Welcome to Apolitical’s Data and Digital Directory — a collection of many of the world’s best publicly available courses and resources that can help equip public servants with the digital skills they need for the future.
We've got you covered with the best courses, essential reads and guides and conferences as well as some invaluable newsletters:
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📈 Data Analysis
Essential Reading and Resources
📰 How a Data Portal from Brazil Conquered the US and Africa (Apolitical): Read how a Brazilian state’s innovative open data project is now being used as a model worldwide | short
📰 Talking Data Like a Pro: A Plain English Guide to Data Analytics (Nesta): This resource is a jargon buster that aims to promote better communication between data beginners and pros | short
📗 Wise Council: Insights from the Cutting Edge of Data-Driven Local Government (Nesta): A report that profiles how data is being used in an innovative way in the UK government | long
📗 Creation of a data-driven culture in the public sector (OECD): Learn how governments around the world are taking advantage of data in this resource that features case-studies from a range of different countries | long
📰 How to do Data Analytics in Government (Data-Smart City Solutions, Harvard): Learn how data analytics can be applied to solve policy problems in healthcare, public safety, housing, and transportation | short
📰 Mission Analytics, Data-driven Decision-Making in Government (Deloitte Insights): Using data in policy-design begins with measuring the mission, here’s an article chronicling how to do it| short
📗 Big Data in Action for Government (World Bank Group): This resource introduces the concept of big data and how governments can harness it successfully | medium
📗 How States Use Data to Inform Decisions (Pew Charitable Trust): This resource explores how local government can use administrative data more effectively when creating policy | medium
Online Data Science and Analytics Courses
💻 Fundamentals of Data Analysis for Government (Socrata Data Academy): A course targeting government employees who have a strong qualitative understanding of their work but have yet to master the quantitative skills needed to leverage data in their day-to-day responsibilities | Medium
💻 Data for Effective Policy Making (IDB): Take control of data in this policy-focused course and gain a better understanding of the tools used in public policy planning, management, and evaluation | Super long
🖱️ Data Science Foundations (Cognitive Class): This course is a thorough introduction to the Data Science basics and discusses topics such as data compilation, preparation and modeling | Medium
💻 Data Literacy Classes (Open Data Institute): ODI offers an expansive collection of data science and analytics classes that can transform a beginner into an expert | super long courses
💻 Grow your Data Analysis Skills (Microsoft): This professional program provides students with key skills to be able to effectively analyze, communicate, and make an impact with data | long
💻 Data Analysis Courses (Alison): These course offerings help students turn data into a resource through effective storytelling | medium and long courses
💻 Data-driven Decision-making (PWC): Through tips and frameworks, learn why data is important and how you can make it work for you | medium
💻 The New Jersey State Skills Innovation Accelerator (The State of New Jersey): a 10-module online program to train public servants to learn more about and use innovative methods, including data analytical thinking, evidence-based decisionmaking and open data, to solve public problems. | medium
💻 Solving Public Problems with Data (The GovLab): a series of online lectures which covers the fundamental principles of data science and analytics for public sector action and provides advice on developing a data analytical thinking mindset through case studies and real-world examples from experts in the field. | medium
Paid conferences
🇺🇸 Data-Driven Government - September 25, 2019, Washington, DC, USA: This conference aims to bring public servants together to discuss best practices and emerging trends in data, analytics, and AI
🇬🇧 ODI Summit - November 12, 2019, London, UK: An interactive event that brings together business, government and civil society to discuss the most pressing issues of today from ethics to emerging technology
🇰🇪 The International Open Data Conference - Date not announced, 2020, Nairobi, Kenya: A global event that brings together the open data community to share, plan, and collaborate on the future of open data
🇺🇸 Chief Analytics and Data Officers, Government - July 2021, Washington, DC, USA: This conference teaches public servants how to transform into data-driven organisations
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📊 Data visualisation
Online Data Visualisation Courses
🖱️ Telling a Story with Data (Apolitical): A 15-minute interactive course that helps public servants think like data journalists | short
🖱️ Data Visualisation with Tableau (DataCamp): In this tutorial, you will learn how to analyze and display data using Tableau and make better, more data-driven decisions.| short
💻 Data Science: Visualisations (Harvard University): Learn basic data visualization principles and how to apply them | super long
💻 Data Visualization (University of Illinois): In this flexible course, learn the basics of data mining along with basic methodologies and applications | long
💻 Introduction to Scripting in Python Specialisation (Rice University): This introductory course provides beginners with the skills to master Python to perform scripting tasks | long
💻 Data Visualisation Specialisation (Arizona State University): This intermediate course covers techniques and algorithms to create statistical models and data visualisations | long
💻 Data Visualisation in R (DataCamp): A comprehensive, interactive introduction of data visualisation in R | long
💡 Agile Working
Essential Reads and Resources
📰 What is Agile Working for Government? (Apolitical): Introduction to agile ways of working in government | short
📺 How to Become an Agile Leader (Apolitical): In this short video, Alex Benay, the Chief Information Officer for the Government of Canada relays how you can become an agile leader | short
📗 Agile IT Delivery: Imperatives for Government Success (Accenture and NASCIO): After interviewing several state governments about their experience with agile, seven key trends emerged | medium
📗 Agile for Government (Deloitte Center for Government): A resource that outlines how government can apply agile | long
📔 Digital Services Playbook (US Government): This toolkit offers a checklist and key questions to ask your team while undertaking a digital and agile strategy | short
📰 Agile Adoption for Government (Carnegie Mellon University): This is a series of blog posts that focuses on how government can successfully implement agile working | short reads
📗 Agile Policy Development for Digital Government (US Department of Transportation): US public servants detail their method for “agile policy development” to help facilitate easier policy decision-making | short
📔 Agile Policy-Making Toolkit (University of Bath): A toolkit of eight elements for the practice of ‘agile policy-making’, along with a presentation | medium
📗 From Waterfall to Agile: How a Public-Sector Agency Successfully Changed Its System Development Approach to Become Digital (Mckinsey): A case study about how the Danish Business Authority successfully made the switch to digital with better results | short
📰 Why Agile is So Hard in Government (Nextgov): This article highlights how public servants can overcome the challenges of implementing agile and how to measure the success of agile projects | short
Courses
💻 Agile for the Government Product Owner (Agile Government Leaders) – A course from Agile government professionals on how to bring the Agile framework’s benefits to your team | Long
💻 How to Become an Agile Project Manager (Lynda.com): 11 hours of videos that help build a solid foundation in leading an agile team | medium
💻 Agile Crash Course: Agile Project Management (Udemy): Become agile certified in this comprehensive agile working course | medium
🖱️**Applied Scrum for Project Management** (University of Maryland): Learn the key project management processes, roles, mechanics, and philosophies behind Scrum | short
🖱️**Driving Speed through Agile Planning** (University of Maryland): Speed is by far the most sought-after benefit of Agile. Learn how to plan for speed with this introductory course | short and medium
Paid conferences
🏴 Service Design in Government - March 2020, Edinburgh, Scotland: Get tips, techniques, and hear case studies from a community of public servants involved in designing and commissioning for the public service
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🤖 Artificial Intelligence
Essential Reads and Resources
📰 How Can Government Make the Most of AI Without Threatening Rights? (Apolitical): What you need to know on the debate for regulating robots | short
📗 Reading Guide for the Global Politics of Artificial Intelligence (University of Oxford): This reading guide has essential reads for the implications of AI on ethics, politics, economics, and governance | long and short
📔 Guide on How to Use AI in Government (UK Government): Use the UK government’s guide on how to use AI in the public sector to create an AI strategy in your department | short
📔 Guide to Working in AI Policy and Strategy (80,000 Hours): This resource helps answer questions about creating AI strategies in policy-making, it includes additional reading and resources | medium
📗 Artificial Intelligence for Citizen Services and Government (Harvard): Learn how government can effectively implement AI for better citizen services | medium
📔 Understanding artificial intelligence ethics and safety (Alan Turing Institute): This is a guide for responsible design and implementation of AI in the public sector | long
📰 A Roadmap for AI: 10 Ways Governments Will Change (and What They Risk Getting Wrong) (Nesta): Read about the implications of AI in government and what other literature gets wrong | short
📰 10 Principles for Public Sector Use of Algorithmic Decision-Making (Nesta): A code of standards for algorithmic decision-making in government | short
📗 Artificial Intelligence in Government (Deloitte): This whitepaper looks at how AI could revolutionise government and the challenges with implementation | short
📰 Rethink Government with AI (Nature): Read how policy-makers can harness data to deliver better public services | short
📗 Report: How to Make AI in Government and for the People (Centre for Public Impact): How to use AI in government that creates value for both government and the people it represents | short
Courses
💻 Define an AI Strategy to Create Value in Government (Microsoft): This course helps public servants create a comprehensive AI strategy | short
💻 Machine Learning Course (Columbia University): A 12-week course that teaches about the basics of machine learning with supervised learning and engagement | long
💻 Machine Learning Course (Stanford University): This is a flexible course that teaches the basics of Machine Learning | long
🖱️**AI Learning Resource Hub** (Google): Various courses on machine learning and AI | short courses
💻 Deep Learning (IBM): A certificate course that provides insight on the fundamentals of deep learning | long
💻 Artificial Intelligence Track (Microsoft): This is a Microsoft Certification course, which begins with an introduction of AI and leads into more advanced subjects | long courses
🖱️Artificial Intelligence Courses (Coursera): Various introductory courses on AI and Machine Learning | medium and short courses
Paid conferences
🇧🇪 Politico AI Summit - April 2022, Brussels, Belgium: This conference will focus on how Europe will regulate AI in the years to come
🇦🇪 AI Everything - October 2021, Dubai, UAE: Learn about AI, machine learning, big data, cloud and cybersecurity at AI Everything’s exhibitions, summit and academy
🇺🇸 AI World - October 2021, Washington DC, USA: A three-day forum to educate public servants on the technical and strategic benefits of deploying AI
📋 Coding
Online Courses
🖱️ Learn How to Code (Code Academy): Learn the basics of programming from a beginner level to intermediate in this short course | short
💻 Web Design for Everybody (University of Michigan): Learn to design, create websites and build a responsive and accessible web portfolio using HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript | medium
💻**Free Code Camp** (Github): Learn how to code along with millions of other people in an open-source codebase and curriculum | short and long
💻 Introduction to Computer Science and Programming (MIT Open Course Ware): This course is aimed at helping beginners understand the role computation plays in solving problems | medium
🖱️ Learn, Teach, and Create (Code Avengers): Bite-sized learning courses that can help achieve advanced knowledge of coding and programming | short and long
💻 Learn to Code Awesome Websites in HTML, CSS, and Javascript (Dash General Assembly): Learn the right way to code and design websites with these three courses | medium
💻 Learn HTML (W3Schools): Courses focused on training in several different programming languages including HTML, Javascript, and CSS | medium
💻 Programming (Alison.com): Learn the basics of object-oriented programming with Python or visual languages like Visual Basic and Scratch in these courses | medium courses
Paid conferences
🇪🇪 E-Governance Conference - May 2020, Tallinn, Estonia: This conference will focus on how government leaders can create strategies to achieve their digital goals
🇬🇧 Public Sector Solutions Expo - June 2020, London, UK: This expo provides public servants from all across government with the tools to create sustainable procurement strategies
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👍 Social Media
Essential Reads and Resources
📗 Designing Social Media Policy for Government: Eight Essential Elements (University of Albany): 8 essential elements for devising a government social media strategy | medium
📰 Social Media and the Public Sector (Asian Development Bank): A resource that aims to teach how to drive stakeholder involvement and satisfaction in the public service | short
📔 An Employee Guide to Social Media Best Practices (Washington State Department of Transportation): An employee guide for using social media in the public sector | short
📗 Social Media and Public Policy (Alliance for Useful Evidence): A research paper that explores if evidence can be drawn from social media to enhance public services | medium
📔 Federal Social Media Accessibility Toolkit Hackpad (DigitalGov): A toolkit that helps ensure that government social media accounts are accessible for everyone | medium
📗 Social Media: You Still Need Plain Language (DigitalGov): Learn how to write social media with plain language through this webinar | medium
📰 3 Ways to Inspire Citizen Engagement with Social Media (GCN): Three essential tips that help public servants create inspiring posts that spark citizen engagement | short
📗 Social Media Use by Governments (OECD): A report that analyses how government uses social media and the potential challenges that arise with public sector social media use | long
📰 USA Gov’s Step-by-Step Guide to Making Snapchat Stories As Accessible As Possible (Digital Gov): Creating Snapchat stories can be challenging for those not experienced with social media, here are tips for making engaging stories | short
📗 Report: How Government Uses Social Media Tools (Efficient Gov): A survey that identifies key benefits of improving social media in the public sector and how departments can implement strategies at scale | long
📰 How the Public Sector Can Use Social Media to Build Trust (OpenAccessGovernment): This article highlights how government can use social media to rebuild trust from citizens | short
📰 Seven Tips for Using Facebook if You Work in the Public Sector (The Guardian): Seven tips for becoming social media savvy | short
Online Courses
💻 Social Media for Government (Lynda.com): Learn how public servants can effectively engage with the public online | medium
💻 What is Social? (Northwestern University): This is an introductory course that helps public servants develop a social media strategy to grow their brand online | long
💻 Reputation Management in a Digital World (EDx): Learn how to protect and an organisation's online reputation through this 6-week course | super long
💻 Free Social Media Analytics Course (Quintly): A class that covers the basics of social media analytics | medium
🖱️ Social Media Ethics (Udemy): This training course provides an ethical framework to use when devising social media posts | short
Paid conferences
🇺🇸 Government Social Media Conference - March 2022, Dallas, Texas: A social media training conference designed to educate public servants on social media best practices
🇳🇿 Government Digital Transformation Expo - May 2022 Wellington, New Zealand: This conference aims to help public servants create a digital transformation across their departments
🗞️ Useful newsletters
Apolitical Weekly Briefing: A weekly roundup of the top policy innovation stories around the world
Digital Government Institute: This newsletter provides news and insight from the technical community in government
Center for Data Innovation: A weekly newsletter that sends the latest developments around the intersection of data, technology, and public policy to your inbox
The Week In Data: Want to stay up-to-date on all the latest news in data? Sign up for ODI’s weekly newsletter
AI4Good: Get insights on how AI can be deployed to solve the world’s most challenging social problems
The Digest: Subscribe to the Digest created by GovLab and NYU to get the latest insights on innovation and governance
Government Technology: Stay on top of the latest trends in government technology and digital with Government Technologies’ newsletters
LINKS: A bi-monthly newsletter that delivers ideas, events, and opportunities for civic leaders, created by Civic Makers
Coding it Forward: A network that seeks to address pressing social problems using technology
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