across Europe. Since Poland took over the presidency, the next DISPA meeting will be held next year in Warshaw.

At the margins of the DISPA Meeting, Director Handjiska-Trendafilova and Ioana-Roxana Melenciuc-Ioan signed a Memorandum of Understanding between ReSPA and the Romanian National Institute of Administration (INA). This strategic partnership will foster knowledge-sharing and skill development between Western Balkan and EU public administrations. Together, ReSPA and INA aim to enhance the resilience of public institutions in the Western Balkans and actively support the EU accession process through innovation and capacity-building initiatives.