Duke Executive Education and Simplilearn launch AI certificate program

Duke Executive Education and Simplilearn have partnered to launch a professional certificate program in Applied Generative AI and Agentic AI, designed to equip professionals with the skills needed to build and apply advanced AI systems in their organizations. The 14-week program, set to begin, combines self-paced video lessons with live, interactive sessions, offering hands-on projects and masterclasses led by Duke faculty.

The curriculum includes a range of activities, from guided demos and portfolio-worthy projects to exposure to essential tools and frameworks used in modern AI teams. According to recent research, the generative AI market was valued at over $119 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow to between $1.6 trillion and $2.3 trillion by the early 2030s. This growth underscores the increasing demand for professionals who can design, deploy, and manage sophisticated AI systems.

Dr. Richard Freishtat, Associate Dean for Executive Education at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business, commented on the program: "Generative and agentic AI are rapidly transforming how work gets done. Professionals need to move beyond understanding AI capabilities to effectively applying them in a way that creates real organizational value. Our collaboration with Simplilearn is designed to bridge this gap by providing a strong foundation in emerging AI technologies and practical, hands-on learning opportunities."

The program also features an AI Impact Studio, a live workshop series covering topics such as Generative AI, Agentic AI, automation, and emerging technologies. Duke Faculty-led Masterclasses will further enhance the learning experience. Additionally, learners can explore Azure AI and Microsoft Foundry through dedicated electives.

Upon successful completion, participants will receive a Professional Certificate in Applied Generative AI and Agentic AI from Duke Executive Education and Simplilearn. Krishna Kumar, Founder and CEO of Simplilearn, expressed the importance of the partnership: "Our focus is on creating a structured learning experience that covers both foundational concepts and emerging areas such as multimodal AI, agentic systems, and secure AI deployment. This collaboration brings strong academic grounding to the program, complemented by Simplilearn's expertise in practical online learning."

Targeted at professionals seeking to enhance their AI capabilities, the program is ideal for product and program managers, analysts, consultants, technical domain experts, software and data engineers, AI/ML professionals, engineering managers, and technical architects. The partnership between Duke Executive Education and Simplilearn leverages Duke's academic rigor and Simplilearn's extensive online learning platform to provide a comprehensive, practical education.

Duke University, a top-ranked private research university, is known for its strength in analytics education and industry impact, with the Fuqua School of Business ranking #12 in Business Analytics. Simplilearn, a global leader in digital upskilling founded in 2010, offers over 1,500 live classes each month across 150+ countries, impacting millions of learners worldwide.