More than 25K Enroll in Smith AI Course for Career Empowerment

More than 25,000 learners worldwide have enrolled in a free online certificate course from the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business.

Artificial Intelligence and Career Empowerment was launched in May 2025. Smith’s Office of Executive Education, which provides business education for local companies and individual learners around the world, facilitates the offering. The course is specifically designed for those transitioning from the federal civil service—to help build AI literacy, explore job opportunities and navigate career transitions with expert guidance—but it is free and open to all.

In addition to transitioning federal workers, learners worldwide have used the course to empower their careers with AI—as described in testimonials on LinkedIn, including:

I am incredibly proud to share that I am part of the first graduating cohort of the new AI and Career Empowerment certificate program from the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business. This was a phenomenal experience… A huge and heartfelt ‘thank you’ to the brilliant faculty who collaborated to design and deliver this incredible learning journey. —Surbhi Sethi, AI education teaching and learning consultant

As someone deeply committed to driving systemic change and creating meaningful engagement, this experience expanded my perspective on how AI can be a powerful tool in advancing equity, education, and innovation. Excited to integrate these insights into my work and continue building strategies that are both human-centered and future-forward. Thank you, University of Maryland. —Jetheda Hernandez, senior director, NMSDC

It is high time to explore how AI transforms various industries by examining real-world applications and the broader implications of its adoption across all sectors, particularly for professionals. Understanding the 'good, the bad, and the ugly' of modern AI encourages thoughtful exploration, balancing optimism with skepticism to navigate this dynamic field effectively for career empowerment and growth. Thank you, University of Maryland - Robert H. Smith School of Business, UMD Smith Executive Education, for offering incredible, engaging and thoughtful resources. —Mohamed Siddique, graduate teaching assistant, Auburn University

Balaji Padmanabhan, director of Smith’s Center for Artificial Intelligence in Business, initiated the course of 10 self-paced modules taught by top Smith faculty: “AI Literacy, Capabilities, Building AI Systems” (Padmanabhan), “The Marketing Revolution” (Bobby Zhou and Yogesh Joshi), “AI and Organizations” (Anil K Gupta), “AI and Supply Chain” (Suresh Acharya and Humberto Coronado), “Responsible AI,” (Margrét Bjarnadóttir), “AI in Financial Services” (Tania Babina). “Being your own Startup” (Oliver Schlake), “Negotiating from a Position of Weakness” (Rellie Derfler-Rozin and Vijaya Venkataramani) “Job Search in the Age of AI” (Kim Rice DeGross) and “The Road Ahead” (Padmanabhan).

“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.”

To enroll or for more information, go to the Free Online Certificate in Artificial Intelligence and Career Empowerment website.