University of Toronto staff who want to build the skills and confidence to apply generative AI effectively in their work have a new opportunity for learning with the Data Sciences Institute.
With AI becoming increasingly important for work, the University’s AI Task Force’s report, Toward an AI-Ready University, calls for AI literacy and training for all employees.
Deploying AI offers a unique value as it is short, targeted learning experience dedicated to the frameworks, tools, and applied skills that professionals need to navigate the operational and organizational challenges of AI integration. The microcredential emphasizes real-world applications and toolsets, enabling learners to contribute to AI integration initiatives in their workplaces. Participants gain in-demand expertise in model evaluation, prompt engineering, and navigating deployment frameworks.
The microcredential builds on the success of the DSI Data Science and Machine Learning Software Foundations Certificates offered with the financial support of Upskill Canada, powered by Palette Skills and the Government of Canada.
DSI is a hub for learning data science and AI and has offered not-for-credit data science, machine learning and AI certificates and microcredentials for several years for professionals outside U of T. DSI also offers certificates for doctoral students in collaboration with the School of Graduate Studies, and the Machine Learning Bootcamp for Faculty members offered with the Centre for Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Engineering (CARTE).
U of T staff can now also register for DSI’s microcredentials. Starting with Deploying AI, offerings will be searchable on the Centre for Learning, Leadership & Culture learning management system for U of T staff as they are scheduled throughout the year.
To celebrate this opportunity for U of T staff, we spoke to Philip Rudz, a aculty of Arts & Science staff member who completed Deploying AI in the fall.
Philip works in the Dean’s Office as a Service and Technology Delivery Lead, Teaching & Learning.
“A significant part of my role is evaluating new tools and technologies to stay current of what our instructors and administrative staff might be exposed to or request to use.”
Philip had experimented with Generative AI and various machine learning tools for several years. “I am part of the Arts & Science Dean’s Advisory Committee on AI,” he said, “And I have delivered several workshops to A&S admin staff about GenAI and also took part in developing the governance and data security guidelines as part of the AI Task Force that was convened in 2024-25.”
Still, Philip says he wanted exposure to a more formal instructional setting as opposed to self-learning. “The quality of instruction was excellent,” he says, “and the instructor and support staff were really outstanding.”
“I anticipated that the cohort would be more technical than me – which I thought would be valuable experience. I also wanted insight into what folks in the private sector were doing with AI implementation and was not disappointed as it was a large and diverse cohort. I really appreciated the expectation that students would be familiar with the basics of Python and that the instructor never slowed down the pace. I found the exercises challenging, but not overly so, and well designed to cater to a range of experience levels.”
Bill Brennan, Assistant Director, Learning and Leadership Development, Centre for Learning, Leadership & Culture in the Division of People Strategy, Equity & Culture, is enthusiastic about the inclusion of Deploying AI for U of T staff.
“For those looking to build on existing programming knowledge, the Deploying AI microcredential is an opportunity to gain hands-on, practical skills, to meet our needs to support AI literacy for U of T employees” he notes.
Registration is open for the February session of Deploying AI ! U of T staff may be eligible to apply for the Staff Tuition Waiver, depending on their employee group and how the learning relates to their role.