About the Academy

During the past years, since the launch of the Open Data movement, we have been seeing a decrease in the update of open data among public administrations. This might be happening for a variety of reasons. One major reason is the lack of understanding of the potential and concept of open data. Many government officials may not be familiar with the technical aspects of open data or the potential benefits it can bring to their work. Additionally, there may be concerns about data privacy and security, which can make government officials hesitant to release data. Another factor may be a lack of resources, such as funding and technical expertise, needed to implement open data initiatives. Finally, some governments may not prioritize transparency and accountability, which can make them resistant to opening up their data to public scrutiny.

The results of the recent Global Data Barometer also show that the growth of fully machine-readable, openly licensed, freely available, and bulk datasets has been limited since the last global measure by the Open Data Barometer in 2016. Despite new national open data initiatives launching, some have also disappeared. However, sustained initiatives are often better resourced and more embedded than in the past, and open data principles are being embedded in sectoral initiatives.

Rationale behind the program

At the same time, however, from our practical work with public servants across countries, general lack of attention to data governance may hinder the effective use of open data in the public sector and beyond. This is because open data requires good data governance practices, such as data quality, interoperability, and security, to ensure that data is accurate, consistent, and trustworthy. Therefore, it is important for governments to pay attention to both data governance and open data to ensure that data is properly managed and utilized to its full potential.

In line with this, it is important to consider that open data is a part of the broader data governance ecosystem. Data governance refers to the management and oversight of data-related processes, policies, standards, and technologies within an organization or community. Open data is a subset of data governance that focuses specifically on making data publicly available in a format that can be easily accessed, reused, and shared by others.

Therefore, open data initiatives need to be developed and implemented within a broader framework of data governance, ensuring that appropriate policies and processes are in place to manage and govern the data effectively. Accordingly, it is important to approach open data as part of the broader data governance ecosystem capacity building program

The Academy is a hybrid program that combines offline and online elements. The offline component includes two full face-to-face days in Kosovo, focusing on data governance and open data concepts. During Day 1, participants will get acquainted with the foundational pillars of data governance and explore the principles and best practices associated with each pillar. Open data will also be discussed within these pillars. During the 2nd Day, participants will delve deeper into open data concepts, including its benefits, value, and skills.
Throughout the face-to-face training, participants will examine case studies of successful data governance and open data initiatives in Kosovo and other countries. They will analyze these case studies and apply the lessons learned to their own work. Hands-on exercises will allow participants to practice applying the concepts in real-world scenarios. Following the face-to-face event, the remote/online part of the program will commence.

The concept of the Academy

The remote/online phase will consist of up to three webinars, during which participants will share their findings from mini-research conducted as a result of the face-to-face event. These webinars will focus on co-creating the Road Map for Kosovo's Data Governance Framework, identifying specific actions for the Open Data Component.
The Community of Participants will work together to define a Plan of Action for Kosovo, discussing roles and tasks of relevant authorities and making commitments at individual and institutional levels under the guidance of the Open Data Kosovo team.

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