The University of Canberra (UC) has announced the launch of a Graduate Certificate in Law (Data and AI), designed to strengthen the data ethics and artificial intelligence (AI) governance capabilities of the Australian Public Service (APS). The program is being delivered with Google.org’s support, with engagement from Google Cloud to provide guidance on the curriculum.
“This course is grounded in real-world application. On completion of the Graduate Certificate, our graduates will be equipped with skills and knowledge they can immediately apply in the workplace,” Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor The Honourable Bill Shorten said.
“Government operations are increasingly driven by data and AI and emerging technologies. Increasingly, public sector professionals need to know how and when to navigate emerging technologies in a complex environment, with ethics and legal knowledge built in by design. This course will help them do that, bridging the gap between data, privacy and statutory compliance. With Google.org's support, our public service is being equipped to apply innovation safely, transparently, and ethically."
“To build a strong digital future, our public service needs the critical skills to manage transformational technologies,” said Luch Joveski, Public Sector - Director, Google Cloud, Australia & New Zealand. “Google is proud to support the University of Canberra on this curriculum and support the APS with the practical expertise and skills needed to use data and AI safely and confidently.”
This course is being delivered online and designed to be completed part-time over a year in four study blocks. The course provides a strong foundation in Australian data protection and privacy law, information governance frameworks, administrative law compliance, and the ethical applications of emerging technologies, including sovereign AI development.
“Flexible and part-time learning arrangements, intentionally developed to meet our students where they are and to accommodate their lifestyle and work commitments is crucial. In this way, UC is giving them the opportunity to return to study in a way that best suits their needs. University and ongoing study shouldn’t be out of reach because of work, family or other life commitments,” Professor Shorten said.
“Those in the public sector can now work towards a new qualification at a pace that matches their lifestyle, because you can, and should, be able to expand your knowledge without sacrificing everything else.”
The Graduate Certificate in Law (Data and Artificial Intelligence) responds to a rapidly growing need for professionals who can navigate the legal, regulatory and ethical challenges created by the accelerating use of data and AI in government and organisational decision-making.
Rather than treating law as an abstract discipline, the course grounds students in the practical realities of data policy and governance. Students will work directly with current legislation, case law and real-world case studies, and will apply that knowledge to live challenges in digital transformation, from breaking down data silos and designing secure information-sharing frameworks, through to navigating emerging issues such as sovereign AI governance.
Graduates will be equipped to conduct advanced legal analysis of Australian data governance frameworks, evaluate emerging technology governance challenges, and apply professional and ethical judgement to data governance and AI practice, translating legal reasoning for non-legal stakeholders in government, industry and other stakeholders. By balancing privacy protection with transparency obligations, the curriculum ensures that as the government adopts AI technologies, citizens' data is managed by professionals trained in the highest standards of ethical and legal accountability.
“Canberra is the beating heart of the APS and it makes sense that the next generation of data governance specialists, privacy officers, AI governance experts and so many more professions are about to be enhanced right here at UC,” Professor Shorten said.
Admission to this course is restricted to APS staff only. Prospective students can learn more about the curriculum, admission requirements, and upcoming intake dates here.