AI Upskilling for Impact

Build on your AI skills — or start from the fundamentals — then apply them to a real project for a real organization.

Upskilling means developing new knowledge and experience that prepares you for the future of work. It's an increasingly valuable skill in workplaces, helping employees stay current as technology rapidly evolves. Being able to speak to your own upskilling experience is a strong addition to any résumé.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing how work gets done across every industry. The AI Upskilling for impact program helps you build practical AI skills that employers are increasingly looking for as AI becomes part of everyday work.

You'll begin by completing the Applied AI for Future-Focused Professionals micro-course, where you'll learn the fundamentals of using AI responsibly in the workplace (approximately 10 hours of work). Once you've completed the course, you'll be matched with a real-world project and work independently over approximately 10–15 hours.  Students who complete both the micro-course and project in Fall 2026 will receive a $500 WIL award.

During the AI Upskilling for impact project, you'll:

• Learn about an organization's challenge.
• Explore how AI could support the work.
• Research and analyze relevant information.
• Develop recommendations or project deliverables.
• Receive feedback at a midpoint milestone.
• Refine your work and submit a final deliverable.

You'll have access to guidance, resources and structured milestones throughout the project while working independently to refine your AI skills and create meaningful value for a real organization. Instead of completing a hypothetical assignment, you'll gain practical experience using AI to solve authentic workplace challenges.

The AI Integration in the Workplace pilot is open to undergraduate and graduate students from all faculties and disciplines.

You don't need programming experience or an AI background to participate. If you're curious about how AI is changing the workplace and want hands-on experience applying AI responsibly, this is for you.

Whether you're studying Arts, Engineering, Environment, Health, Math or Science, you'll build practical skills that are increasingly valuable across industries.

Artificial intelligence is becoming part of workplaces across every sector. Employers aren't simply looking for graduates who know what AI is—they're looking for people who can think critically, choose the right tools, evaluate AI-generated information and apply AI responsibly to real workplace challenges.

This program gives you the opportunity to gain hands-on experience working on a real project for a real organization—while being compensated for your contribution. Instead of completing another hypothetical assignment, you'll create work that addresses an authentic organizational need and gives you a concrete example of how you've applied AI in a workplace context.

Through the project, you'll gain experience:

• Applying AI tools to authentic workplace challenges.
• Evaluating AI-generated information critically.
• Developing evidence-based recommendations.
• Communicating ideas professionally.
• Building confidence using AI in a work environment.

By the end of the project, you'll have a tangible example of how you've applied AI to solve a real organizational challenge—something you can discuss in interviews, showcase on your résumé or portfolio and use to demonstrate your work readiness and practical AI skills.