As part of UNDP AI Week (November 17–21), UNDP Liberia hosted a three-day workshop to design Liberia’s first-ever master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence (AI), to be offered by the University of Liberia (UL).

This initiative follows the signing of a Standard Letter of Agreement (SLA) between UL and UNDP earlier this year, marking the commencement of a transformative partnership aimed at promoting innovation, technology, and strategic development in Liberia.

The program aims to equip students with advanced digital skills and position Liberia as a leader in regional digital transformation.

The workshop brought together faculty members, private sector actors, development partners, students, and international AI experts to co-create a modern, industry-aligned postgraduate program. 

Using the Master of AI Canvas, participants defined the program’s structure, target audience, entry requirements, learning outcomes, infrastructure needs, and career pathways.

Direct engagement with students ensures the curriculum reflects real-world priorities and national development goals.

Speaking at the opening session, Mr. Kaman Weah, UNDP Liberia’s Head of ICT and Digital Advocate, welcomed Nonso Jideofor (Digital Fitness Programme Facilitator), Dhani Spiller (Head of Capacity Lab), both from UNDP’s Chief Digital Office (CDO) as well as Denzel Wilson who is the AI Program Manager at Intel, UNDP partner in leveraging technology with the focus on AI skills training and digital readiness.

Weah highlighted that the CDO team has been working remotely with UL faculty to co-design frameworks for advanced programs in AI, Cybersecurity, and Digital Technology.

“Their presence marks an important milestone as we transition from online collaboration to hands-on, in-person work. On behalf of UNDP senior management, I express our profound appreciation to the University of Liberia for its dedication, openness, and leadership in moving this vision forward,” Weah said.

He emphasized that UL’s commitment demonstrates readiness to embrace innovation and position Liberia as a regional leader in digital transformation.

Dr. Weade Kobbah-Boley, UL Vice President for Institutional Development Planning, described the training as timely and practical.

“This workshop provides faculty and students with hands-on exposure to tools and models shaping the future of education, technology, and work. The ideas shared here align strongly with UL’s vision to modernize learning and ensure our graduates are prepared for global competitiveness.”

She added that the collaborative development of the master’s program marks a major step forward for Liberia’s higher education sector.

Global Perspective

As AI transforms sectors such as governance, health, agriculture, business, and education worldwide, the launch of this program comes at a critical moment for Liberia.

It reflects a strong commitment to cultivating home-grown talent capable of driving innovation and contributing to Africa’s digital future.

Dhani Spiller noted. “We are honored to support UL in shaping a master’s program that reflects global standards while addressing Liberia’s unique opportunities and challenges. Our goal is to build a curriculum that is technically strong, practical, inclusive, and aligned with the needs of students, faculty, and industry.”

He added that UL’s leadership and creativity have inspired the CDO team, demonstrating what is possible when institutions unite around a shared vision for digital transformation.

Next Steps: Building Liberia’s Digital Future

This workshop was designed to deliver a comprehensive Master of AI Program Design Pack, including a draft curriculum, partnership strategy, and recommendations on facilities and technology needs. 

Closing the workshop, a message from the UNDP Resident Representative, Mr. Aliou Dia was that AI is a tool that helps to solve persistent challenges in modern age, be it in governance, health, agriculture, education or in business. 

“For Liberia, AI is a strategic necessity. It can help accelerate development, expand economic opportunities, and support the country’s progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals”, Dia emphasized.

The UL Vice President for ICT, Dr. Darren Wilkins thanks UNDP for collaborating with the University of Liberia to launch this historical program for Liberia. He thanked the experts for knowledge sharing noting that it has been very impactful three days.  

This milestone marks a significant step toward building Liberia’s digital capabilities and preparing its workforce for opportunities in the global digital economy.