Inspector Paul Döring honored with Vincke Award for exceptional conclusion to his professional duties
The Vincke Prize, an annual award established by Government President Andreas Bothe in 2024, was presented to a remarkable Bachelor's thesis this year. The specific thesis was not specified, but the recipient was Paul Döring, who was honoured at a ceremony.
Döring's thesis, titled "Artificial Intelligence in Public Administration - Opportunities, Risks, and Recommendations for Responsible Use," was considered significant for the further development of the Münster District Government. In his work, Döring presents the technological foundations and application fields of AI, evaluates them from various ethical perspectives, and develops practical recommendations for responsible AI use in administration.
Andreas Bothe, the Government President, emphasized the relevance of Döring's work, stating it demonstrates how to utilize modern technologies while maintaining responsibility and ethical standards. Bothe believes the ideas of young colleagues are crucial for administration to remain modern and address the major challenges of our time.
The Münster District Government is expanding its competencies in AI, testing application possibilities, assessing potential risks, and developing guidelines to improve administrative processes while ensuring data protection, IT security, and transparency. This AI expansion is a pilot project.
At the prize-giving ceremony, Döring stated it was an honor to receive the Vincke Prize, and he was pleased if his work provided impulses on how AI can be meaningfully and responsibly used in public administration.
This year, a total of one VIA and 31 RIA students successfully completed their studies. The Vincke Prize, endowed with 500 euros, is significant for shaping the direction of public administration in Münster.
The Vincke Prize considers different aspects, such as technical and organizational framework conditions, questions of attracting and retaining employees, sustainability, diversity, and resource conservation. The diverse range of topics covered by this year's Bachelor's theses included the use of Artificial Intelligence, the impact of social media on youth, New Work models, the role of municipalities in the energy transition, migration, diversity management, and societal political debates such as climate protests or citizen's income.
The Vincke Prize was awarded at a joint graduation ceremony for the Bachelor's degree programs in Administrative Informatics (VIA) and Government Inspector Cadets (RIA) of the intake year 2022. Bothe believes Döring's work is a pioneering contribution significant for the further development of the Münster District Government. He also expressed that young colleagues' ideas are crucial for administration to remain modern and address the major challenges of our time.
