APPLIED AI FOR PROFESSIONALS

Starts on

OCTOBER 2025

Duration

8 WEEKS, ONLINE

4-6 hours/week

Program Fee

CA$2,400

Eligibility

2+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCE OR A BACHELOR'S DEGREE

Empowering Professionals with AI-Driven Skills

Are you a forward-thinking professional working to stand out in an AI-driven world? As Artificial Intelligence rapidly transforms industries, the flood of articles and tutorials might leave you asking: Where do I start? How do I keep up and stand out? Which tools make a difference in my work?

The real challenge is not just mastering AI tools—it's using these tools to amplify your unique expertise. Individual contributions can blur when AI is used simply to automate. You want your creative potential to stand out and apply AI as an intelligent assistant that empowers your capacity and skills. The real power of AI rests in you and your preparation to use it effectively.

At Simon Fraser University's Beedie School of Business, we empower you to be the architect of your personalized AI strategy. Our Applied AI for Professionals program is designed to help you strategically integrate AI into your workflow, so your contributions are not just effective— they're exceptional.

70%

Of employees say they haven't mastered the skills they need for their jobs today.

Source: Gartner

12HRS

Per week could be saved by workers using Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Source: Thomson Reuters

Your Transformative Journey in this Program

GAIN CLARITY AND CONFIDENCE IN NAVIGATING THE AI LANDSCAPE

We'll help you cut through the noise of AI tools and provide a clear starting point, teaching you the essential AI concepts and practical skills you need. By understanding how AI works and the tasks it can support, you'll gain the confidence to navigate the AI landscape and make informed decisions about which tools are right for you.

STRATEGICALLY INTEGRATE AI INTO YOUR WORKFLOW

Gain clarity on how to effectively incorporate AI tools into your existing processes. Use your unique problem-solving skills to build use cases that visualize your workflow and identify precisely where AI can make the most significant difference—enhancing the way you work, sparking innovation, and delivering benefits.

BECOME THE ARCHITECT OF YOUR PERSONALIZED AI STRATEGY

Differentiate yourself by designing AI solutions that amplify your critical thinking and professional strengths. Develop an AI application framework to master the art of personalizing AI tools, ensuring your contributions are both distinctive and impactful.

Program Highlights

ACTION ORIENTED CURRICULUM

Focus on applying AI to your work without delving into complex technical theories, ensuring immediate relevance and impact.

INTEGRATED AI APPLICATION FRAMEWORK

Utilize a user-centred approach to AI-driven problem-solving that can be applied to any role or industry.

UNPARALLELED FACULTY EXPERTISE

Learn from renowned faculty, bringing extensive experience in AI applications and Design Thinking methodologies.

FLEXIBLE FORMAT WITH LIVE SESSIONS

Gain deeper insights into emerging AI topics through weekly live sessions and participate in activities at your convenience in a flexible format.

IMMEDIATE PROFESSIONAL IMPACT

Implement new strategies and tools in your work as you learn, leading to enhanced performance and recognition.

COLLABORATIVE PEER LEARNING

Participate in interactive discussions and group activities that foster knowledge sharing in AI-driven process improvement and collective growth.

Program Curriculum

Module 1: Amplifying Impact with AI

Understand the Foundations of Generative AI: Recognize differences between traditional AI and generative AI and understand basics of AI architecture and machine learning.
Recognize AI's Impact on Industries and Professions: Explore use cases of AI transforming industries and identify trends and emerging opportunities in your field.
Identify the Capabilities and Limitations of AI Technologies: Understand what AI can and cannot do and consider ethical implications and potential biases in AI systems.
Gain Confidence in Navigating the AI Landscape: Learn key terminology and players in the AI space and develop a mindset for continuous learning.

Module 2: AI as Your Personal Assistant

Construct Effective Prompts Using Established Frameworks: Learn key components of successful prompts and apply frameworks to structure interactions.
Apply Creative Thinking to Input Design: Use storytelling and context to improve AI understanding, fostering innovative problem-solving.
Recognize the Iterative Nature of AI Communication: Experiment with prompts to refine outputs, embracing continuous improvement.
Engage in Conversational Interactions with AI: Utilize AI’s conversational capabilities to maintain productive dialogues.

Module 3: Map the Value for AI Workflows

Develop Personalized AI Workflows for Complex Tasks: Map out tasks for AI value addition, designing end-to-end processes.
Integrate Input Design, Refinement, and Model Selection: Apply a holistic approach, ensuring cohesion in AI integration.
Identify When to Leverage AI and Human Creativity: Recognize tasks suited for AI and optimize team collaboration.
Balance AI Augmentation with Human Judgment: Maintain oversight and foster a culture valuing AI and human contributions.

Module 4: Data Preparation for AI-Driven Decision Making

Understand Data's Importance in AI Decision-Making: Recognize how data quality impacts AI outputs and learn about data types relevant to your field.
Conduct a Data Inventory for Professional Tasks: Assess existing data assets, identifying gaps and opportunities.
Leverage Personalized Data to Improve AI Effectiveness: Customize AI tools with relevant data to enhance outcomes.
Address Data Quality, Privacy, and Security Issues: Implement best practices for data governance, including data ethics and privacy.

Module 5: Navigating AI Tools for Professional Impact

Explore Diverse AI Models and Their Applications: Compare models like GPT-4, Google Gemini, and Meta AI, understanding their strengths and limitations.
Learn Criteria for Selecting Appropriate AI Tools: Assess tools based on functionality, scalability, ease of integration, and practical evaluation techniques.
Adopt an Empathetic Approach to Technology Integration: Align AI tools with user needs, ensuring they enhance human capabilities.
Evaluate AI Systems in Professional Contexts: Analyze case studies of AI implementations, identifying potential challenges and solutions.

Module 6: Systems Thinking for AI Value Creation

Critically Assess AI-Driven Outcomes: Identify biases or irrelevant outputs, establishing criteria for AI evaluation.
Implement Techniques to Fine-Tune AI Outputs: Adjust prompts based on feedback and use iterative testing.
Understand Holistic Systems Thinking in AI Implementation: View AI as part of a larger ecosystem, recognizing interdependencies.
Promote Continuous Improvement in AI Applications: Monitor performance over time, adapting strategies with new insights.

Module 7: Automate Workflows with AI

Design Scalable and Adaptable AI Strategies: Plan for growth and long-term viability using modular architectures and flexible solutions.
Develop Effective AI Integration Plans: Align AI initiatives with stakeholder's objectives and ensure seamless adoption across existing technologies.
Create a Roadmap for Implementation: Outline timelines, resources, and key milestones to guide successful AI integration.
Identify Ethical Considerations and Risks: Mitigate misuse risks, establishing protocols for human intervention.

Module 8: Demonstrating Your AI Capabilities

Integrate What you Learned: Synthesize concepts and techniques from previous modules into a coherent AI solution.
Design a Context-Specific AI Solution: Identify a professional challenge and develop an AI-driven approach tailored to address specific goals and requirements.
Refine the Solution Using Iterative Feedback: Apply testing, feedback loops, and critical assessment to ensure the AI use case is practical, effective, and adaptable.
Demonstrate Strategic Value to Stakeholders: Present the AI use case, highlighting its ability to enhance efficiency, spark creativity, and deliver measurable outcomes.

Certificate of Completion

Upon successfully completing the program, you'll receive a digital certificate from Simon Fraser University's Beedie School of Business. As a program alum, you'll also gain exclusive access to various workshops, events, and networking opportunities. You may also qualify for tuition assistance if you choose to enroll in more online programs through DIAL.

Your verified digital certificate will be available for download from the course's Canvas platform, using the name you provided during registration. The certificate images shown are for illustrative purposes and may change at the discretion of SFU Beedie School of Business.

Please note that participating in the Applied AI for Professionals Program does not lead to a degree, alumni status, or earned credits at the SFU Beedie School of Business.

Applied-AI-for-Professionals-Certificate

Have questions about this program? Contact sfudial@sfu.ca or call 778-782-3193.

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APPLIED AI FOR PROFESSIONALS

Empowering Professionals with AI-Driven Skills

70%

12HRS

Your Transformative Journey in this Program

Program Highlights

Program Curriculum

Certificate of Completion

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