Cohere and University of Waterloo Announce Partnership to Cultivate AI Transformation Talent

Cohere and the University of Waterloo have signed a partnership to cultivate practical talent capable of leading corporate AI transformation. Cohere will support the development of the AI Transformation and Change Management Certification Program, led by the University of Waterloo's Future of Work Institute.

The non-credit certification program, starting in Fall 2026, combines lectures, hands-on experience, and collaborative problem-solving. Students will work directly with organizations to identify and prioritize AI use cases, then proceed to implementation through projects and structured co-op opportunities.

The curriculum is not tied to specific technologies but covers AI literacy, human-centered design, ethics, business strategy, and change management. It is structured to first examine the people, process, and operational aspects of a problem before determining where AI can contribute.

This collaboration also serves as a living lab where students, companies, and universities jointly validate approaches to AI transformation. Participants will learn how to connect AI to actual organizational needs and deploy it safely and responsibly.