Virtual University of Pakistan, in collaboration with Cisco Networking Academy, has opened registration for nine free online courses in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, giving students and working professionals a chance to build digital skills that are in demand in the job market. The courses are being offered under Learn A Thon 2026 and carry Cisco certificates, which adds an industry recognised credential to what is otherwise a no cost training opportunity. Participants are not required to pay any fee, and the courses can be taken from anywhere in the country, since the programme is delivered entirely online.
The nine specialised courses cover two main areas. The artificial intelligence courses are intended to introduce participants to the concepts behind the technology and to how it is used in everyday work, while the cybersecurity courses cover the basics of protecting digital information, staying safe online, and understanding common threats faced by individuals and organisations. The courses follow a self paced online format, so learners can study according to their own schedule instead of attending fixed live classes, which makes the programme suitable for students with university timetables as well as employees who can only study in the evening or on weekends. Because the content is hosted on the Cisco Networking Academy platform, learners who finish a course can obtain a certificate from a global technology company, and this can be added to a resume or a professional profile.
Interested candidates can register through the Learn A Thon page on the official Virtual University website. After completing the registration steps listed there, learners are given access to the relevant Cisco Networking Academy courses and can begin their training. Those who wish to apply should check the page for the latest instructions and any closing date before submitting their details. The step by step process is kept simple so that registration does not become a barrier for first time online learners, including those in smaller cities where access to technology training is limited.
The announcement adds to a series of skills initiatives run by Virtual University, which also operates the DigiSkills.pk training programme for the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication. Enrolments for the fifth batch of the third phase of DigiSkills opened on November 2, 2026, with 300,000 seats available on a first come first served basis, and the programme has reported more than 5.5 million trainings since 2018. In September the university also opened free courses in subjects including artificial intelligence, programming, cybersecurity, and data science. With employers across Pakistan looking for people who understand artificial intelligence tools and basic cybersecurity practices, a free certificate course backed by Cisco gives young graduates and professionals a practical way to improve their profiles without spending money on private training.
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