UNESCO Launches Global Training Course on AI Ethics
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in collaboration with the LG AI Research Institute, has launched a free global Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on AI ethics, aimed at translating UNESCO’s ethical principles into practical knowledge and skills and making them accessible to interested learners worldwide.
The course was officially launched on July 20, 2026, during the “Ethics by Design: Industry and Innovation” conference in Seoul, the capital of the Republic of Korea, and is available to users worldwide through the Coursera learning platform.
The launch ceremony was attended by Khaled El-Enany, UNESCO Director-General; Dr. Kyung Hoon Bae, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT of the Republic of Korea; and Dr. Woohyoung Lim, President of LG AI Research. Representatives of the South Korean government, the Korean National Commission for UNESCO, universities, the private sector, and other partner organizations also attended the event.
Turning UNESCO’s Ethical Principles into Practical Skills
The Global AI Ethics Course is based on UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, adopted in 2021 by consensus among UNESCO’s 193 Member States. It is considered the first global normative instrument in the field of AI ethics.
The course aims to help AI practitioners translate the principles and values set out in UNESCO’s Recommendation into practical actions and skills throughout the design, development, deployment, and governance of AI systems.
The course covers a wide range of topics, including algorithmic bias, risk assessment, human rights, human oversight, accountability, privacy, fairness, safety, and the responsible development of artificial intelligence.
A Course for AI Practitioners and Specialists
UNESCO’s training course is designed for policymakers, engineers, researchers, students, public-sector employees, entrepreneurs, and other professionals whose work is related to artificial intelligence technologies.
The course is offered free of charge and is self-paced, allowing interested learners worldwide to access its content. Participants who complete the course requirements will also have the opportunity to receive a certificate of completion.
UNESCO’s Emphasis on the Responsible Development of Artificial Intelligence
At the course launch ceremony, the UNESCO Director-General emphasized the need to ensure inclusive access to AI-related training for governments, universities, companies, and public institutions, and called for the course to be used as a tool to strengthen national capacities for the responsible development and use of artificial intelligence.
This initiative is part of UNESCO’s efforts to put the Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence into practice and strengthen societies’ capacity to address the opportunities and challenges of this evolving technology responsibly.
Access to the Course
Interested learners can register for and access the Global AI Ethics Course on the Coursera platform:
