Digital Transformation, Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Worlds for Public Administration

Context

UPRAISE – Virtual Worlds Innovation Masters: Shaping Future Digital Skills Europe is implemented under the Digital Europe Programme and coordinated by the University of Bologna. The project aims to strengthen advanced digital skills in Europe through innovative and interdisciplinary education and training related to Virtual Worlds and their applications in different economic and societal domains. Within UPRAISE, the University of Napoli Federico II contributes to the Public Administration application area, focusing on the organizational, managerial and institutional implications of digital transformation and emerging digital technologies in the public sector.

The University of Napoli Federico II launches this Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) call within Task T5.2 – “Mobility, mentorship and (non-)financial support for students” of the UPRAISE project. The call aims to facilitate access to advanced education and training opportunities connected with UPRAISE and to reduce financial and socio-economic barriers to participation.

For Cycle 1, UNINA proposes to award financial support in the form of Tuition and Enrolment Fee Waivers to eligible students admitted to the educational pathway described in Section 3.

Topics

For Cycle 1, the UNINA UPRAISE educational pathway will be developed in connection with the following postgraduate programmes offered by the Department of Economics, Management, Institutions (DEMI) for academic year 2025/2026:

-Master in Public Managerial Practice (Master in Pratica Manageriale Pubblica);

-Master in Digital Transformation of Public Administration (Master in Trasformazione Digitale della Pubblica Amministrazione).

FSTP beneficiaries will also be required to participate in a dedicated UPRAISE specialized learning activity/self-standing module in the Public Administration area, entitled: “Digital Transformation, Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Worlds for Public Administration”.

The UPRAISE specialised learning activity will consist of 24 hours of online learning and will complement the educational activities of the relevant Master programme. It will focus on the application and organisational implications of advanced digital technologies in Public Administration, with particular reference to: Artificial Intelligence and data-driven public services; Virtual Worlds, immersive technologies and digital twins; organizational and managerial implications of emerging technologies; innovation in public services.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

Meet the academic entry requirements of the relevant programme;
Be formally admitted to or enrolled in the programmes identified in Section 3;
Undertake the associated UPRAISE specialized learning activity/self-standing module;
Satisfy the nationality/country eligibility conditions applicable under the UPRAISE Grant Agreement and Digital Europe Programme;
Comply with the applicable administrative requirements of the University of Napoli Federico II;
Not receive other EU financial support covering the same tuition/enrolment costs;
Provide the documents and declarations required under this call.

Admission to the Master programme and selection for FSTP financial support are separate procedures. Admission to the Master does not automatically entitle an applicant to FSTP support.

Funding

For Cycle 1, the UNINA allocation is:

Maximum number of beneficiaries: 4;
Maximum FSTP support per beneficiary: EUR 5,000;
Maximum total Cycle 1 allocation: EUR 20,000.

The support will take the form of a full or partial Tuition and Enrolment Fee Waiver. The maximum amount of support will depend on the tuition fee applicable to the selected programme: Master in Public Managerial Practice: tuition fee EUR 4,000; maximum FSTP support EUR 4,000; Master in Digital Transformation of Public Administration: tuition fee EUR 10,000; maximum FSTP support EUR 5,000. In all cases, the amount awarded shall comply with the prohibition of double funding.