Discover, design, deploy: Develop your AI skills with Qualcomm Academy
Artificial intelligence is opening up exciting new opportunities for students and educators alike. But while understanding the theory is important, developing practical, real-world skills can make all the difference when it comes to future study and career opportunities.
This is where the Qualcomm Academy's free online AI learning programs can help. Flexible, accessible and packed with hands-on projects, they're designed to help learners explore AI, embedded systems and edge computing using industry-relevant tools and technologies.
Whether you're looking to strengthen your CV, integrate AI concepts into your classroom teaching, or simply discover more about the technology that’s shaping the way we live and work, these free programs offer a fantastic place to start.
Learn it. Train it. Deploy it.
A growing number of employers are pointing to a skills gap in AI and technology roles, particularly when it comes to translating theory into practical application. The Qualcomm Academy's AI programs are helping to bridge this gap through hands-on projects and practical AI development experiences that reflect real industry workflows.
For students looking to build a strong foundation in artificial intelligence, the AI Upskilling Certificate: Technical Foundations program offers five comprehensive courses covering a wide range of topics including AI fundamentals, generative AI, edge AI, and much more. With no extensive prerequisites and easy-to-follow, step-by-step guidance, the program offers an accessible way for students to start building their AI knowledge and confidence.
However, for many students, the most engaging learning happens when digital concepts actually connect with physical devices. The AI Upskilling Certificate: Hands-On Development from Model to App brings that experience to life. Through three end-to-end projects, learners discover how to use Edge Impulse and the Arduino® UNO Q™ to build, train, and deploy machine learning models on edge devices.
By deploying AI models onto real hardware like the UNO Q, students can gain hands-on experience with embedded systems and low-power AI while exploring important engineering concepts such as memory constraints, latency, and power efficiency.
And because Edge Impulse provides a full end-to-end pipeline similar to that used by real engineers, it can help bridge the gap between education and employment while building confidence with industry-relevant technologies.
Beyond AI: develop real-world skills that last
In addition to teaching core AI and engineering concepts, the Qualcomm Academy courses we’ve spoken about here give learners the chance to develop transferable skills that are highly valued in education and industry alike. These include:
- Problem-solving by breaking down real-world challenges into manageable technical components
- Critical thinking when evaluating model performance, identifying biases, and improving outputs
- Experimental thinking through testing, iteration, and refinement
- System-level understanding of how software, hardware, and AI models interact
- Creativity and innovation when designing their own unique applications using AI at the edge.
Soft skills such as these are increasingly important in engineering, computing, and technology careers, where adaptability and continuous learning are essential. But they're also highly valuable beyond STEM, supporting success in higher education, collaborative projects and a wide range of future careers.
Turn progress into proof
Upon completing a Qualcomm Academy course, learners receive a Qualcomm Technologies digital badge and certificate.
These credentials provide tangible evidence of hands-on, industry-aligned learning and can be shared with prospective employers, universities and professional networks. After all, when you’ve put in the work, why not show it off? They also make it easier for companies and admissions teams to recognize practical skills and project experience, helping applications stand out for the right reasons.
In our experience, recognized credentials like these can also help boost student motivation by providing a rewarding milestone that celebrates progress and showcases achievement.
Learning designed around students
As William G. Spady observed, “Every student can succeed, but not on the same day in the same way”. The Qualcomm Academy's flexible, self-paced approach reflects this principle by giving participants the freedom to learn in a way that works for them.
All training is delivered online and can be accessed on a computer or mobile device, making it easy to learn anytime, anywhere. Courses are self-paced, allowing students to fit learning around coursework, extracurricular activities, and part-time jobs while spending more time on challenging topics and moving quickly through areas they already understand.
This flexibility creates a more personalized learning experience and encourages greater ownership of learning. It also helps remove many of the traditional barriers to AI education, enabling students to develop in-demand skills regardless of their location or circumstances.
A flexible classroom resource at your fingertips
There’s good news for educators too, as these programs provide a great way to enhance existing curricula in computer science, engineering, and STEM subjects.
If you're looking to help students move beyond theory and start building real-world AI skills, the course's hands-on activities can be integrated into existing project-based learning experiences. Students can then put their knowledge into practice using tools such as Edge Impulse and the UNO Q.
Beyond the classroom, the programs are well-suited to robotics clubs, AI clubs, maker spaces, and other extracurricular activities where students can explore emerging technologies through experimentation and collaboration. The project-based structure also makes the courses a useful foundation for capstone projects, independent research, and design challenges.
And because the training is self-paced and delivered online, it can easily be combined with instructor-led lessons as part of a blended learning approach, allowing young people to build their practical skills both inside and outside the classroom.
Ready to get started? Explore Qualcomm Academy free online courses and take your next step into the world of AI, engineering, and emerging technologies.