RESEARCH ON ACCESS TO ONLINE PUBLIC SERVICES. USM Collaborating In Comparative Research University Of Applied Sciences Vienna
- Published in Soualiga News
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SINT MAARTEN (POND ISLAND) - In the coming month the University of St. Martin (USM) will be embarking on a collaborative research endeavor with Prof. Dr Julia Dahlvik principal investigator from the University of Applied Sciences in Vienna, Austria, to research the access to digital public services in Sint Maarten.
More and more the public is referred to go online to get information, to make appointments or to upload information for government entities. The reliance on online platforms is continuig to grow globally, so it is important to look into the following effects this may have on our community.
What are the experiences of citizens and civil organizations in the community with this digitalization of public services? Can everybody access the public services online? Are there barriers, bottlenecks which prevent administrative justice to clients who need those public services? How consumer friendly are the online applications, websites, online forms to fill out, etc?
Based on interviews with the community and with social organizations representing specific groups in the community the experiences with the digitalization of public services in Sint Maarten will be analyzed. Also the Ombudsman and other private and public entities will be interviewed to gather their opinion and recommendations to improve the goal: equal access for all to online public services!
USM is dedicated to advancing the development of Sint Maarten/Saint Martin’s through quality scientific research that addresses the collective needs and aspirations of our society. USM Acting President Wycliffe Smith expresses his enthusiasm for this research initiative and the collaboration with Prof Dhalvik from the Apllied Sciences University in Vienna. Collaborating in this study can contribute to improve the development of administrative justice in our country.
Drs Raymond Jessurun who is USM’s Research Coordinator emphasizes on the importance that USM’s collaboration with foreign researchers has to guarantee that the research is people centered and human rights based. All research has to benefit the development needs of the people of our society.
More information about the research project can be found on the Project website: https://www.fh-campuswien.ac.at/en/forschung/projekte-und-aktivitaeten/digital-publicservices-and-ombuds-role-in-access-to-justice.html and on Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/02vXV1kdugiHUAY6Qlkqj7
Prof Dr Julia Dahlvik is a researcher and lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences in Vienna, Austria. USM is excited to organize a guest lecture with Professor Dahlvik , where she will share her knowledge and experiences in studying administrative justice in public administration management.