eCampusOntario and Durham University (DC) on February 23rd. Fundamentals of artificial intelligence Microcourse series offered free of charge and integrated with eCampusOntario’s platform: Ontario Microcredential Portal and skills for jobs in canada. This partnership advances broader efforts to provide free, high-quality resources that help Ontarians and Canadians develop in-demand skills and adapt to evolving labor market needs across the economy. The first module in the series is currently live, with a total of seven modules scheduled to be released.
Across Canada, employers are looking for people with digital fluency and basic AI literacy. At the same time, many learners need flexible and barrier-free pathways to acquire new skills while on the job or job search. This partnership responds to that challenge by making bilingual, accessible, free learning available to everyone, everywhere, in line with national priorities for economic inclusion, workforce resilience, and lifelong learning.
Through this initiative, participants will gradually gain access to a seven-module web-based microcourse series offered across the eCampusOntario platform and developed by DC’s AI Hub, leveraging its expertise as an applied research center dedicated to helping Canadian businesses and learners understand and leverage the full potential of AI.
The AI Fundamentals series features:
- Short, interactive modules (20-30 minutes) designed for non-technical readers and include practical examples and self-assessment.
- Bilingual (English/French) and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA compliant accessibility.
- Labor market arrangements that map learning to jobs and career paths using the NOC/CIP (National Occupational Classification/Classification of Educational Programs) framework.
- Open access via Ontario Microcredential Portal and skills for jobs in canadacontains a list to guide learners to start the module right away.
- Digital certificates and badges that recognize learner achievement based on series size.
said Robert Luke, CEO of eCampusOntario.
“People need practical ways to build confidence in AI without the cost or complexity. By working with Durham University’s AI Hub, we are making basic AI learning easy to get started and accessible to everyone. This partnership is part of our broader commitment to breaking down barriers and helping learners in Ontario and Canada build the skills they need for today’s and future jobs.”
Dr Elaine Popp, President of Durham University, also commented:
“As a forward-thinking institution committed to supporting lifelong learning, Durham University is proud to leverage the expertise of our AI Hub to transform innovative research into accessible AI courses that have a meaningful impact. Partnering with eCampusOntario will allow us to share these courses with learners across the country, helping them build confidence in AI literacy and master the skills in this emerging technology required by an evolving workforce.”
This partnership is expected to expand access to essential AI literacy for learners in Ontario and across Canada, and strengthen the talent pipeline in areas where digital skills are increasingly needed. As part of this effort, eCampusOntario’s growing catalog of free learning resources now includes: Approximately 20 student support resources It’s customized for lifelong and online learners across the country and will continue to grow. Together, these resources create a more welcoming and flexible pathway for people looking to gain skills, transition their careers, and advance in the workforce.
For more information about this initiative, including a list of modules and how to get started, please visit the following website: Ontario Microcredential Portal and skills for jobs in canada.
