At the end of March, employees from the Information and Automation departments of the municipalities of Middelburg and Vlissingen, as well as Orionis Walcheren, completed a course on Artificial Intelligence (AI). The course was conducted by researchers and lecturers from HZ University of Applied Sciences as part of a Lifelong Learning initiative.
Developments in AI are moving at a rapid pace. Questions about the efficient, effective, and responsible use of AI are therefore increasingly relevant.
Employees from Middelburg and Vlissingen approached HZ with their questions and turned to the Lifelong Learning department. "At HZ, we develop targeted training programs to help employees develop themselves in a short period of time. This keeps workers sustainably employable and promotes a learning culture within organizations," says Bartjan Wattel, director of HZ Lifelong Learning. "We often hear that such training also contributes to job satisfaction and happiness. In recent months, we’ve seen that AI is particularly a topic that resonates with many organizations and for which this type of education is very suitable."
Collaborative Development
The course was developed by Data Science lecturer Mischa Beckers, lecturer-researcher Bente Sinke, and instructor Jolène Cijsouw from the HBO ICT program, in collaboration with specialists from the municipalities and Orionis. This resulted in a tailored program. The course took place at the JRCZ Data Science Lab in Middelburg, where participants received lessons and worked on their own case studies. On the final of the four course days, they presented their solutions to their management.
Looking Ahead
In addition to general knowledge about AI (its use and application), participants received numerous practical examples from everyday life and government in general. Both municipalities are now considering follow-up courses together with HZ.