The article highlights a training ecosystem for digital skills in the Italian public sector that is now fairly structured, split between national providers (Department for Public Administration, Syllabus, SNA, AgID, Formez) and more specialized initiatives (Academy of Digital Municipalities, TransizioneDigitale.it, courses on open government and accessibility). In summary, three key points emerge: almost all programmes are free of charge, many are explicitly reserved for or targeted at public employees (with access via SPID/CIE/CNS or institutional channels), and, taken together, they provide complementary coverage of both basic digital competencies (DigComp framework) and strategic vertical areas such as privacy, cybersecurity, accessibility, and implementation of the Three‑Year Plan for IT in the public administration.
| # | Site / course name | Short description | Main digital topics | Approx. no. of courses/modules | Registration required | Restricted to public employees | Responsible body | Other relevant info |
| 1 | Academy of Digital Municipalities | Training environment focused on municipalities’ digital transformation (ANCI + Department for Digital Transformation). | Digital transformation, digital services, data & interoperability, security, digital infrastructure & cloud, smart-area services. | Catalogue organised into 7 thematic areas; overall hundreds of training hours. | Yes, via platform account. | Yes, primarily for local authorities and PA staff. | ANCI and the Department for Digital Transformation. | Free courses, many in e-learning, with participation certificates; includes content aligned with the Three-Year Plan. |
| 2 | AgID Academy (portal) | AgID Academy with courses and webinars for PA, businesses, and citizens on digital transformation and innovation. | Digital transition, AI & data, services and platforms, security, legal informatics, accessibility, open data, Internet governance. | Dozens of webinars/on-demand items across thematic areas. | Yes for live sessions and programmes; many recordings are openly accessible. | No, also open to citizens and businesses (with PA-oriented tracks). | Agency for Digital Italy (AgID). | Free; provides certificates/materials (slides, recordings). |
| 3 | “Digital Accessibility” training programme (AgID) | Online training programme on digital accessibility within the PNRR “Citizen inclusion” initiative. | Accessibility of digital services, AI tools for accessibility, inclusive design. | Structured cycles of virtual classroom sessions (multiple sessions per cycle). | Yes, online enrolment. | No, open to PA, private sector, and citizens. | AgID. | Free, delivered live online with participation certificate. |
| 4 | “Open Government” online courses | Section with free online courses on open government and digital participation, aimed also at public employees. | Open government, digital participation, open data, quality of digital services. | 4 main courses (including a MOOC on digital service quality). | Generally yes, via the platform specified for each course. | Mixed audience: PA and citizens, not exclusive. | Department for Public Administration / Open Government initiative. | Fully free; MOOC-style self-paced e-learning. |
| 5 | Syllabus – New skills for the Public Administration | National platform for training public employees on digital skills, with an updated free catalogue. | Basic digital skills (DigComp), digital content creation, IT security, digital problem solving, privacy, cybersecurity awareness. | “Digital skills for PA” structured into 11 skills/courses plus additional specific modules (privacy, cybersecurity, values/principles, etc.). | Yes, access via SPID/CIE/CNS. | Yes, dedicated to PA employees. | Department for Public Administration. | Free catalogue; includes some mandatory courses (e.g., privacy, cybersecurity) and progress tracking. |
| 6 | SNA programme for public employees | Training offer by the National School of Administration for public employees, free for registered administrations. | Innovation and transformation in PA, digital-related administrative law, organisation & management, cross-cutting topics including digitalisation. | Large catalogue (dozens of initiatives per year). | Yes, typically through a registered/eligible administration. | Yes, for employees of accredited public bodies. | Presidency of the Council of Ministers – SNA. | Participation is free for eligible public employees; some courses specifically address digital competencies. |
| 7 | Formez PA initiatives on digital innovation | Support to PA modernisation through training initiatives (often online) on innovation and digital transition. | Digital innovation in PA, PNRR support, digital transition, quality of digital services. | Variable number of project-based courses/webinars, often organised in cycles. | Yes for structured courses (enrolment via dedicated portals). | Typically aimed at PA staff involved in the relevant projects; some resources may be public. | Formez PA. | In many cases, training is publicly funded (therefore free for involved administrations). |
| 8 | TransizioneDigitale.it webinars and training plan | Portal with webinars and training paths supporting PA digitalisation and the Digital Transition Managers (RTD). | AI in PA, cybersecurity, accessibility, websites and digital services, RTD and the Three-Year Plan, transparency, privacy, PNRR, digital rights. | Numerous recorded webinars; a structured training plan for RTD and public employees. | Yes for dedicated paths; many recordings are open. | Some paths reserved for participating administrations; recordings largely open. | Specialist initiative focused on PA digital transition. | Free webinars; advanced services may be linked to specific support programmes. |
Link to Accademia dei Comuni digitali