AI Skills Launchpad
Upskilling Workshops | Feb-Mar 2026
AI Skills Launchpad
Upskilling Workshops | Feb-Mar 2026
techNL’s AI Skills Launchpad is a new upskilling program designed to elevate the tech workforce in Newfoundland and Labrador. Developed and delivered by leading industry experts, and approved by top local tech companies, the AI Skills Launchpad is offering four applied learning workshops covering the most in-demand skills: Data Science & Analytics, Data Engineering, SaaS Sales, and Cybersecurity. This is an opportunity for workers to turn AI’s rapid growth into a career opportunity, and for tech companies to upskill their workforce at a low cost.
Eligible learners can apply for one of four workshops, each delivered virtually over the course of 8 weeks. The program is funded by Upskill Canada, powered by Palette Skills, and supported by the Government of Canada.
Whether you’re:
- Already employed in tech
- A mid-career learner outside of tech, ready to upskill
- A job seeker looking to break into tech
you’ll have access to the latest AI training the sector has to offer. techNL is especially interested in receiving applications from equity-priority groups, including women, newcomers, racialized individuals, and persons with disabilities. Eligibility is limited to residents of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Benefits for participants
- World-class training from industry experts
- Applied case-based learning
- Curriculum validated by local industry
- Be part of a transformative cohort of learners
- Low cost of $200+HST per workshop (a $5,000 value) with 60 fully-funded seats for mid-career learners looking to enter the tech sector
Benefits for companies
- Valuable upskilling for your workforce
- Workshops are tailor-made for NL’s tech sector
- Cost is 96% subsidized — only $200+hst per workshop
- Access to training from industry experts
Need any more prompts? Apply now for one of the four workshops below! Deadline for applications: January 16, 2026
*Individuals looking to transition into NL’s tech sector*
*Individuals working within NL’s tech sector*
Eligibility Requirements
Career Transitioner Learners
1. Work Experience
Applicants must have:
- At least 3 years of cumulative work and/or volunteer experience:
- Experience can be inside or outside Canada
- Experience does not need to be consecutive
- Experience must be outside of full or part-time studies (High School or Post-Secondary)
- Work experience may be:
- Paid or unpaid (volunteer)
- Full-time (30+ hours/week) or part-time (less than 30 hours/week)
2. Career Stage (Mid-Career Status)
Applicants should be working adults who are:
- Currently not employed in tech, clean tech, or advanced manufacturing, but want to transition into these sectors,
OR
- Already working in these sectors but are under-employed and seeking:
- Role expansion
- Promotion opportunities
- AI-focused upskilling
3. Technical Background
For all streams except SaaS Sales in the Age of AI, applicants must have a technical learning foundation, such as:
- Software Development fundamentals
OR
- Equivalent technical coursework, training, or experience
4. Readiness & Commitment
Applicants must be able and willing to:
- Participate in 8 weeks of synchronous online training (24 hours total)
- Be available on weekday evenings or Saturday mornings
- Attend all weekly sessions and turn on their webcam
- Complete all:
- Course work
- Group assignments
- Assessments
- Take part in employer-led case studies and project components
- Complete follow-up surveys unti October 2026
5. Technical Requirements (Equipment)
Applicants must have access to:
- A computer or laptop with at least 16GB of RAM
- A reliable internet connection suitable for video calls
- A webcam and microphone to participate fully in online sessions
6. Legal Eligibility to Work in Canada
Applicants must:
- Be legally eligible to work in Canada
- If on a work permit, have at least one year remaining on their permit after the program start date (February 2, 2026)
NL Tech Worker Learners
1. Readiness Requirements
Applicants must be able and willing to:
- Participate in 8 weeks of synchronous online training (24 hours total)
- Be available on weekday evenings or Saturday mornings
- Have their employer agree to cover a $200 (+tax) per learner entry fee, or be personally willing to pay this fee
- Complete all:
- Course work
- Group assignments
- Assessments
- Take part in employer-led case studies and project components
- Complete follow-up surveys up to October 2026
2. Learner Profiles
For employees of tech companies within Newfoundland and Labrador’s tech sector, eligibility will be guided by the following learner profiles. These examples are not exhaustive, and applicants outside of these archetypes will still be considered for admission.
AI for Data Science and Analytics
- Relevant job titles: Software Developer, Data Analyst, Business Analyst
- Relevant skills: Data Visualization, Statistics and Data Analysis, Machine Learning fundamentals, Programming languages/tools such as SQL, Python, Tableau, Microsoft Power BI, etc.
AI for Data Engineering
- Relevant job titles: Software Developer, Data Engineer, AI Engineer, Database Manager
- Relevant skills: Programming languages/tools such as SQL, Python, Tableau, Microsoft Power BI, etc.
AI for Cybersecurity
- Relevant job titles: Software Developer, Cybersecurity Specialist, Cybersecurity Analyst, Systems Security Analyst, Cloud Architect
- Relevant skills: Cybersecurity policy and risk management, Software testing and secure development practices, Cloud computing and infrastructure securit, Information systems and network security
SaaS Sales in the Age of AI
- Relevant job titles: Business Development Representative (BDR), Sales Development Representative (SDR)
- Relevant skills: Sales and opportunity management, Customer prospecting and lead generation, Customer success and account management, CRM management, Understanding of SaaS product lifecycle and customer engagement
Workshops
AI for Data Engineering
Feb-Mar 2026 / 24 hours of training over 8 weeks
Experience a hands-on introduction to building robust data systems on AWS. You’ll learn the essentials—ETL/ELT, batch and streaming, and creating data pipelines for AI/ML—while working directly with tools like S3, Glue, Lambda, Athena, Redshift, EMR, RDS, DynamoDB, and more.
Basic requirements:
· Programming skills in Python (basic to advanced)
· Experience using libraries like NumPy, Pandas and Matplotlib
AI for Cybersecurity
Feb-Mar 2026 / 24 hours of training over 8 weeks
Through practical labs, you’ll learn how to protect and strengthen AI applications by spotting and fixing critical vulnerabilities—from prompt injection to insecure tool integration—using the OWASP Top 10 for LLMs.
You’ll also discover how to leverage AI as a security co-pilot for automating code reviews and speeding up incident response, finishing with a capstone project where you’ll harden a full AI application.
Basic requirements:
· 1+ years of experience coding
· Docker, Python, HTTP and SQL knowledge is an asset
AI for Data Science & Analytics
Feb-Mar 2026 / 24 hours of training over 8 weeks
Learn how to build powerful agents that can handle data science and business analytics tasks with ease. You’ll work with state-of-the-art tools, learn how to run evals to continually improve your agents, and gain a clear understanding of what today’s AI can achieve, saving you weeks of trial and error.
Basic requirements:
· Familiarity with code and data analysis concepts
SaaS Sales in the Age of AI
Feb-Mar 2026 / 24 hours of training over 8 weeks
Learn how to leverage AI to improve every stage of the sales process. You’ll understand how to accelerate sales by finding high-value leads, personalizing outreach, optimizing customer engagement, and streamlining CRM workflows.
Skills you’ll build include sales, prospecting, customer success, CRM management, SaaS product lifecycle, and customer engagement.
This program is funded by Upskill Canada, powered by Palette Skills, and the Government of Canada.
Get in touch
If you have questions or wish to learn more about techNL’s AI Skills Launchpad, don’t hesitate to reach out.