AI for the Public Sector: Strategy, Implementation, and Responsible Use

Online certificate course

Public sector leaders know that AI is here, and the pressure to adopt it is mounting. Yet, many are stuck – caught between the urgency to innovate and the complex realities of government. This course closes that gap, preparing you to move from AI ambition to operational execution in the public sector. No coding or technical background required.

6 weeks, excluding orientation; 5–7 hours per week

Real-world public sector case studies and applied projects

Weekly modules, flexible learning

Live online sessions with tutors and peers

On completion of this course, you’ll walk away with:

1

The ability to identify high-impact AI opportunities, assess feasibility, manage risk, and create measurable public value while maintaining transparency and trust.

2

Hands-on skills in prompt design, AI platform evaluation, scenario modeling, cost-benefit analysis, and responsible governance.

3

Four portfolio deliverables that you can use to launch AI safely in your organisation, including an AI Use Case Proposal, a Policy Scenario Walkthrough, a Cost-Benefit Analysis, and an AI Feasibility Report.

4

A certificate from the London School of Economics and Political Science that underscores your ability to drive responsible, high-impact AI initiatives, positioning you as a forward-thinking leader in the public sector.

Course curriculum

Module 1

Explore AI as a means to create measurable service or system improvements in the public sector.

Module 2

Learn from the challenges and outcomes of AI implementation in the public sector.

Module 3

Compare model architecture, sophistication, and guardrails across various platforms

Module4

Investigate how AI can search for patterns and insights from existing data, and the challenges of data management and using AI for data analysis.

Module 5

Consider the direct and indirect costs of AI models against the value they can add when incorporated in public policy workflows.

Module 6

Examine harder-to-quantify factors such as AI regulation, ethics, environmental impact, and the future of work.

Course Convenors

Dr Casey Kearney

Assistant Professor

Dr Casey Kearney is an Assistant Professor at the LSE School of Public Policy (SPP), where he teaches courses in Data Science for Public Policy, python programming and topics in quantitative methods. He is also a member of the GENIAL Project at LSE, studying how students are using generative AI and how these uses change the learning cycle. His research focuses on the politics of financial crises, capital inflow management, and corporate credit strategies. He holds a PhD in Political Economy and Government, and a Masters in Statistics from Harvard, where he also taught courses in microeconomic theory, international relations, international political economy and advanced quantitative methods, in addition to a Bachelors in Finance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Prior to joining the School of Public Policy, he was a visiting research fellow at the Centre for International Studies in the LSE Department of International Relations.

Dr Alexandra Cirone

Associate Professor

Dr Alexandra Cirone is an Associate Professor at the LSE School of Public Policy, with a joint appointment in the Department of Government. She is also an affiliate of the Data Science Institute (DSI), and she currently serves on Meta’s Governance Innovation Council. Before coming to the LSE, she was faculty at Cornell University, and she holds a PhD in Political Science from Columbia University, and a BA from the University of Chicago. Her research focuses on political selection, democratic innovation, lottocratic governance, and historical political economy. At the SPP, she is co-Director of the Executive MPA and Executive MPP programme, and she teaches courses in AI, digital technology, quantitative methods, and social media and tech policy.

This course is for you if you are:

Department head, director, or senior executive who is under pressure to improve public services and productivity with limited budgets and wants to learn how to evaluate, govern, and lead AI initiatives confidently.
Mid-career manager, project lead, policy advisor, innovation lead or team, digital transformation manager, or governance specialist responsible for turning leadership's AI ambitions into operational reality. You are ready to develop hands-on skills to identify opportunities, evaluate tools, design prompts, and integrate AI into existing workflows.
Working in mission-driven NGOs, international organisations, or public interest organisations facing a growing demand to deliver greater impact and services with constrained resources while ensuring ethical, transparent use of AI, organisational effectiveness, and improved public outcomes.

No technical or coding background is required.

About LSE’S AI portfolio

LSE’s existing online certificate courses explore the ethical, legal, and technical applications of AI. LSE’s newest offering, the AI for the Public Sector: Strategy, Implementation, and Responsible Use online certificate course, serves as the practical execution partner to these foundational programmes – translating high-level policy innovation into the hands-on workflows and daily operational strategies needed to deploy generative AI successfully in the public sector.

About GetSmarter

GetSmarter delivers online education from world-leading universities and institutions to transform the lives of thousands of students across the globe. GetSmarter’s online certificate courses are designed to advance your career and fit in with your busy lifestyle. Each course is expert-led, fully supported and community-based, helping you build career-critical skills. GetSmarter is owned by 2U.

An online education that sets you apart

This online short course from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) is delivered in collaboration with online education provider GetSmarter. Join a growing community of global professionals and benefit from the opportunity to:

Attend a rigorous, cohort-based online learning experience that features expert-led content, a live session, and opportunities to expand your global network.

Enjoy a personalised, people-mediated online learning experience created to make you feel supported at every step.

Experience a flexible but structured approach to online education as you plan your learning around your life to meet weekly milestones.

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AI for the Public Sector: Strategy, Implementation, and Responsible Use

On completion of this course, you’ll walk away with:

1

2

3

4

Course curriculum

Module 1

AI in the public sector

Module 2

Practical lessons from the public sector

Module 3

Picking the right robot for the job

Module4

Applied AI skills

Module 5

Weighing the costs and benefits

Module 6

Risks and rewards in the public sector

Course Convenors

Dr Casey Kearney

Dr Alexandra Cirone

This course is for you if you are:

About LSE’S AI portfolio

About GetSmarter

An online education that sets you apart

Want to know more?

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