Understanding artificial intelligence is no longer a skill reserved for those working in the tech sector: it is a cross-cutting competence, increasingly required both by those already in the workforce seeking to update their skills and by those preparing to enter the labour market.
To meet this need, the University of Pisa is offering three new free online courses dedicated to responsible AI, accessible to all on the national Edvance platform and available either individually or as part of an integrated pathway within the series “Responsible Artificial Intelligence”.
The three courses each address a key pillar of the responsible use of artificial intelligence. “Privacy in Big Data and AI”, taught by Professor Anna Monreale, Associate Professor of Computer Science, focuses on data protection in the digital age, exploring the challenges that arise when large volumes of information are processed by intelligent systems.
“Fairness in AI”, led by Professor Salvatore Ruggieri, Full Professor of Computer Science, teaches how to identify, measure and prevent different types of bias in data and AI models, demonstrating how essential responsible AI design is in sectors with significant social impact.
Finally, “Explainable Artificial Intelligence”, taught by Professor Riccardo Guidotti, Associate Professor of Computer Science, provides guidance towards more transparent and trustworthy AI, offering tools to interpret and explain decisions made by so-called black-box models.
All three lecturers are affiliated with the Department of Computer Science at the University of Pisa and share internationally recognised research profiles in the core areas of responsible AI, with publications in leading scientific venues and participation in European and national research projects focused on the responsible use of artificial intelligence. 
“With this series, we aim to provide everyone with the tools to understand what happens when an AI system analyses data and makes decisions that affect us,” explains Professor Gian-Luigi Ferrari, coordinator of MOOC production for the University of Pisa on the Edvance platform. “Data protection, fairness and transparency are not issues reserved for specialists: they concern the way AI systems operate, learn and produce real-world effects in society. For this reason, it is essential to develop greater awareness. Understanding how these systems work, what data they use and what their limitations are is the first step towards informed and responsible oversight. These are therefore essential digital citizenship skills for navigating a world in which artificial intelligence, through its algorithmic mechanisms, is already part of everyday life. Through Edvance, we make them accessible to everyone, free of charge and with the quality of university-level training.”
In this context, the series will be expanded in the coming weeks with new courses, particularly focused on generative AI, offering further tools to understand its potential, applications and implications.
Direct links to the courses
– Fairness in AI: https://www.edvance.it/edvance/app/courseDetails/596
– Privacy in Big Data and AI: https://www.edvance.it/edvance/app/courseDetails/597
– Explainable Artificial Intelligence: https://www.edvance.it/edvance/app/courseDetails/595
What is Edvance
The courses, also known as MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses), are accessible on the platform www.edvance.it via SPID or EduGain federated credentials for university students. Upon completion, participants receive a digital open badge that can be added to LinkedIn or included in a CV.
Edvance is a network coordinated by the Politecnico di Milano, funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). It brings together 17 Italian universities and offers over 200 free online courses on key topics for innovation.
For further information, visit the University of Pisa’s project page https://www.unipi.it/edvance/ and the Edvance platform https://www.edvance.it.
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