Training students to earn the Azure AI Engineer Associate certificate from Microsoft

According to a February 2024 survey published by ISC2, artificial intelligence is perceived mostly in a positive light by cybersecurity professionals. Overall, 82% said that AI will improve their job efficiency and help detect and defend against cybersecurity attacks. 

https://www.isc2.org/Insights/2024/02/The-Real-World-Impact-of-AI-on-Cybersecurity-Professionals 

For cybersecurity educators, this means it is critical to deploy AI training as soon as possible. Are you ready? 

Students who earn at least one industry certificate along with their college diploma have a better chance of landing a job. But educators must decide which platform to train. How can you choose between the big players: Microsoft, Amazon, Google, IBM, Oracle, or OpenAI? One idea is to check with the local employers who seek graduates from your institution. Find out the most popular platform and train for that. 

It is, thus so far, difficult to find effective vendor-neutral training and certifications in AI. Even if you choose OpenAI, that’s still not a neutral choice. OpenAI is a specific platform. However, once a student learns one platform, they’ve naturally acquired enough of the fundamentals to easily transition to any other platform. 

If you choose Microsoft Azure, there is a quick and easy way for educators to quickly get up to speed. Furthermore, the curriculum for students is free and simple to integrate into an existing college program. Microsoft provides an AI Bootcamp for Educators, administered through approved 3rd party Microsoft Training Services Partners. 

According to the website: “The AI bootcamps are designed for faculty and educators who provide training and enablement to students in Computer Science (CS), Information Technology (IT), AI, and other related programs. 

Educator and faculty attendees will learn how to apply the courses to enhance or develop an AI training program to empower students with the tech skills needed to succeed in an AI-driven job market.” 

The bootcamps range from 1 to 2 days with additional add-on topics that could take an additional half day to two days. 

This bootcamp enables educators and faculty to deliver the AI-900: Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals and AI-102: Designing and Implementing a Microsoft Azure AI Solution, Microsoft Official Courseware to their students. 

Students, in turn, will be prepared to sit for a Microsoft exam at a Pearson Vue testing center. Those who pass will earn the Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Engineer Associate certificate. 

The curricula for these courses are free downloads for anyone who signs up for a Microsoft Learn for Educators account.  

For more information about the powerful benefits of a Microsoft Learn for Educators account, please see this article: https://coecyber.io/microsoft-learn-for-educators-msle  

See the following link to learn more about the Microsoft AI Boot Camp for Educators: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/educator-center/programs/msle/aibootcamp