The University of Waterloo is expanding its co-op model into workplace artificial intelligence training through a new non-credit certificate developed in partnership with AI company Cohere, the university announced this week. The program, led by Waterloo’s Future of Work Institute, will include 20 structured co-op positions and is expected to enrol its first cohort in January 2027.
Program focus and structure
The AI Transformation and Change Management certificate aims to equip students to identify organisational bottlenecks, discover and prioritise AI use cases, and support implementation work in real workplace settings. The certificate will combine digital badges with practical workplace projects, according to the university.
- Delivery: Non-credit certificate composed of badges earned through hands-on learning and workplace experience.
- Curriculum: Modules on human-centred design, ethics, change management and business strategies.
- Work placements: 20 structured co-op positions across private, public-sector and nonprofit organisations.
- Technology exposure: Participants will encounter technologies from multiple companies rather than a single vendor environment.
Dr. Edith Law, executive director of the Future of Work Institute and an associate professor of computer science, framed the initiative as problem-driven rather than technology-driven.
“AI adoption is not the point, but solving problems is,”
“Through this certificate program we will train students to think critically about bottlenecks, processes and challenges in organisations, and tackle these problems by designing socio-technical solutions with organisations.”
Partnership and timetable
Cohere is investing in the Future of Work Institute to help shape the program, although Waterloo’s announcement did not disclose the size or terms of the investment. The university says the partnership will support development and the launch of the certificate in fall 2026, with the first cohort and the planned 20 co-op placements beginning in January 2027.
The structured co-op positions are intended both to give students practical experience and to let Waterloo and its partners refine the program based on what they learn in workplace settings. Placements are expected to span private-sector firms, public organisations and nonprofit groups, reflecting an effort to expose students to a range of organisational contexts and constraints.
Local implications and context
For Waterloo — a city whose economy is closely tied to post-secondary institutions and technology employers — the certificate represents another bridge between campus training and local labour needs. The University of Waterloo’s co-op tradition has long supplied firms in the region with early-career talent; this program explicitly connects that pipeline to the adoption and governance of AI in workplaces.
Students who take the program will not only learn technical competencies but also work on socio-technical solutions that combine technological and non-technological changes. That approach recognises that AI often succeeds or fails because of organisational processes, ethics and human-centred design as much as algorithms.
Programme elements at a glance
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Program type | Non-credit certificate (badges + workplace projects) |
| Lead | Future of Work Institute, University of Waterloo |
| Industry partner | Cohere (investment not disclosed) |
| Co-op positions | 20 structured placements |
| Launch timeline | Development in fall 2026; first cohort January 2027 |
Minimally detailed financial terms and the specific list of participating organisations have not been released. The institute says participants will encounter technologies from different companies, signalling an intention to keep the curriculum vendor-agnostic.
As Waterloo’s tech and public sectors navigate the rapid diffusion of AI tools, the certificate could influence how local employers approach adoption, governance and change management. For students, the blend of badges and co-op work offers a practical route to workplace experience focused on real organisational problems rather than isolated technical exercises.
The university has characterised the initiative as a “living lab,” using co-op placements and partner feedback to refine the curriculum over time. For a region that relies on co-op talent and technology firms, the programme could become part of a broader strategy to ensure AI deployments are both effective and socially responsible.
