Cohere and the University of Waterloo launch partnership to strengthen Canada’s AI talent pipeline

Today, Cohere and the University of Waterloo announced a new partnership to help students build the practical skills needed to lead AI transformation in the workplace.

Through the partnership, Cohere will support the development of a new AI Transformation and Change Management certificate led by Waterloo’s Future of Work Institute. The program will give students hands-on experience working with organizations to understand their needs, identify meaningful opportunities for AI and turn those ideas into secure, responsible solutions.

Launching in Fall 2026, the non-credit certificate will combine classroom learning, workplace experience and collaborative problem-solving. Students will complete applied and structured co-op opportunities through applied projects and structured co-op opportunities, working directly with organizations on AI use-case discovery, prioritization and implementation.

The curriculum will take a broad, technology-inclusive approach, bringing together AI literacy, human-centred design, ethics, business strategy and change management. It will teach students to examine the people, processes and operational challenges behind a problem before determining where AI can help.

The partnership will also create a living lab for AI transformation. Students will gain direct workplace experience, while Cohere, Waterloo and participating organizations learn how to make the transformation process more effective, responsible and useful.

As more organizations move from early experimentation to practical adoption, Canada will need professionals who can connect AI technology with business needs and organizational change. Cohere is proud to partner with the University of Waterloo to prepare students to lead that work and help organizations adopt AI securely, thoughtfully and with a clear focus on real-world outcomes.