Creating an AI-Savvy Workforce, by the Thousands

Carli Evantanto leads business development for a federal government contractor. Her brother works in human resources. They found a way to boost their skills in an increasingly vital realm of technology—and have some fun going back to school together virtually—last spring through the University of Maryland's new online certificate in artificial intelligence and career empowerment. 

“(I wanted to) educate myself on what this whole new idea is and how to talk about it with other professionals— and honestly, even in friend conversations,” Evantanto said.

She found plenty of people who shared her thinking: More than 32,000 have registered for the free program launched in May by the Center for Artificial Intelligence in Business and the Executive Education Office at the Robert H. Smith School of Business. It's a wildly successful debut for the course, which offers 10-self-paced modules taught by full-time faculty and interviews with industry leaders exploring how the evolving technology is transforming businesses and career opportunities. Upon finishing the course, participants earn a certificate of completion.

“We are deeply grateful to our 10 world-class faculty for creating high-impact content that builds AI literacy and prepares the workforce for the future,” said Smith School Dean Prabhudev Konana. “Their work is key to enhancing employability and driving economic growth in Maryland and the region—reflecting our deep commitment to developing a future-ready workforce.”

Although the course was specifically designed for former federal workers transitioning in recent months to the private sector, it’s open to anyone interested in AI’s role in business or in search of new opportunities. Hosted on ELMS-Canvas, the program’s first six modules cover the technology’s influence in areas like marketing, the supply chain and financial services, while the rest focus on career empowerment topics like being your own startup or searching for a job in the AI age.

Smith faculty worked with the school’s Office of Digital Learning to record each session, and senior executives at companies including AllianceBernstein, EY, Capital One, Amazon and T. Rowe Price contributed videos discussing AI’s impact. In total, the program includes 25 hours of content.

Initially after launch, a few hundred people signed up. But as those numbers quickly ballooned into the thousands, “it was clear that there was a massive demand for something like this,” said Balaji Padmanabhan, director of the Center for Artificial Intelligence in Business. With the mix of expert voices across academia and industry, “everyone would get something they can relate to and act on.”

Despite no formal advertising push, news about the program has spread through word of mouth, shared social media posts and Google searches on the buzzy topic. Participants have come from all over: federal agencies, industry, academia and more, with registrants from multiple countries.

“I appreciated that the presenters across the board really translated the complexities of AI and how powerful it can be,” said program participant Alejandro Martinez, a career communities coordinator at the University of Massachusetts Boston. “Not only was it relevant for (tech fields), but it also helps with the students I’m working with.”

As AI continues advancing, the Smith School plans to eventually add modules to keep the course fresh, Padmanabhan said. He hopes to continue building community among this growing group of learners, including possibly creating opportunities for them to connect on campus.

“The goal was to put together the best content possible and see how it goes. If it helps even a handful of people who are in need, that’s great,” he said. “It’s turned out to be much more than that.”