SAS, Commonwealth Secretariat to train over 10,000 students in AI with $10m donation

SAS announced a partnership with The Commonwealth Secretariat will work to build a more diverse, global AI workforce by providing AI software and computing resources to Commonwealth countries. This includes a donation of software, computing power and training by SAS, worth a total of $10 million, which will not only help higher education students learn how to use AI, but also how to do so responsibly.

The project is an initiative of the Commonwealth Artificial Intelligence Consortium (CAIC) of the Commonwealth Secretariat. Its aim is to build technological capacity with a particular focus on small states and young people.

Commonwealth higher education students and lecturers will have free access to SAS Viya for Learners. Students and educators will also have access to SAS Skill Builder for Students and SAS Educator Portal digital learning environments. These platforms offer digital courses, certification programs, and hands-on learning opportunities designed to build and validate analytical and AI skills.

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Sean O’Brien, Senior Vice President, Education, SAS

For decades, we have been equipping teachers with the resources and students with the skills they need to land the hottest tech jobs. Those jobs are now in AI. We are excited to help students transform their lives and grow the tech sectors across the Commonwealth.

Reggie Townsend, Vice President, Data Ethics, SAS

This collaboration will bring the power of AI to populations that have not always benefited from the technological advances that power the world’s largest economies. These students will not only gain AI skills that employers around the world want, but they will also learn how to ethically use these powerful technologies in ways that benefit society.

Suresh Yadav, Senior Director, Artificial Intelligence, Trade, Oceans and Natural Resources, Commonwealth Secretariat

In our rapidly evolving digital landscape, we face not only a digital divide, but also a critical infrastructure divide. If we do not address this gap and provide the necessary resources to our youth, we risk losing an entire generation to technological inequality. This is not just about access to information; it is about equipping young minds with the tools to innovate, create, and solve global challenges. If we do this well, we will not only connect students to technology – we will connect them to unlimited possibilities.