The Operational Excellence: Problem Solving with AI Certificate is a hands-on pilot program that helps staff build practical, responsible AI literacy and apply it to a real workflow challenge in their area. Designed for people who want to improve how things work across Queen’s, this program combines foundational AI concepts with structured, applied problem-solving.
Participants complete pre-learning, attend four in-person sessions between May and August 2026, and work on an applied project between sessions. By the end of the program, each participant will have created a well-defined problem statement, explored viable solutions, and prepared an implementation outline grounded in Queen’s operational realities.
This program is offered in partnership with the Office of the Provost and Vice-Principal Academic, Information Technology Services (ITS), and Human Resources, Organizational Development & Learning (ODL). It supports university-wide goals around operational excellence, data-informed decision making and building AI readiness and literacy at Queen's.
The program is geared towards:
- Staff who work with or influence operational workflows
- Individuals comfortable working with the data behind their process
- Those ready to explore responsible, practical uses of AI
- People committed to applied learning and continuous improvement
Below, please find the dates, times, and topics for the different sessions within the certificate program:
| Session | Topic | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Understanding AI & Framing Departmental Pain Points | Wednesday, May 13, 2026 | 1:00 – 4:00 pm |
| 2 | Matching AI to the Right Problem | Thursday, June 18, 2026 | 1:00 – 4:00 pm |
| 3 | Refining My Solution to Match My Reality | Tuesday, July 14 | 1:00 – 4:00 pm |
| 4 | Presenting Solutions to Leadership Presentations | Thursday, August 13 | 1:00 – 4:00 pm |
- Opens: April 6, 2026
- Closes: April 22, 2026
- Notifications: Early May
.