Strengthening the Practice Pillar of Sustainable Development: A Survey-Based Assessment of AI, Digital and Leadership Competencies among Romanian Public Servants
Abstract
The acceleration of the digital transformation of public administration in Romania, supported by the reforms undertaken by the new European regulations on artificial intelligence, requires the strengthening of institutional capacity and the skills of civil servants in relation to the sustainable development objectives. Although the specialized literature addresses digitalization and algorithmic governance, there is a gap regarding the empirical assessment of the real skills and training needs of civil servants in the context of AI implementation and skills-based reform. The study aims to analyze the level of training and existing gaps in the field of advanced digital skills, AI literacy, cybersecurity, administrative skills and leadership skills in the Romanian public sector. The methodology consists of an online questionnaire applied to civil servants in central and local administration, complemented by comparative analyses between executive and management functions and regression models to identify the relationship between skills, confidence in the use of AI and the perceived capacity to implement digital reforms. The results highlight significant differences between hierarchical levels, as well as gaps in strategic competencies regarding algorithmic governance and change management. The added value lies in the empirical substantiation of the practical dimension of sustainable development, by correlating individual competencies with the institutional capacity to implement responsible digitalization. The study contributes to the literature on sustainable digital governance and provides recommendations for public policies and training programs. Limitations concern the self-reported nature of the data and the cross-sectional design of the research. Future directions include longitudinal analyses and comparative extension at the European level. Keywords: AI, digital competencies, leadership competencies