AI Literacy for Communicators:

Training to upskill senior PR, marketing and communications professionals to make confident informed decisions on AI in their work. A short programme from the University of Sussex and communications consultancy Magenta Associates.

AI Literacy for Communicators is a research-led CPD programme, co-facilitated by a commercial practitioner and a University of Sussex Associate Professor combining academic rigour with real-world commercial application. It equips senior communicators with the technical understanding, ethical frameworks and regulatory awareness they need to make confident decisions about AI. Across two online sessions, delegates move from AI awareness towards AI literacy and will receive a University of Sussex completion certificate. The programme combines postgraduate-level academic expertise with direct commercial application. This non-accredited CPD short course is open to all professionals who find it relevant to their practice.

Who this is for

This programme is designed for heads of communications, senior PR and marketing practitioners, in-house communications leaders and consultants who already use AI tools but want to do so with more understanding, confidence and accountability. It is built for people who set, influence and follow policy, brief teams and carry reputational responsibility across all sectors.

What the course will enable you to incorporate into your work practice

• A framework for AI literacy covering technical understanding, critical evaluation, responsible use and human oversight.
• A working understanding of the generative AI economic landscape and where value is being created, captured and lost in communications.
• The knowledge needed to identify, mitigate and communicate AI-related ethical risks, including bias, representational harm and opaque decision-making
• A critical awareness of the new AI information economy.
• A defensible AI governance position, and the language to explain it to a board.
• The grounding to develop bespoke policies, toolkits and processes for responsible AI adoption in your organisation.

Dates / Times:

September 2026:

The programme runs across two consecutive sessions: 

Tues 15^th September 10.00am - 2.30pm UK BST (including 30 min lunch break): AI Literacy in the new communications economy: Building understanding and trust

Weds 16^th September 10.00am - 2.30pm UK BST (including 30 min lunch break): Ethical and responsible AI use in creative and campaign workflows

Attendance at both sessions is required to complete the programme and receive your University of Sussex completion certificate.

January 2027

The programme runs across two consecutive sessions: 

Tues 19^th January 10.00am - 2.30pm UK GMT (including 30 min lunch break): AI Literacy in the new communications economy: Building understanding and trust

Weds 20^th January 10.00am - 2.30pm UK GMT (including 30 min lunch break): Ethical and responsible AI use in creative and campaign workflows

Attendance at both sessions is required to complete the programme and receive your University of Sussex completion certificate.

This Course is a non-accredited short course and does not contribute to a formal University qualification. It is delivered online via Microsoft Teams using a combination of live and/or pre-recorded content.

Cancellations and Refunds

Up to 14 days before the course start date you can apply for a full refund (if you have not accessed Course materials).

After the Course has started, refunds are not normally provided, except in exceptional circumstances at the University’s discretion.

Refund requests are subject to a 10% administration fee.

If the Course is cancelled by the University, you will be offered a full refund or transfer.

Cancellation requests should be sent to cpd@sussex.ac.uk