Virtual University of Pakistan, through its Digital Transformation Center, has announced a collaboration with HP LIFE to offer a free AI for Business Skills Campaign during November. The initiative is intended to help students, professionals, entrepreneurs and other learners develop practical knowledge of artificial intelligence and its applications in business. Participants will be able to access the training without paying an enrolment fee and earn an international certificate from HP upon meeting the programme requirements. The announcement was shared by Virtual University, which invited interested individuals to register through the HP LIFE platform. The campaign comes as businesses increasingly explore artificial intelligence tools for everyday operations, including communication, planning, marketing, customer engagement and decision-making. By offering free access to training, the university’s Digital Transformation Center aims to make business-related artificial intelligence skills more accessible to people seeking to improve their professional capabilities. The collaboration also builds on the university’s existing work with international technology and training organisations to provide online learning opportunities. While the announcement identifies November as the campaign period, it does not specify a closing date for registration, the duration of the training or a fixed schedule for completing the learning activities.
HP LIFE is a free online learning programme supported by the HP Foundation, offering courses in business and digital skills to learners around the world. Its training catalogue covers areas such as entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, communication, professional development and digital business skills. The platform also offers courses specifically focused on artificial intelligence, including AI for Business Professionals, AI for Beginners, Strategic Planning in the AI Age and Critical Thinking in the AI Era. These courses address different aspects of using technology in professional and business environments, from understanding basic artificial intelligence concepts to applying AI tools for productivity and planning. The AI for Business Professionals course, for example, introduces learners to ways artificial intelligence can support productivity, decision-making and career development. Other courses focus on understanding how artificial intelligence is changing industries and how users can assess information and make decisions when working with AI-generated material. HP LIFE provides a certificate of completion for learners who finish its courses. Its platform states that training is available free of charge and offers more than 30 courses in eight languages. The programme has been used by learners in more than 200 countries and territories, making it an established source of online business and digital skills education. The November campaign with Virtual University gives local learners a direct route to access this training through the university’s Digital Transformation Center.
Virtual University’s Digital Transformation Center operates within the university’s Professional Development Center and is part of the International Telecommunication Union’s Digital Transformation Centres initiative. The global initiative was launched in September 2019 in partnership with Cisco to support the development of digital capabilities, particularly among underserved communities. Its objectives include providing basic digital literacy training, offering intermediate courses that can improve workplace skills and employability, and helping policymakers develop digital skills programmes. Virtual University was selected as the tenth ITU Digital Transformation Center in the second phase of the initiative. The university’s Professional Development Center also works with technology organisations to provide training and professional development opportunities for students, young people and working professionals. Its programmes cover information and communication technology, business-related skills and industry-oriented training. The HP LIFE collaboration adds another set of business and artificial intelligence learning resources to these activities. Such programmes are relevant to people working in small and medium-sized businesses, where employees and owners may need to understand how AI applications can be used without having specialist technical backgrounds. Practical familiarity with these tools can help learners assess where automation and AI-assisted services may fit into routine business activities. However, the value of the training will depend on participants completing the courses and applying the concepts to their respective work or business requirements.
People interested in joining the November campaign can register through the dedicated website. The wider HP LIFE platform allows users to create an account, explore its available courses and access learning material online. Participants should review the course information and completion requirements on the platform to understand the steps needed to receive a certificate. The university’s announcement describes the campaign as completely free and confirms that an international HP certificate is available to participants, but it does not provide further details about eligibility criteria, assessment arrangements or whether the campaign includes a separate live training component. Applicants should therefore check the registration page for the latest instructions before enrolling. The initiative offers an opportunity for Pakistani learners to access structured business and digital skills training without an upfront course fee, while also gaining exposure to the practical uses of artificial intelligence in professional settings. For Virtual University, the partnership extends the range of learning opportunities available through its Digital Transformation Center. For HP LIFE, it provides another channel through which its online courses can reach learners interested in business development and technology-related skills.
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