Open Data and Artificial Intelligence for Policy and Innovation

University of the Aegean

• https://icsd.aegean.gr/
• https://www.linkedin.com/school/university-of-the-aegean/

The establishment of the University of the Aegean in 1984 was a significant and far-reaching undertaking on the eastern edge of Europe, focusing on the development of higher education in innovative fields of knowledge and, through this, on the development of the remote island regions of Greece and the strengthening of the country.

Indeed, the scientific identity of the University of the Aegean was established mainly through the development of new fields of knowledge and subjects, mostly interdisciplinary, at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. These subjects meet the needs of contemporary Greek and global society, as well as the expectations of students for studies of high scientific value, combined with excellent career prospects.

The University of the Aegean, which is unique in that it is spread across six islands in the Aegean Archipelago, currently has six schools, 18 departments offering 18 undergraduate and doctoral programs, 48 postgraduate programs.

At the same time, the University of the Aegean implements an extensive program of complementary academic, educational, research, and training activities aimed at both national and international audiences. The University has 350 faculty members, 400 administrative and technical staff, and additional external collaborators in the fields of education, research, and training. It supports approximately 20,400 students in the three institutional cycles of study and a five-digit number of trainees per year in additional training activities. The total University Community [staff, total student population, trainees, external scientific and administrative collaborators] exceeds 22,000 members.

ICSD Department

• https://www.icsd.aegean.gr/

The Department of Information and Communication Systems Engineering (ICSD) was established in 1997 (Greek Government Gazette Issue 223/A/1997). The Department’s mission is to provide a first-class specialist technological education with an aim to produce highly skilled graduates. More specifically, the objectives of the ICSD Department are the following:

• Achieving superior educational standards based on international academic models

• Offering technology-oriented studies

• Keeping up with new developments in research and technology

• Providing students with the skills and knowledge that will enable them to flourish in competitive work environments, conduct research, pursue postgraduate studies, and be constantly up to date with new research and technology developments through lifelong learning.

The main mission of the Department of Information and Communication Systems Engineering (ICSD) is to produce highly skilled graduates, able to think creatively and critically, and to utilize modern information and communication technologies in the design, management and development of information and communication systems. The Department’s educational activities are combined with extensive basic and applied research, aiming at producing new knowledge and spreading it throughout Greece and Europe.
Even since the Department was founded, in 1997, the prevailing view was that the traditional concepts of telecommunications engineering and information technology would cease to be independent entities and would be replaced by a new, integrated scientific field: information and communication systems engineering. The combination of information technologies and communications through integrated systems gave the Department its unique character, a character which is maintained and reinforced until today.
The ICSD Department has adopted the aforementioned view about the nature of information and communication systems. An information system is a system that receives, stores, retrieves, transforms and processes information. An information system is made up of an organized set of individual, interdependent components: people, processes, data, software and hardware. This definition covers not only the “Information” part of the Department’s title, but also the “Communication” one, since the term “communication system” is not viewed as separate and complementary, but as an inherent dimension of an integrated information system. In this way, the two dimensions of the Department’s title reflect the wholeness of its studies, which is necessary for achieving its stated objectives.

University of Camerino

• https://www.unicam.it/
• https://www.linkedin.com/school/universitacamerino/

The University of Camerino is renowned for its interdisciplinary program and commitment to innovation and academic development, attracting international students and researchers.

The University of Camerino (Unicam) has a history dating back to 1336 when the "Studium Generale" was founded. In 1958, it became a state university and is now known as the University of Camerino. The University is equipped with various libraries, a sports center, a planetarium, and a Science Museum.

There are five faculties at the University: the Faculty of Architecture and Design, the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of Pharmacy, the Faculty of Science and Technology, and the Faculty of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine. Each faculty has a number of departments offering a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. The School of Advanced Postgraduate Studies offers doctoral courses in the following areas: architecture, design and planning, chemical and pharmaceutical sciences and biotechnology, computer science and mathematics, legal and social sciences, life and health sciences, and physics, earth and materials science.

The Department of Computer Science at the University of Camerino is part of the School of Science and Technology, which offers study and research programs in various fields of technology and science. The university is known for its interdisciplinary program and commitment to innovation and academic development, attracting international students and researchers.

The University of Camerino (Unicam) has a history dating back to 1336 when the "Studium Generale" was founded. In 1958, it became a state university and is now known as the University of Camerino. The university is located in Camerino in central-eastern Italy. Camerino is located in the province of Macerata in the Marche region of Italy. While its main campus is located in Camerino, the university has three other campuses in Ascoli Piceno, Matelica, and San Benedetto del Tronto.

The university is equipped with various libraries, a sports center, a planetarium, and a Science Museum. There are five schools at the University: the School of Architecture and Design, the School of Law, the School of Pharmacy, the School of Science and Technology, and the School of Biosciences and veterinary medicine. Each school has a number of departments offering a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. The School of Advanced Studies offers doctoral courses in the following areas: architecture, design and planning, chemical and pharmaceutical sciences and biotechnology, computer science and mathematics, legal and social sciences, life and health sciences, and physics, earth and materials science.

The Computer Science Department at the University of Camerino participates in European and national research programs and has five research laboratories in various fields of computer science, such as Process and Service Reengineering, Data Science, and Quantitative Systems Analysis. The main members of the university department are Computer Science at the University of Camerino who will collaborate in the creation and operation of the MSc program are as follows:

KU LEUVEN

• https://www.kuleuven.be/kuleuven/
• https://www.linkedin.com/school/ku_leuven/

KU Leuven was founded in 1425 and hosts brilliant minds who are free to question, follow their curiosity, and test their inventiveness. More than 15,000 international students from over 150 different nationalities can choose from 100 undergraduate and graduate programs taught in English. The teaching material is based on the work of more than 7,000 world-class researchers conducting cutting-edge research in state-of-the-art facilities.

The appeal of studying at KU Leuven is strong, as the University is ranked in the top 50 worldwide and has a global reputation as a leading academic destination. And this education is available to almost anyone who wants to take up the challenge. Students at KU Leuven pay some of the lowest tuition fees in the world for a university of its caliber, ensuring that talented individuals from all economic backgrounds have access to an excellent education.

As a result, students from more than 150 countries now make up 20% of the student body, with no single country dominating the international representation. This excellence has transformed the University into a global institution that is well positioned for success over the past 600 years and the next 600 years.

The Institute of Public Administration offers three master's programs and covers areas of public administration such as digital and collaborative governance, innovation management in the public sector, and European policies. It has participated in numerous European and national research projects and has collaborated on many of them with the Universities of the Aegean and Camerino.

The objective of the Postgraduate Studies Programme in Open Data and Artificial Intelligence for Policy and Innovation is to prepare professionals to harness the power of open data combined with the advanced technologies for processing and analysis while addressing privacy, security, ethical, and legal challenges towards the co-creation of novel digital services for businesses and administrations.

With open data being a critical asset for innovation, transparency, and societal development, the Master of Science (MSc) in Open Data and Artificial Intelligence for Policy and Innovation is a comprehensive, interdisciplinary programme designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge to manage, regulate, and utilize open data effectively across different sectors. This programme combines elements of data science, policy, law, ethics, and digital transformation to create leaders capable of navigating the complexities of open data governance in an increasingly data-driven world.

The MSc in Open Data and Artificial Intelligence for Policy and Innovation is a three semesters, full-time programme that combines theoretical knowledge with practical skills through coursework, workshops, case studies, and a research-based capstone project. The sub-objectives of the MSc is to train, educate and equip the students towards:

• Solid understanding of the open data landscape and ecosystem, including data creation, curation, sharing, and reuse across sectors such as government, healthcare, finance, education, and environmental sciences.

• Developing Legal and Ethical Frameworks through the exploration of the legal, regulatory, and ethical frameworks governing open data, including data protection laws (e.g., GDPR), intellectual property rights, and ethical use of data.

• Applying and Promoting Data-Driven Decision-Making: Equip students with the skills to leverage open data for decision-making, policy formulation, and innovation within organizations and public institutions.

• Applying collaborative governance and citizens science techniques towards the co-creation of novel digital services.

• Strengthening their Data Management Skills through developing their expertise in data collection, cleaning, visualization, and management, focusing on tools and technologies for open data platforms and repositories.

• Fostering global collaboration through learning to navigate international and cross-sectoral collaboration on open data initiatives, understanding diverse governance models and global data standards.

• Advancing Responsible Data Governance through promoting the development of equitable, inclusive, and sustainable data governance frameworks that protect individual privacy while maximizing data’s public good.

Graduates of the MSc in Open Data and Artificial Intelligence for Policy and Innovation will acquire knowledge and be equipped for leadership roles in the public and private sectors, with career paths in:

• Data Governance and Management: Oversee open data initiatives in government agencies, international organizations, or corporations.

• Open Data Policy Advisor: Develop and advise on policies that govern the responsible sharing and use of data.

• Data Privacy Officer: Ensure organizations are compliant with data protection laws and manage data privacy concerns.

• Open Data Analyst/Scientist: Analyze datasets for actionable insights, especially in sectors like healthcare, urban development, and environmental monitoring.

• Data Science and Engineering: Work in technical roles developing data infrastructure and tools for open data platforms in different domains such as air-quality, agriculture, transport, renewable energy, waste management etc.

History and Scientific Field

The Department of Information and Communication Systems Engineering organizes and operates five modern postgraduate programs in the field of Information and Communication Systems, covering a wide range of thematic areas with emphasis on security, digital governance, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

As part of the Department, the Information Systems Laboratory (ISLab) is active in a wide research spectrum, including digital transformation using ICT, collaborative governance, system simulation and data visualization, ontologies for interorganizational collaboration, service modeling and engineering through the web, evaluation and validation of information systems, open (and governmental) data, system and data interoperability, as well as security, identity, and privacy.

Within the laboratory’s broad research work, several collaborations have emerged in the field of open data through research projects such as TO-DO – Twinning Open Data Operational and ODECO – Towards a Sustainable Open Data Ecosystem, EU HORIZON projects addressing various aspects of open data ecosystems.

Collaborations with international academic institutions include Delft University of Technology, the University of Zagreb, the University of Krems, and many others. These projects resulted in publications in high-level international conferences and journals, as well as collaborative scientific books, such as The World of Open Data: Concepts, Methods, Tools and Experiences, a pioneering volume in the field.

Through strong collaboration with partners such as Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KULeuven) and the University of Camerino, the idea emerged to establish a new postgraduate program focused on open data and collaborative governance, leveraging the rich research outcomes of these projects and disseminating knowledge with significant impact on society and the scientific community.

The Joint Master’s Program Open Data and Artificial Intelligence for Governance and Innovation is the result of many years of high-level collaborative work, highlighting the University of the Aegean’s contribution to international research endeavors.

Strategic Planning and Purpose

The goal of the Joint Master’s Program (JMP) Open Data and Artificial Intelligence for Governance and Innovation is to prepare students, public servants, and professionals to leverage the power of open data combined with advanced processing and analysis technologies (AI), while addressing challenges of privacy, security, ethics, and legal issues for the co-creation of new digital services for businesses and administrations.

With open data as a critical element for innovation, transparency, and social development, the program is a comprehensive and interdisciplinary curriculum that equips students with the skills and knowledge to manage, regulate, and utilize open data effectively across multiple sectors. It combines data science, policy, law, ethics, and digital transformation to create leaders capable of navigating the complexities of open-data governance in an increasingly data-driven world.

The international joint MSc will be offered by the Department of Information and Communication Systems Engineering of the University of the Aegean in collaboration with the School of Science and Technology of the University of Camerino. Its main purpose is to provide students, public servants, and professionals with the necessary knowledge and expertise to leverage open data together with cutting-edge technologies such as big data analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.

By connecting technology, governance, and management, the program prepares participants to design and implement innovative, digital, and collaborative solutions that promote transparency, participation, and sustainable development.

Through online synchronous teaching, students gain a comprehensive understanding of the open data ecosystem and its applications in governance, health, education, economy, and the environment.
They examine legal and ethical frameworks related to data use, including privacy protection and intellectual property.
They also develop skills in data-driven decision-making, citizen science, and collaborative governance, while becoming familiar with modern data tools for collection, curation, visualization, and analysis.

Through internships, the OpenGov summer school, and the thesis work, students connect theory with practice and gain hands-on experience in how data can support public administration, businesses, and society.

Program Orientation

The Master’s Program awards an MSc (Level 7) in Open Data and Artificial Intelligence for Governance and Innovation.

Its specific objectives are to educate and equip students so that they:

• Develop an understanding of the landscape and ecosystem of open data, including creation, curation, sharing, and reuse across sectors such as governance, health, economy, education, and environmental sciences.

• Understand legal and ethical frameworks by exploring the regulatory and ethical dilemmas governing open data (e.g., Data Act, Data Governance Act), artificial intelligence (e.g., AI Act), and their combination, including data protection laws (e.g., GDPR), intellectual property rights, and ethical data use.

• Apply data-driven decision-making techniques using advanced analytical methods (e.g., data mining, machine learning, NLP, LLMs), gaining skills for policy design and innovation in organizations and public bodies.

• Apply collaborative governance and citizen-science techniques for co-creating new digital services using AI.

• Strengthen their data-management skills, including data collection, cleaning, visualization, and management, focusing on tools for open-data platforms and repositories, with both traditional and AI-enhanced methods.

• Promote global collaboration by managing international and cross-sector partnerships in open-data initiatives, understanding governance models and global data standards.

• Advance responsible data management by building fair, inclusive, and sustainable governance frameworks that protect privacy while enabling public benefit.

Graduates will be prepared for leadership roles in both the public and private sectors, pursuing careers in:

• Data Governance & Management: Managing open-data initiatives in government, international organizations, or businesses.

• Open Data Policy Consulting: Developing and advising on responsible data-sharing policies.

• Data Privacy Officer: Ensuring compliance with data-protection laws and managing privacy risks.

• Open Data Analyst/Scientist: Analyzing data to extract insights in domains such as healthcare, urban development, and environmental monitoring.

• Data Science & Engineering: Developing infrastructure and tools for open-data platforms in sectors like air quality, agriculture, transport, renewable energy, and waste management.

• Design & Development of Innovative Digital Solutions for the public and private sectors.

Research Areas of the MSc Program

The program offers a comprehensive curriculum combining theory, technical specialization, and practical experience in Open Data, Governance, AI, and Digital Innovation.

General (horizontal) knowledge and skills are supported through practical experience, academic rigor, and research-oriented learning via:

• Research Methods & Thesis Seminar

• Internship

• Summer School

• Master’s Thesis

Staff participate in international conferences, scientific committees, professional organizations, and organize international summer schools and conferences in the field, while collaborating closely with public and private sector entities to offer real-world training environments.

The program covers three major research areas:

Research Area 1: Fundamental Concepts and Open Data Infrastructures

This area introduces principles, standards, and infrastructures that support open-data ecosystems. Students explore how data is produced, shared, and made interoperable across systems and sectors, with emphasis on geospatial data and smart-city applications.

Courses:

• Open Data I

• Open Data II

• Open Data Infrastructures and Interoperability

• Open Geospatial Data for Smart Cities

Research Area 2: Data Analysis, Artificial Intelligence, and Emerging Technologies

This area focuses on producing knowledge and innovation through data. It covers advanced analytics, visualization techniques, and applications of AI in open-data environments. It also examines ethical, regulatory, and policy challenges of AI.

Courses:

• Data Analysis and Visualization

• AI and Disruptive Technologies for Open Data

• Open Data Policy, Regulation, and Ethical Aspects of AI

Research Area 3: Governance, Policy-Making, and Innovation

This area explores how open data supports digital transformation, collaborative governance, and entrepreneurship. It connects policymaking with real-world applications and promotes innovation in public services and data-driven business ecosystems.

Courses:

• Digital Collaborative Governance

• Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Data Ecosystems

• Open Data Applications and Case Studies for Policy and Innovation

The courses are taught remotely through a modern online platform, while the final exams, where required, are conducted in person. Overall, the programs aim to develop scientists with high-level expertise, critical thinking skills, and the ability to utilize Information and Communication Technologies for the design and management of innovative systems and services.

The Department of Information and Communication Systems Engineering at the University of the Aegean offers its postgraduate programs in this context, demonstrating its experience and maturity in providing distance learning. The MSc program is the only postgraduate program with this specific combination of specializations and it is also one of the few MSc programs in the field that will be offered mainly through distance learning (70% of the above MSc programs are offered in person), preparing students for a similar type of work, which is increasingly in demand in the market.

Tuition fees

Tuition fees of €6,000 in total for the two semesters and the thesis are payable for the MSc program. Recognizing the financial difficulties that some students may face, the PME will offer the option of paying tuition fees in several installments per semester, with a maximum of four installments.

In accordance with the institutional framework, the total number of students studying free of charge may not exceed thirty percent (30%) of the total number of students enrolled per academic year.

Other sources of income

The main source of funding for the MSc program will be tuition fees paid by postgraduate students. Additional funding may come from other sources such as donations and grants from companies in the sector. A coherent grant plan will be developed as part of the search for alternative ways of financing the PME.

Each year, the Master’s Program, following a decision by the Coordinating Committee (ΕΠΣ), publishes an announcement at least one (1) month before the application deadline, using an appropriate medium, including the Department’s and the University’s website. The announcement concerns the Master’s Program whose beginning is scheduled for the upcoming academic year or study semester.

The announcement specifies the categories of eligible graduates, the number of admitted students, the deadlines for submitting applications and supporting documents, as well as the criteria and procedure for selecting postgraduate students, specifically:

(a) all required supporting documents,

(b) the requirement for candidates to undergo an oral interview before the Committee for the Examination/Selection of Postgraduate Students,

(c) the dates on which the interviews will take place, and

(d) the scoring method.

Telecommunication or online education tools may be used to conduct the candidate interviews. All the above information is clearly stated in the call for applications.

The Coordinating Committee of the MSc Program appoints a Committee for the Examination, Selection, and Evaluation of Postgraduate Students, which, based on the announcement and the established criteria, proceeds as follows:

• Compiles an initial complete list of all applicants.
• Rejects candidates who do not meet the minimum formal requirements (if such requirements have been set).
• Invites selected candidates to an interview. The interview is conducted by the members of the Committee.
• Ranks the candidates based on their scores and recommends the final selection in accordance with the criteria announced in the call.
• Prepares the final list of admitted students. The final list is approved and validated by the Coordinating Committee. Candidates are informed of the results via email.

If there are multiple candidates with the same total score competing for the last available position, those tied candidates are invited to an additional interview to determine the most suitable candidate. In any other tie in the final ranking, the degree grade is taken into account; if a tie still remains, the final ranking is determined based on the average grade of the courses related to the MSc Program or other specific selection criteria.

• Study Regulation
• INSTITUTIONAL REGULATIONS FOR CONDUCTING EXAMS
• PRACTICE REGULATION
• ERASMUS MOBILITY REGULATION
• ERASMUS+ REGULATION

• Study Guide

• Timetable

Other Regulations

• Operating Regulation
• Complaints management operating regulation
• Operating regulations of the academic advisor institution
• Research ethics regulations
• Published policy for the support and development of the MSc staff

• Document 1
• Document 2

In the Joint Master’s Program, it is possible to award scholarships to students based on academic excellence, as well as through collaborating companies and organizations, and through the Department of Information and Communication Systems Engineering, provided the corresponding budget is available and according to criteria announced at the start of each academic year.

Additionally, each year, a large number of scholarships are announced for all fields of study at the postgraduate level by the University of the Aegean. The announcements specify the terms and conditions for awarding the scholarships. Interested postgraduate students are informed by the Academic Advisors and can also contact the Student Welfare Office and the Career Office to receive detailed information about scholarship eligibility criteria and the application process.

Marijn Janssen, Thomasz Janowski, Gianluca Misuraca, Francesco Mureddu, Alexandros Melidis.