The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are offering a free 2026 training course focused on responsible digital transformation, artificial intelligence and data governance.

Titled Responsible Digital Transformation: Impact Assessments for AI and Data Governance, the four-week intermediate course is designed to help policymakers and practitioners apply practical impact-assessment tools to real governance decisions involving AI, digital public infrastructure and data-driven public services.

Applications are open from 11 August to 19 September 2026, while the course itself will run from 6 October to 27 October 2026.

The ITU Academy lists the course price as $0, and the course description states that, with support from the European Union’s Global Gateway strategy, participation is free for selected participants.

ITU and UNDP AI and Data Governance Course at a Glance

Category	Details
Course	Responsible Digital Transformation: Impact Assessments for AI and Data Governance
Organizers	ITU and UNDP
Training topic	Digital transformation
Course level	Intermediate
Language	English
Duration	4 weeks
Applications open	11 August 2026
Application deadline	19 September 2026
Course starts	6 October 2026
Course ends	27 October 2026
Listed price	$0
Funding	Free for selected participants
Main areas	AI, data governance, digital public infrastructure, impact assessment
Course outcome	Draft impact assessment and mitigation plan
Coordinators	Angel Draev and Queenie Tam

What Is the ITU and UNDP Responsible Digital Transformation Course?

The course responds to the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and data-driven systems in government and public services.

As governments adopt new technologies, digital systems can improve the delivery of public services.

At the same time, their use can introduce significant governance challenges involving:

Fairness
Transparency
Accountability
Inclusion

The programme is designed to help policymakers and practitioners move beyond general discussions about responsible AI and begin applying practical assessment techniques to real-world decisions.

Who Organizes the Course?

The course lists two event organizers:

International Telecommunication Union
United Nations Development Programme

The programme is also supported through the Global Gateway strategy of the European Union.

This support enables the course to be offered free to selected participants.

Is the ITU and UNDP Course Free?

The ITU Academy lists the price as:

$0.

The course description further explains that the programme is:

free for selected participants

with support from the European Union’s Global Gateway strategy.

Applicants should note the wording carefully.

A $0 course price does not mean that every person who applies is automatically selected. Candidates still need to submit an application and go through the applicable participant-selection process.

When Are Applications Open?

Applications opened on:

11 August 2026

and close on:

19 September 2026.

Prospective participants therefore have a limited application window.

When Does the Course Start?

The course runs from:

6 October to 27 October 2026.

The stated duration is:

4 weeks.

What Will Participants Learn?

The central goal is to help participants apply practical impact-assessment methods to digital governance.

The course focuses on decisions involving:

Artificial intelligence
Digital public infrastructure
Data-driven public services
Data governance

Rather than remaining at the level of broad AI principles, participants work through a structured process for assessing real use cases.

Human Rights Impact Assessment for AI

The course builds on:

UNDP’s Human Rights Impact Assessment methodology.

Participants are guided through a structured assessment process.

This includes learning how to:

Scope a use case
Identify potential risks
Identify impacts
Develop mitigation recommendations
Develop governance recommendations

This practical orientation is an important feature of the programme.

What Is an AI Impact Assessment?

An AI impact assessment is a structured way of examining how an artificial intelligence system or proposed AI use case could affect individuals, communities, institutions and wider society.

Within the context of this course, the emphasis is on using practical assessment tools to support responsible governance decisions.

Participants are not simply asked whether an AI system is innovative.

They are encouraged to consider issues such as:

What risks could emerge?
Who could be affected?
Could some groups be disproportionately affected?
Is the system sufficiently transparent?
Who is accountable for its decisions?
What safeguards may be necessary?
What actions could mitigate identified risks?

Why Governments Need AI Impact Assessments

Governments around the world are accelerating digital transformation.

AI and data-driven technologies can increasingly influence how public services are designed and delivered.

This creates opportunities but also raises questions around:

Fairness

Could a digital system treat different people or groups unfairly?

Transparency

Can people understand how important decisions are made?

Accountability

Who is responsible when an AI-enabled system produces harmful or inappropriate outcomes?

Inclusion

Could certain groups be excluded or disadvantaged by a digital service?

These are among the governance challenges highlighted in the course description.

Digital Public Infrastructure

The programme also covers governance decisions involving:

digital public infrastructure.

This makes the course particularly relevant to professionals involved in government digital transformation and the development of technology-enabled public services.

Participants can learn to evaluate potential impacts before or while digital systems are being deployed.

Data Governance

Data is fundamental to many AI systems.

Responsible digital transformation therefore requires institutions to consider not only the technology itself but also how data is governed.

The course places data-driven public services within the broader discussion of responsible governance and impact assessment.

A Practical Rather Than Theoretical Course

One of the strongest features of this programme is its practical orientation.

The course description says it is designed to move participants beyond:

general principles and awareness

toward applying:

practical impact assessment tools.

Participants work with real governance use cases rather than focusing entirely on abstract concepts.

What Will You Produce During the Course?

By the end of the programme, participants are expected to have developed a:

draft impact assessment and mitigation plan

for a real-world digital or AI governance use case relevant to their institutional context.

This gives the course a concrete professional outcome.

Instead of completing the programme with only theoretical knowledge, participants should have a draft assessment that relates to a real institutional challenge.

Who Should Consider This Course?

The course is specifically designed for:

policymakers and practitioners.

It may therefore be especially relevant to professionals involved in areas such as:

Digital government
AI governance
Data governance
Public policy
Digital transformation
Public-sector technology
Digital public infrastructure
Technology policy
Responsible AI
Data-driven public services

Applicants should review the full entry requirements provided by ITU Academy before applying.

Government Policymakers

Government officials responsible for developing or implementing digital policies may find the programme particularly useful.

AI governance increasingly requires policymakers to understand both:

Technological opportunities
Potential social and institutional risks

Digital Transformation Professionals

Professionals involved in government digital-transformation initiatives may benefit from learning structured methods for assessing potential impacts.

AI Governance Professionals

The course can also be relevant to professionals working directly on:

AI policy
AI regulation
Responsible AI
Technology governance

Data Governance Professionals

Those responsible for institutional data policies may benefit from understanding how data governance connects with human rights, accountability and public-service delivery.

Public-Sector Technology Professionals

Technical professionals working within government or public institutions may also benefit from understanding the policy and governance implications of the systems they develop or manage.

Is the Course Open Internationally?

The ITU Academy registration information states that, unless otherwise specified, its training courses are open to interested professionals irrespective of diverse personal backgrounds.

ITU Academy also strongly encourages registrations from:

Female participants
Participants from developing countries
Least developed countries
Small island developing states
Landlocked developing countries

Applicants should still review the specific entry requirements for this particular course before submitting an application.

Are Applicants From Developing Countries Encouraged?

Yes.

ITU Academy explicitly encourages participation from developing countries.

This includes:

Least developed countries
Small island developing states
Landlocked developing countries

This makes the course particularly relevant to policymakers and practitioners working on digital transformation in emerging and developing economies.

Are Women Encouraged to Apply?

Yes.

ITU Academy specifically states that registrations from female participants are strongly encouraged.

What Is the Course Level?

The programme is classified as:

Intermediate.

Applicants should therefore expect material beyond a very basic introduction to digital transformation.

The supplied information does not provide enough detail to establish one universal prerequisite or required number of years of professional experience, so prospective participants should check the detailed entry requirements before applying.

What Language Is the Course Taught In?

The course language is:

English.

Applicants should therefore be comfortable participating in professional training delivered in English.

Does the Course Focus on Coding?

The supplied course description focuses on:

Governance
Policy
Impact assessment
Human rights
Risk identification
Mitigation
Digital transformation

It does not state that programming or coding is the central focus.

The programme is better understood as a digital governance and impact-assessment course rather than a technical AI programming course.

Do You Need to Be an AI Engineer?

The supplied information does not state that applicants must be AI engineers.

The stated target audience is policymakers and practitioners.

This means the course is particularly relevant to professionals dealing with the governance, implementation or oversight of AI and digital systems.

Why This Course Matters in the Age of AI

Artificial intelligence is increasingly moving from experimental environments into real institutional systems.

Governments can use digital and AI systems in areas connected to:

Public administration
Service delivery
Data analysis
Decision support
Digital platforms

As these systems become more influential, governments need methods for identifying potential harms before problems become deeply embedded.

Impact assessment can help institutions evaluate risks and develop mitigation strategies.

Skills Participants Can Develop

Based on the stated course objectives, participants can strengthen their ability to:

Scope digital and AI use cases
Identify governance risks
Assess potential impacts
Develop mitigation measures
Formulate governance recommendations
Apply impact-assessment frameworks
Evaluate responsible digital-transformation initiatives

How the Course Can Help Policymakers

Policymakers increasingly need to make decisions about technologies that may have complex social consequences.

A structured impact-assessment methodology can help move discussions from:

“Is this technology innovative?”

toward more useful questions such as:

Is it appropriate?
Who could be harmed?
What safeguards are necessary?
How should risks be monitored?
What governance mechanisms are required?

How the Course Can Help Practitioners

Practitioners involved in implementing digital systems can use impact assessments to connect technical projects with broader governance responsibilities.

This can be particularly useful when working across multidisciplinary teams involving:

Technology specialists
Policymakers
Legal professionals
Data experts
Human-rights specialists
Public administrators

Why Human Rights Matter in AI Governance

The course builds on UNDP’s Human Rights Impact Assessment methodology.

This places human rights within the practical process of evaluating AI and digital systems.

Responsible AI governance involves more than technical performance.

Institutions also need to consider how technology affects people.

Responsible AI and Inclusion

Inclusion is one of the challenges highlighted in the course description.

Digital transformation can produce benefits while potentially leaving some communities behind.

Impact assessments can help institutions identify groups that could experience:

Reduced access
Unfair treatment
Discrimination
Other unintended consequences

Responsible AI and Transparency

Transparency becomes particularly important when automated or data-driven systems affect public services.

Government institutions may need to consider whether citizens can understand:

How systems operate
Why decisions are made
How decisions can be challenged

Responsible AI and Accountability

Accountability concerns who is responsible for the design, implementation and consequences of digital systems.

The course’s focus on governance recommendations can help participants consider how responsibility should be structured within institutions.

Application Timeline

The key dates are:

Stage	Date
Applications open	11 August 2026
Application deadline	19 September 2026
Course begins	6 October 2026
Course ends	27 October 2026

How to Apply

Interested professionals should apply through the ITU Academy course platform.

A practical approach is:

Step 1 — Review the Course Description

Understand the course objectives and determine whether they match your professional responsibilities.

Step 2 — Check the Entry Requirements

Because this is an intermediate course, review the specific requirements before applying.

Step 3 — Identify a Relevant Institutional Use Case

The course culminates in a draft impact assessment and mitigation plan based on a real-world use case relevant to the participant’s institutional context.

Applicants may therefore benefit from thinking in advance about an AI or digital-governance challenge within their organisation.

Step 4 — Complete the Application

Submit the required information through ITU Academy.

Step 5 — Apply Before 19 September

Applications close on:

19 September 2026.

How to Strengthen Your Application

The supplied course page does not provide a detailed selection rubric, so applicants should not assume particular criteria that are not stated.

However, candidates can make sure their application clearly explains their professional connection to the course.

Where the application allows, it may be useful to explain:

Your current role
Your involvement in digital transformation
Your work with AI or data governance
A real institutional challenge you want to examine
How the training could support your organisation

Potential Use Cases for the Course

Because participants develop an assessment related to their institutional context, possible use cases could involve digital public services or AI-enabled government systems.

For example, a participant might examine an institutional system involving automated decision-making, data-driven service delivery or another digital public-service process.

These are illustrative possibilities rather than use cases specifically assigned by ITU or UNDP.

Is There an Application Fee?

The course price is listed as:

$0.

The supplied information does not identify an application fee.

Does the Course Provide a Stipend?

The supplied course information does not state that participants receive a stipend.

The course being free should therefore not be interpreted as participants receiving cash funding.

Does the Course Cover Travel?

The supplied information does not state that travel funding is provided.

Applicants should not describe the programme as a fully funded travel opportunity.

Is Accommodation Provided?

No accommodation benefit is stated in the supplied information.

Is This a Scholarship?

The opportunity is described by ITU Academy as a:

training course.

It should therefore not be described as a university scholarship or degree programme.

Does the Course Offer a Certificate?

The supplied information in the course excerpt does not explicitly confirm the type of certificate, if any, awarded upon completion.

Applicants seeking a credential should review the detailed training and assessment information before assuming that a certificate is included.

Is This a University Degree?

No.

It is a four-week intermediate training course, not a degree programme.

Is the Course Online?

The supplied excerpt identifies the dates, duration and training details but does not clearly establish the delivery format in the visible information.

Applicants should check the ITU Academy registration and training details for confirmation rather than assuming it is entirely online.

Common Application Mistakes to Avoid

Assuming Free Means Automatic Admission

The course is free for selected participants.

Selection still matters.

Waiting Until the Deadline

Applications close on 19 September 2026.

Treating It as a Technical Coding Course

Its primary emphasis is responsible digital transformation, impact assessment and governance.

Applying Without a Relevant Professional Context

The course is designed for policymakers and practitioners working with real governance decisions.

Calling It Fully Funded

The source confirms a $0 price and free participation for selected candidates, but does not state that participants receive travel, accommodation or living expenses.

Assuming a Certificate Is Guaranteed

The visible course information does not explicitly confirm a certificate.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ITU and UNDP AI and Data Governance Course?

It is a four-week intermediate training course titled Responsible Digital Transformation: Impact Assessments for AI and Data Governance.

Who organizes the course?

The event organizers listed are the International Telecommunication Union and United Nations Development Programme.

Is the course free?

Yes, the ITU Academy lists the price as $0, and the description states that the course is free for selected participants.

When is the application deadline?

19 September 2026.

When does the course start?

6 October 2026.

When does it end?

27 October 2026.

How long is the programme?

Four weeks.

What is the course level?

Intermediate.

What language is used?

English.

Who is the course for?

The description specifically identifies policymakers and practitioners.

What topics does it cover?

Major areas include AI governance, data governance, digital public infrastructure, responsible digital transformation and practical impact assessment.

Is it an AI programming course?

The description focuses on governance and impact assessment rather than programming.

Do participants complete a project?

Participants are expected to develop a draft impact assessment and mitigation plan for a real-world digital or AI governance use case relevant to their institutional context.

Are professionals from developing countries encouraged to apply?

Yes.

ITU Academy strongly encourages registrations from participants in developing countries, including least developed countries, small island developing states and landlocked developing countries.

Are women encouraged to apply?

Yes.

Does the course provide a stipend?

No stipend is stated in the supplied information.

Is travel covered?

No travel funding is stated.

Does it include accommodation?

No accommodation support is stated.

Is it fully funded?

It is more accurate to call it a free training course for selected participants. The source confirms a $0 price but does not establish broader funding for travel or living costs.

Why This Opportunity Is Worth Considering

The programme is particularly relevant because AI governance is moving rapidly from theory into practical institutional decision-making.

Participants are not simply introduced to concepts such as responsible AI.

Instead, they are guided through a process for:

Scoping real use cases
Identifying risks
Evaluating impacts
Developing mitigation measures
Producing governance recommendations

By the end of the course, each participant should have a draft assessment and mitigation plan connected to their own institutional environment.

This practical outcome can make the training particularly valuable for professionals responsible for shaping or implementing digital transformation.

Final Thoughts

The ITU and UNDP Responsible Digital Transformation: Impact Assessments for AI and Data Governance course offers policymakers and practitioners an opportunity to develop practical skills for governing artificial intelligence and data-driven public services responsibly.

The four-week intermediate course runs from 6 to 27 October 2026, with applications open until 19 September 2026.

Its curriculum focuses on some of the most important questions facing governments adopting AI: fairness, transparency, accountability and inclusion.

Building on UNDP’s Human Rights Impact Assessment methodology, participants learn how to scope real AI or digital-governance use cases, identify risks and impacts, and develop mitigation and governance recommendations.

Most importantly, participants are expected to finish the course with a draft impact assessment and mitigation plan applicable to a real institutional context.

With a listed price of $0 and participation free for selected candidates through support from the European Union’s Global Gateway strategy, the programme provides an accessible professional-development opportunity for people working at the intersection of AI, public policy, data governance and digital transformation.

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