Let’s make it work for you
Overview
The AI leadership – AI adoption, procurement and governance apprenticeship unit is a five-day live training programme designed for leaders who influence or make decisions about acquiring, implementing, and governing AI systems within their organisations.
This unit builds the strategic and practical capability required to move from AI ambition to defensible, evidence-based adoption. Learners develop the skills to evaluate AI use cases, assess suppliers and delivery models, manage risk, and design governance frameworks that ensure accountability and transparency across the AI lifecycle.
The programme places strong emphasis on ethical, legal, regulatory, and human-centric considerations. Participants learn how to embed responsible AI principles into procurement, oversight, assurance, and compliance processes, ensuring that AI systems are adopted in a way that supports organisational resilience and public trust.
Who is this programme for?
This apprenticeship unit is designed for:
- Senior leaders and managers
- AI sponsors and programme owners
- Heads of function with AI accountability
- Leaders responsible for AI risk, governance, or transformation
No prior technical AI expertise is required. The course is designed for non-technical leaders who need to make informed, evidence-based decisions about AI adoption and oversight.
What you will gain
- Gain confidence in evaluating AI systems and suppliers
- Strengthen their ability to manage AI-related risk and governance
- Improve their understanding of procurement and sourcing decisions for AI
- Develop structured approaches to assurance and compliance
- Enhance their credibility as accountable AI leaders
Learning objectives
Throughout the programme, you will develop a holistic view of AI adoption, including:
- Translate AI strategy into structured, evidence-based adoption decisions
- Evaluate AI use cases using data, testing evidence, and feasibility assessment
- Assess technical delivery models and long-term operational risk
- Make defensible infrastructure, sourcing, and commercial decisions
- Evaluate AI suppliers and manage vendor risk
- Design governance and assurance mechanisms for responsible AI adoption
- Strengthen compliance, audit readiness, and oversight capability
- Embed human oversight and review across the AI lifecycle
Course Outline
Module 1: Foundations of Responsible AI Leadership and Governance
This module introduces the leadership responsibilities associated with AI adoption. You will explore the principles of responsible AI leadership, governance, accountability, and organisational decision-making. The module also examines how AI adoption can affect employees, customers, suppliers, and wider stakeholder groups.
You will learn how leaders can balance innovation with responsibility while building trust and confidence in AI initiatives.
Module 2: Embedding Governance, Ethics, and Regulation into AI Decision Making
This module focuses on the frameworks, policies, and governance structures that support responsible AI adoption. You will examine ethical principles, regulatory requirements, governance models, and organisational responsibilities that influence AI decision-making.
The module also explores how leaders can identify and assess AI opportunities using evidence rather than assumptions, ensuring decisions are aligned to organisational objectives and stakeholder expectations.
Module 3: Using Evidence, Risk, and Strategy to Decide How to Proceed with AI
This module develops the practical decision-making skills required to evaluate AI initiatives and determine whether they should progress. You will explore approaches to viability assessment, commissioning, testing, and evidence gathering, alongside methods for assessing business value and organisational readiness.
You will also examine the importance of stakeholder legitimacy, strategic alignment, and leadership sponsorship when deciding how and when to proceed with AI initiatives.
Module 4: Overseeing AI Systems
This module focuses on leadership oversight once AI solutions have been selected or implemented. You will learn how to evaluate technologies, suppliers, and technical approaches while ensuring solutions remain aligned with business requirements.
The module also explores assurance mechanisms, monitoring approaches, governance reviews, and crisis management processes that support effective oversight of AI-enabled systems throughout their lifecycle.
Module 5: Maintaining Good AI Governance
The final module examines how governance arrangements must evolve as AI adoption matures. You will explore approaches to monitoring governance effectiveness, responding to changing risks and regulations, and ensuring AI initiatives continue to operate responsibly over time.
The module emphasises continuous improvement, accountability, and the leadership behaviours required to sustain trust in organisational AI adoption.
Programme outcome
By the end of the programme, you will be able to make evidence-based decisions about AI adoption, procurement, and governance. You will have the confidence to evaluate AI solutions and suppliers, establish effective governance and assurance arrangements, manage risk and compliance requirements, and ensure appropriate human oversight throughout the AI lifecycle.
You will move from understanding AI strategy conceptually to governing AI adoption responsibly and effectively within your organisation.
Funded Apprenticeship Units For Your Business
Talk to our Apprenticeship experts about eligibility, funding and how apprenticeships units can benefit your organisation.
Upskill your team with high impact training.
Frequently asked questions
How can I create an account on myQA.com?
There are a number of ways to create an account. If you are a self-funder, simply select the "Create account" option on the login page.
If you have been booked onto a course by your company, you will receive a confirmation email. From this email, select "Sign into myQA" and you will be taken to the "Create account" page. Complete all of the details and select "Create account".
If you have the booking number you can also go here and select the "I have a booking number" option. Enter the booking reference and your surname. If the details match, you will be taken to the "Create account" page from where you can enter your details and confirm your account.
Find more answers to frequently asked questions in our FAQs: Bookings & Cancellations page.
How do QA’s virtual classroom courses work?
Our virtual classroom courses allow you to access award-winning classroom training, without leaving your home or office. Our learning professionals are specially trained on how to interact with remote attendees and our remote labs ensure all participants can take part in hands-on exercises wherever they are.
We use the WebEx video conferencing platform by Cisco. Before you book, check that you meet the WebEx system requirements and run a test meeting to ensure the software is compatible with your firewall settings. If it doesn’t work, try adjusting your settings or contact your IT department about permitting the website.
How do QA’s online courses work?
QA online courses, also commonly known as distance learning courses or elearning courses, take the form of interactive software designed for individual learning, but you will also have access to full support from our subject-matter experts for the duration of your course.
Once you have purchased the Online course and have completed your registration, you will receive the necessary details to enable you to immediately access it through our e-learning platform and you can start to learn straight away, from any compatible device. Access to the online learning platform is valid for one year from the booking date.
All courses are built around case studies and presented in an engaging format, which includes storytelling elements, video, audio and humour. Every case study is supported by sample documents and a collection of Knowledge Nuggets that provide more in-depth detail on the wider processes.
When will I receive my joining instructions?
Joining instructions for QA courses are sent two weeks prior to the course start date, or immediately if the booking is confirmed within this timeframe. For course bookings made via QA but delivered by a third-party supplier, joining instructions are sent to attendees prior to the training course, but timescales vary depending on each supplier’s terms. Read more FAQs.
When will I receive my certificate?
Certificates of Achievement are issued at the end the course, either as a hard copy or via email. Read more here.