By Laura Hyde |
Durham University in the North East of England has partnered with Microsoft to establish an AI Skills Centre of Excellence – the first-of-its-kind in the UK. The centre will bring together expertise, tools and support to equip students and staff with the skills and confidence to use AI in a way that is “practical, responsible, inclusive and relevant to real-world challenges”.
The Centre of Excellence will create new opportunities for staff, students, graduates, businesses and the wider public sector. It will explore how to support students to develop skills valued by employers; how to help staff enhance teaching, research, and ways of working; and how to create opportunities for wider communities, including businesses and the public sector. It is also hoped the centre will provide equitable access to AI skills and opportunities across the local community.
The AI Skills Centre of Excellence aims to equip students, staff and the wider community with the confidence to use AI practically and responsibly
“As a nationally leading university recognised for the employability of its graduates, this work will ensure our students are equipped with the skills and experience needed to succeed in a rapidly changing workplace,” said a spokesperson for the university. “By working with Microsoft, Durham will also contribute to broader efforts to support AI capability and skills development across the UK, helping shape how AI is understood and applied in education, research and beyond, while supporting inclusive access to these opportunities. “
It is hoped the partnership, which was announced at London Tech Week 2026 by Darren Hardman, corporate vice president and CEO of Microsoft UK and Ireland, will help shape the future of AI skills, education and opportunity in the UK.