How to Choose the Right AI Course for Your Team

Choosing the Right AI Course: A Framework for Companies

Every week, new AI courses launch — from free YouTube tutorials to six-figure enterprise programmes. For companies evaluating their options, the sheer volume of choices can be paralysing.

This guide provides a practical, step-by-step framework for choosing the right AI course for your team. It works whether you are buying your first AI programme or expanding an existing training strategy.

Step 1: Assess Your Team's Current AI Maturity

Before evaluating courses, understand where your team stands today. Most teams fall into one of four levels:

Level 1: Unaware

• Most employees have not used AI tools for work
• No company AI policy exists
• AI is seen as 'something the IT team handles'
• Start with: Foundation courses (SPARK, Coursera AI for Everyone)

Level 2: Experimental

• Some employees use ChatGPT or similar tools informally
• No consistent approach or governance
• Results vary widely — some find it useful, others are frustrated
• Start with: Structured team training (IGNITE bootcamp)

Level 3: Structured

• Teams have defined AI use cases and workflows
• Basic governance is in place
• Adoption is uneven across departments
• Start with: Role-specific advanced courses (CIPHER prompt engineering, function-specific programmes)

Level 4: Integrated

• AI is embedded in daily workflows across departments
• Strong governance and measurement
• Champions programme or Centre of Excellence exists
• Start with: Advanced specialisation, train-the-trainer, custom AI solutions

Step 2: Define Learning Objectives

Vague objectives lead to vague outcomes. Define what participants should be able to DO after the course:

Bad objectives:

• 'Understand AI'
• 'Learn about ChatGPT'
• 'Be more innovative'

Good objectives:

• 'Write effective prompts for 3 specific business tasks in their role'
• 'Evaluate AI tool outputs for accuracy and apply a quality checklist'
• 'Draft an AI acceptable use policy for their department'
• 'Build an automated workflow that saves 2+ hours per week'

Tip: Frame objectives around specific tasks and measurable outcomes, not general awareness.

Step 3: Choose the Right Format

Format	Duration	Best For	Limitations
Online self-paced	2-40 hours	Individual awareness, flexible schedules	Low completion rates, no customisation
Live virtual	1-5 days	Remote teams, interactive learning	Screen fatigue, limited hands-on practice
In-person workshop	1-5 days	Team bonding, hands-on practice, engagement	Requires venue and travel coordination
Blended programme	2-8 weeks	Deep skill building, spaced learning	Requires sustained commitment
Coaching/mentoring	Ongoing	Individual power users, leaders	Expensive per person

Format decision guide:

• For 50+ people: Start with online self-paced for awareness, then in-person workshops for key teams
• For 10-30 people: In-person workshop or blended programme
• For executives: In-person workshop (engagement matters more than convenience)
• For remote teams: Live virtual with recorded exercises
• For individuals: Online self-paced with certification

Step 4: Evaluate Course Providers

Use this 10-point scorecard to compare providers:

Criteria	Weight	Questions to Ask
Industry experience	High	Have you trained companies in our sector?
Hands-on exercises	High	What percentage of time is practical vs lecture?
Customisation	High	Will you tailor content to our use cases?
Trainer credentials	High	What is the trainer's AI implementation experience?
Post-course support	Medium	Do you offer coaching, prompt libraries, or follow-up?
Certification	Medium	Do participants receive recognised credentials?
Governance inclusion	Medium	Does the programme cover AI policies and safety?
Participant feedback	Medium	Can we see reviews or testimonials from past clients?
Flexibility	Low	Can you accommodate our schedule and location?
Subsidy support	Low	Do you help with HRDF/SkillsFuture applications?

Score each criterion 1-5 and weight by importance for your situation.

Step 5: Budget and Funding

AI courses vary dramatically in cost:

Type	Cost Range	Subsidy Available?
Free online courses	/bin/zsh	N/A
Self-paced platforms	-500/person	Some SkillsFuture eligible
Open enrolment workshops	-2,000/person	HRDF, SkillsFuture
In-house corporate training	,000-50,000/programme	HRDF (up to 100%), SkillsFuture (up to 90% for SMEs)
Executive programmes	,000-100,000/programme	Varies

Maximise your budget:

• Malaysia: Use HRDF to cover up to 100% of approved training costs
• Singapore: Combine SkillsFuture Enterprise Credits (up to S,000) + SSG subsidies (up to 70%)
• Indonesia: Kartu Prakerja for subsidised individual courses, direct investment for corporate programmes
• Everywhere: Combine free courses for awareness with funded training for capability

Step 6: Plan for Post-Course Adoption

The course itself is only half the investment. Without a plan for post-course adoption, skills decay within 30 days. Build these into your plan:

First 2 weeks after the course:

• Assign participants specific AI tasks to practice daily
• Create a Slack/Teams channel for sharing prompts and tips
• Schedule a 30-minute 'what I learned' team discussion

First 30 days:

• Track AI tool usage rates (target: 70%+ weekly usage)
• Collect feedback on what is working and what is not
• Provide access to prompt libraries and quick-reference guides

First 90 days:

• Measure productivity impact (time saved, tasks automated)
• Identify power users and candidates for advanced training
• Schedule a follow-up workshop or coaching session
• Evaluate whether to expand training to additional teams

Decision Framework Summary

Use this quick decision tree:

1. Is this your first AI programme? → Start with SPARK (foundation) or free courses for awareness
2. Do you need the whole team trained? → In-house corporate training (IGNITE)
3. Do you need executive buy-in first? → Executive workshop (CATALYST)
4. Do team members already use AI? → Advanced prompt engineering (CIPHER) or role-specific training
5. Is budget the primary constraint? → Free courses + HRDF/SkillsFuture-funded training

Next Steps

The best time to start an AI course evaluation is now. Begin by assessing your team's current AI maturity (Step 1) and defining 3-5 specific learning objectives (Step 2). This clarity will make every subsequent decision easier.

If you would like help with this assessment, Pertama Partners offers a complimentary AI Readiness Audit that evaluates your team's current capabilities, identifies priority training areas, and recommends a structured learning path.