The inaugural session of the Postgraduate Program in Open Government and Digital Transformation for Local Government, held in Girona, was titled “Digital Innovation to Transform Public Administration”. The lecture, delivered by Miquel Estapé, managing director of the AOC, brought together about twenty professionals from different administrations to discuss public service management in the context of a digital revolution.
The talk went beyond emerging technologies, emphasizing the difference between digitizing and transforming, the impact of data and artificial intelligence, and the organizational challenge for administrations. The importance of the cooperation and shared services model was highlighted to ensure access to quality digital services for all local entities, regardless of their size.
This marks the ninth edition of a leading training program in digital transformation and open government for local authorities. This year's cohort comprises professionals from 12 different institutions across the Barcelona and Girona regions, including representatives from local government, the Generalitat de Catalunya, and the AOC, as well as the private sector. The diversity of profiles underscores that digital transformation affects all areas of an organization.
The current digitalization process was placed in a broader historical perspective, comparing it to major transformations like the printing press or the internet, and emphasizing that data, algorithms, and artificial intelligence are redefining society and public services.
The session stressed the key distinction between digitizing (converting existing processes to electronic format) and transforming (rethinking public services for substantial improvement). It was noted that while Catalunya has highly digitized administrations, the current challenge is to build more efficient, agile, open, and people-centered services.
Regarding artificial intelligence, it was highlighted that it is already part of daily life and many professional tools, with the key debate focusing on how to leverage these capabilities to solve real public problems.
A relevant idea for local government was the observation that about 90% of local entities lack the size or capacity to face the challenges of digital transformation alone. The shared digital public infrastructure model promoted by the AOC becomes essential, enabling small municipalities to access capabilities unattainable individually and making institutional cooperation a necessary condition for the country's digital transformation.
The session concluded by reiterating that while technology is important, people remain the determining factor. Digital transformation requires leadership, adaptability, and continuous learning. Training professionals capable of understanding this context and prioritizing people's needs is a strategic investment for the entire Catalan public sector.
The postgraduate program, which began on September 25 in Girona, will run until June 12, combining online sessions on Wednesday afternoons with in-person sessions in Barcelona and Girona.
