CIRI Futures — AI & Digital Skills

Understand AI.
Build with it.
Shape what's next.

Two transformative courses for young people and adults. No tech background needed — just curiosity about the world being built around us.

Ages 13–21 Summer Programme Adult Weekend Intensive Small groups · hands-on
Explore courses School enquiries
Ages 13–21 · Summer
AI Explorer: Understand, Build & Navigate
3 weeks · Mon–Thu Max 20 places
Adults · 2 Weekends
AI Foundations: Think, Apply & Lead
2 Saturdays Max 16 places
A programme of the Civic & International Relations Institute
Why this matters now

AI is reshaping everything.
The question is whether you understand it.

From healthcare to creative industries, from your social media feed to the job market — AI is already making decisions that affect your life. These courses give you the knowledge and skills to navigate that confidently.

64%
of teenagers already use AI chatbots
Yet most have no formal education in how AI works, its limitations, or how to use it critically and safely.
85M
jobs expected to be transformed by AI by 2030
Understanding AI isn't just a tech skill — it's literacy for the modern world, as fundamental as reading and numeracy.
3hrs
average daily social media time for young people
AI-powered algorithms shape every second of that experience. We teach you to see how — and take back control.
Our programmes

Two courses, one mission

Whether you're 13 or 53, there's a course designed for where you are and what you need.

Summer Programme · Ages 13–21

AI Explorer: Understand, Build & Navigate

A 3-week summer intensive running Monday to Thursday. Hands-on, project-based, and designed for curious young minds — whether they're planning a career in tech or just want to understand the world they're growing up in. No prior coding experience needed.

  • ✓ Understand how AI actually works — from machine learning to large language models
  • ✓ Decode the algorithms driving your social media feed and digital life
  • ✓ Think critically about AI bias, deepfakes, and misinformation
  • ✓ Build your own working AI-powered app — no coding background needed
  • ✓ Leave with a portfolio project, a certificate, and genuine digital confidence
Week 1

What is AI? How does it think?

Core literacy, machine learning, generative AI, ethics and bias — demystifying artificial intelligence from the ground up.

Week 2

Social media, algorithms & your digital future

How platforms shape your world, digital identity and data privacy, AI-generated content, mental health and wellbeing online.

Week 3

Build with AI — your first AI-powered app

Design thinking, no-code and low-code tools, building and testing your app, Demo Day presentation and certificate ceremony.

TBC
per participant · payment plans available
  • Duration3 weeks
  • DaysMon – Thu
  • Ages13 – 21
  • Group sizeMax 20 places
  • Next intakeSummer 2025
  • LocationTBC · Shirley area

Free cancellation up to 14 days before start date

Adult Weekend Intensive

AI Foundations: Think, Apply & Lead

A practical 2-day programme spread across two Saturdays, designed for working adults with no technical background. Understand what AI really means for your career and life, build a simple AI-powered tool, and leave with a clear personal action plan.

  • ✓ Speak knowledgeably about AI with colleagues, clients, and family
  • ✓ Use AI tools productively — for writing, analysis, planning, and more
  • ✓ Build a simple AI-powered workflow for your work or life
  • ✓ Understand the social media landscape and what AI is changing about it
  • ✓ Navigate AI ethics, regulation, and your rights confidently
Weekend 1

AI: What it is, how it works & what it means for you

How AI actually works in plain English, generative AI hands-on workshop, implications for work and society, social media and AI futures.

Gap week

Take-home experiment

Choose one AI tool to explore during the week. Bring your experience, questions, and surprises to Weekend 2.

Weekend 2

Build, apply & think critically about AI

Build your own AI-assisted tool, ethics and governance deep-dive, project showcase, personal AI action plan and resources pack.

TBC
per participant · includes all materials
  • Format2 Saturdays
  • Hours9am – 4:30pm each day
  • ForAdults · all backgrounds
  • Group sizeMax 16 places
  • Next intakeDates TBC
  • LocationTBC · Shirley area

Organisations: ask about group rates & in-house delivery

Featured module

The near future of social media

Both courses include a dedicated module on where social media is heading — the algorithms, the AI-generated content, the regulation, and what it means for your life.

Who it's for

No tech background needed. Just curiosity.

Both courses are designed to be genuinely accessible — we start from first principles and build from there.

The Youth Programme is for you if…
  • ✓ You're aged 13–21 and curious about AI and technology
  • ✓ You want to understand what you're actually using every day
  • ✓ You're thinking about a future in tech, media, business, or any field AI is changing
  • ✓ You've never coded before but want to build something real
  • ✓ Your parents or teachers think you should understand this stuff (they're right)
The Adult Course is for you if…
  • ✓ AI keeps coming up at work and you want to understand it properly
  • ✓ You're in education, healthcare, business, law, or the public sector
  • ✓ You want to use AI tools but don't know where to start
  • ✓ You're concerned about AI and want an informed, balanced view
  • ✓ You manage people or lead teams and need to understand what's coming
About

Grounded in civic purpose

CIRI Futures is a programme of the Civic & International Relations Institute — an organisation dedicated to developing informed, engaged, and capable citizens for the challenges ahead.

We believe AI literacy is a civic issue, not just a technology one. As AI reshapes democratic discourse, the labour market, and international relations, citizens who understand it are better equipped to participate, to lead, and to hold institutions accountable.

These courses were designed in response to a clear gap: most AI education focuses on how to use tools, not on critical understanding. We're here to change that.

Visit civicandinternationalrelations.institute →
2
Courses tailored to different life stages and needs
36
Maximum places across both programmes per cohort
48hrs
Of structured, hands-on learning in the youth programme
100%
Practical focus — you build something real by the end
Frequently asked questions

Questions answered

Do participants need any prior coding or tech experience?
No. Both courses are designed for complete beginners. We start from first principles and build up. The only requirement is curiosity and a willingness to engage.
What devices do participants need to bring?
A laptop or Chromebook is ideal. Tablets can work for most sessions. Participants should be able to access a web browser. We'll provide guidance on any specific tools before the course starts.
How is the youth course structured each day?
Each day runs Monday to Thursday with two sessions — a morning session (approx. 9:30–12:30) and an afternoon session (1:30–4:00). Fridays are kept free for independent exploration and rest.
Can schools book places for groups of students?
Yes — we actively welcome school group bookings and can work with schools on funding, safeguarding requirements, and curriculum alignment. Use the School Group Enquiry form to start the conversation.
Is there a certificate at the end?
Yes. All participants receive a CIRI Futures certificate of completion. Youth participants also leave with a portfolio project — a working AI-powered app they built themselves.
What is the refund and cancellation policy?
Full refunds are available up to 14 days before the course start date. After that, we offer a transfer to a future cohort. Please see our full terms for details.
Are there concessions or bursaries available?
We're committed to accessibility. A limited number of subsidised places are available for young people from lower-income households. Please contact us directly to discuss this — we handle all such enquiries discreetly.
Can the adult course be delivered in-house for organisations?
Yes. The adult programme is available as a bespoke in-house course for teams and organisations. We can tailor the content to your industry and needs. Use the Team Booking form to enquire.