For the third year the Centre for BOLD Cities collaborates with the department of public administration (PA) at Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (Hogeschool van Amsterdam - HvA) for a bachelor thesis project. In February, we welcomed HvA-student Pepijn Schoute. He will be supervised by our Centre in collaboration with Dorien Zandbergen (HvA)
The Centre for BOLD Cities believes it is important that citizens and administrators can understand, assess, and steer digitization and the related use of (big) data in municipalities. As one of the most important links between citizens and administrators, the town/city council plays a crucial role in achieving the desired outcomes regarding digitisation and big data use. Pepijn will work with us on this issue and to find out, through action research, how to use one of our tools, namely the "Data Walk", in such a way that makes it an accessible topic to town/city councilors.
“My name is Pepijn, a Public Administration student at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. Ever since I was young, I have been interested in the world of politics and governance and the important issues discussed therein. Issues such as safety, climate, housing, etc. Naturally, digitalisation belongs in this list as well. However, it seems that the theme of digitalisation has not yet attained the same level of importance as the other themes, even though it has a huge impact on the daily lives of many people.
It seems that the theme of digitalisation has not yet attained the same level of importance as the other themes, even though it has a huge impact on the daily lives of many people.
This impact is not only negative but also largely positive. It makes our lives easier and more user-friendly and can make processes more effective and efficient. Like any tool, it depends on how humans use it. With a hammer, you can build something or break something. This is, of course, an extreme example. Yet, decisions about our shared digital infrastructure should not solely be left to a select group of tech companies. Not only because these companies are primarily focused on making profit, but also because a tech company is anything but a democratic organization. Additionally, the speed at which technology is currently developing makes it almost impossible to regulate this technology. It is therefore important that the government gains control over this development and does not only rely on companies when determining the course. After all, the future belongs to all of us.
When I was researching for my graduation project and came across the Centre for BOLD Cities, I was immediately interested. During my studies, I hope to further develop myself as a public administration specialist who can make informed and ethically well-considered decisions regarding the theme of digitization within public administration, and ultimately make a positive contribution to the smart city.”