WatSPEED, the University of Waterloo's professional, executive and corporate education arm, has partnered with the Vector Institute on a new pilot program to help professionals turn AI ambition into meaningful business results.
"This collaboration unites WatSPEED's strength in professional education with the Vector Institute's AI expertise to address a critical skills gap in the market," says Aaron Pereira, executive director of WatSPEED. "By equipping professionals to lead AI initiatives more effectively, we're helping Canadian organizations turn their AI investments into real competitive advantage."
Running on June 19, Managing AI Projects is a one-day, live online course is designed for project managers, team leads and functional experts responsible for driving AI initiatives forward. As AI becomes more deeply embedded in business operations, professionals in non-technical roles are playing a part in shaping and steering adoption efforts ensuring that emerging technologies translate into real-world impact.
The pilot program represents an important step in advancing AI adoption in today's rapidly evolving landscape. It recognizes that traditional project management tools and approaches must evolve to meet the realities of AI technologies. By equipping participants with actionable strategies to plan, lead and deliver AI projects, they can effectively bridge the gap between innovation and organizational success.
"Vector Institute is committed to accelerating the safe and effective adoption of AI across Canada," says Craig Stewart, executive director of applied AI programs at the Vector Institute. "By equipping leaders with the right tools and frameworks to drive their AI initiatives forward, we're helping organizations unlock this technology's potential and translate AI ambition into real-world results."
The Vector Institute an independent, not-for-profit corporation dedicated to advancing artificial intelligence works with a broad network of academic experts, corporate partners and subject matter experts to develop cutting-edge research, training programs and projects that help organizations harness AI to drive productivity and foster economic growth. They are funded by the Province of Ontario, the Government of Canada through CIFAR Pan-Canadian AI Strategy and industry sponsors across Canada.
As Canada looks to strengthen its position in the global innovation economy, the need for skilled professionals who can confidently lead AI projects and adapt established practices to new technological concepts has never been more urgent. The collaboration between WatSPEED and the Vector Institute signals a shared commitment to making advanced AI training more accessible, helping organizations overcome adoption challenges and build a future-ready workforce equipped to lead in the digital economy.
