Preparing for the future of public administration through our new concentration in Digital and Smart Governance
Across the world, smart governance through the use of digital technology is already enhancing citizens’ access to information, improving the quality of public services, and driving vital progress towards a more sustainable future.
“Estonia is widely regarded as one of the global leaders, having comprehensively digitised government services, and implemented e-voting and innovative technologies like blockchain-based credentials”, explains Professor Huang Genghua of Lingnan University’s School of Graduate Studies. The Nordic countries, including Denmark and Norway, are utilizing digital technology for welfare delivery reform. The digital-driven transition has yielded positive outcomes, he adds, such as a reduction in red tape and data fraud, improvements in accessibility, flexibility, efficiency, transparency, and accountability.
Though Hong Kong is not yet at the forefront of such implementation, the SAR government’s development of digital platforms for information and public services, such as tax filing, business registration and immigration services, among others, is relatively advanced.
However, he points out, there are also dangers to be mitigated and challenges to be tackled as the scope of smart governance expands. Policies and controls need to be in place to ensure data privacy and cybersecurity, and steps need to be taken to extend digital literacy and access to the necessary technology. “Overarching this is the need for well-defined ethical AI governance frameworks, guidelines and accountability measures, to ensure digital systems are designed and deployed in a transparent, unbiased and trustworthy manner aligned with societal values.”
Answering the demand for a new breed of public administrator
To manage these complexities, the public administrators of the future will require specialised skills and a broad perspective. That is why, later this year Lingnan’s School of Graduate Studies will be adding a new concentration in Digital and Smart Governance (DSG) to its Master of Comparative Public Administration programme (MSocScCPA). Prof Huang is programme director.
Among the highlights of the DSG concentration that Prof Huang can point to is the ‘Digital Governance in Public Sector: Management Issues’ course, in which students will analyse approaches to real-world case studies.
“This course provides vital insights into the strategic management and governance challenges that public sector organisations face as they pursue digital transformation and technology adoption,” he explains. “It covers key considerations like change management, stakeholder engagement, risk mitigation, cost-benefit analysis, integration of new and legacy systems and processes, and performance measurement in a digital environment.”
The"Politics, Law and Digital Governance" course, which explores the regulatory, policy and political dimensions surrounding digital governance from a comparative international perspective, is another noteworthy component he picks out.
Structure of the Concentration
The ‘mother’ programme, which was launched last year, has been extremely popular and well received.
“The core foundations of the original MSocScCPA programme are retained as a base for students in the new concentration,” Prof Huang says. Along with the capstone research project, these foundations include the five core courses that cover essential theories, concepts and analytical methods related to public policy, governance, and administration from domestic and international comparative perspectives. “What is new are the four elective courses developed specifically for the Digital and Smart Governance concentration. These dive deeper into key issues around technologies like AI, big data, blockchain etc. and their implications for areas like policymaking, public service delivery, data governance and more.”
Internship opportunities for students will include those with government departments responsible for IT policy, e-government services and innovation, as well as public sector agencies undertaking digital transformation across areas such as healthcare, transportation and social services. On the non-profit side, internships may involve working with NGOs, think tanks or advocacy groups studying digital rights, data governance and related issues in civil society. There are also potential opportunities with private sector technology vendors, consultants or companies who are key partners in public digital projects. In terms of field visits, behind-the-scenes tours of facilities like government data centres, innovation labs, smart city operation centres and digital services factories, are planned.
Careers to shape the future
Through studying the successes and challenges faced by digital governance pacesetters around the world, graduates from the DSG concentration will be ideally placed to manage policies and strategies that will benefit populations and increase long-term sustainability.
In Hong Kong there are clear opportunities to leverage tools like AI, data analytics, blockchain and IoT sensors, in a more comprehensive manner, with the goal of improving policymaking, urban management, healthcare delivery and much more.
In terms of specific careers, Prof Huang says graduates will be suited for roles such as: Digital Transformation Strategists/Managers, for public sector organisations; Public Sector Data Analysts/Scientists; Technology Governance Consultants, advising on policies, risk, security, and the like; AI Ethics/Algorithmic Accountability Officers for government agencies; Smart City Solutions Specialists for urban innovation initiatives; IT Programme Managers overseeing digital services implementation, and; Digital Services Managers optimising digital channels and experiences.
There will also be opportunities in roles spanning digital policy research, advocacy, communications, and training and development.
And the possibilities are expanding all the time. “Extended reality tools could enable more intuitive and immersive public services, training simulations, and the communication of policies and information,” Prof Huang suggests, before adding a final note of caution. “Of course, all these will necessitate robust data governance, security and ethics frameworks.”