Frequently Asked Questions
Polisync’s Certificate in Applied AI for Social Good
1. What is the Certificate in Applied AI for Social Good about?
The Certificate in Applied AI for Social Good is a free, accredited, four-course programme designed specifically for nonprofits by Polisync in collaboration with selected GenAI Experts. It helps organisations build practical, responsible AI skills across operations, research, data, content creation, storytelling, and governance. You will learn practical AI skills for your nonprofit work. Each course is self-paced (1–2 hours), includes hands-on activities, real nonprofit use cases, expert-led guidance, and a live Q&A session. Learners can earn an accredited badge for each course or complete all four to receive the full certificate.
2. Who is this course designed for?
The certificate is built for nonprofits working in humanitarian action, migration, education, health, environment, sustainability, human rights, labour and other social good fields. It is designed for non-profit professionals, including programme staff, researchers, communicators, advocacy officers, managers, and anyone interested in using AI responsibly to support mission-driven work. It’s ideal for those seeking practical AI skills to work smarter, boost impact, and stay focused on their mission.
3. Do I need any prior knowledge of AI or data science?
No prior knowledge is needed. The Certificate in Applied AI for Social Good begins with foundational concepts and guides you step-by-step through practical tools, ethical considerations, and real-world nonprofit applications. All content is beginner-friendly, so no technical background is required.
4. Can my colleagues join too?
Absolutely. The course is open to all nonprofit professionals. Simply share the registration link and they can sign up for any individual course or the full certificate. Registration link: https://www.polisync.org/ai-certificate
5. How much does the certificate cost?
The Certificate in Applied AI for Social Good and its courses are completely free of charge. It is a not-for-profit initiative made possible by Microsoft Elevate (Microsoft Philanthropies) and supported by Polisync’s collaborating partners including leading nonprofits such as Globethics, Caux Initiatives of Change, & International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA) as well as GenAI Experts.
6. What topics do the courses cover?
Each course focuses on a different area of applied AI for nonprofits:
- AI Foundations – Ethics, Governance & Prompting
- AI for Operations, Administration & Planning
- AI for Research, Insights & Data
- AI-Powered Content, Storytelling & Advocacy
7. Who are the instructors?
Courses are led by GenAI experts, policy specialists, researchers, and nonprofit practitioners, including Paola Galvez-Callirgos, Kateřina Švidrnochová, Jenna Nassiri, Cecilia Cannon, Tea Mustac, Marie McAuliffe, Robin Sutherland-Harris, Tim Ngwena and Nikolaj Lykke Viborg. Their courses are also supplemented with relevant reading materials and resources provided by the GenAI Experts, Polisync as well as Microsoft Elevate (Microsoft Philanthropies).
Learn more about your trainers by visiting this page.
8. How do I access the courses?
All courses are hosted on learn.polisync.org via the Teachable platform. After registering, you may receive Teachable notifications regarding enrollment and course access to help you set up your account. The course content will be made available only during the session dates below:
Course 1 AI Foundations – Ethics, Governance & Prompting: 19–23 January 2026
Course 2 AI for Operations, Administration & Planning: 1–5 December 2025
Course 3 AI for Research, Insights & Data: 8–12 December 2025
Course 4 AI-Powered Content, Storytelling & Advocacy: 15–19 December 2025
You can complete each course at your own pace during those available session dates.
Course session dates will be renewed and updated in 2026.
9. How long does it take to complete the course?
Each course takes approximately 1–2 hours to complete. Completing all four courses typically takes 6–8 hours in total.
Additionally, you can join a 1-hour live Q&A session with the trainer and invest some more time to complete the optional hands-on activities provided in each course.
10. What is the structure of the courses: are they self-paced or scheduled with fixed dates?
The course is self-paced and delivered in instructor-led weekly sessions, with each course made available on the following dates:
Course 1 AI Foundations – Ethics, Governance & Prompting: 19–23 January 2026
Course 2 AI for Operations, Administration & Planning: 1–5 December 2025
Course 3 AI for Research, Insights & Data: 8–12 December 2025
Course 4 AI-Powered Content, Storytelling & Advocacy: 15–19 December 2025
You can complete each course at your own pace during those available session dates.
Course session dates will be renewed and updated in 2026.
11. I see the message “Lesson content locked” and can’t continue. What should I do?
You’ll see this message if a previous lesson isn’t marked as complete. Just finish all earlier lessons and click “Complete and Continue” to unlock the next one.
12. I’ve watched the video in full, but the “Complete and Continue” button isn’t working and I can’t move to the next lesson. What should I do?
This issue is usually related to your browser or device settings, particularly those that block cookies used to track your progress. Please try the following:
- Disable any tracking protection settings in your browser.
- Turn off ad blockers or privacy extensions.
- Make sure you’re not navigating away from the page or switching tabs while the video is playing.
If the issue persists, try refreshing the page or opening the lesson in a different browser.
If none of these steps help, feel free to contact us for support.
13. Is there an opportunity to interact with the instructors and my peers?
Yes. Each course includes an optional one-hour live Q&A discussion with the instructor and peers on a designated day and time which will be communicated to you. This will be an opportunity to ask questions, share use cases, and deepen understanding by interacting with the instructor and your peers. You can also interact with your peers on the community forum available on the learning platform. There is a community forum available for each course as well as a general discussion forum.
14. Will I receive accreditation?
Yes. Learners receive an accredited course certificate for each individual course completed and an accredited full certificate after completing all four courses.
15. What are the requirements to receive the certificate?
To receive the overall, accredited Certificate in Applied AI for Social Good, you must complete all four courses.
After finishing each individual course, you will receive an accredited Course Certificate.
All lessons within each course must be marked as completed for the certificates to be issued automatically. You will also receive access to your certificate via email for future access.
If you’ve registered for individual courses but later decide to complete all four to earn the full certificate, you can enroll in the remaining courses directly on the Teachable platform. Please note that each course is only available during its designated session dates.
16. Can I access the course content on mobile or tablet devices?
Yes. The course works on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices. For the best experience, we recommend an up-to-date browser and stable internet connection. There is also an app available for download on Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
17. Who can I contact for support?
For course questions or content feedback, please contact Valentina Lazzarini at [email protected].
18. How do I edit my name, email, or password?
Click your profile icon (top-right), select Edit Profile, then click Edit or Change next to the field you want to update, enter your new information, and hit Save.
Passwords must be at least 6 characters, and you’ll receive an email confirmation when you change it.
19. How do I manage which notification emails I receive?
On the Edit Profile page, scroll to the bottom to find notification preferences. You can toggle emails for:
- responses to your comments on lectures
- discussion thread replies
- PoliSync newsletters/emails