Simplilearn and UC Santa Barbara Professional and Continuing Education Launch Agentic AI Leadership Program

Simplilearn, a global digital upskilling provider, has partnered with UC Santa Barbara Professional and Continuing Education (UCSB PaCE) to introduce a new executive-focused program titled “Agentic AI for Leaders: Systems, Design & Impact.” The initiative is designed to equip professionals with practical expertise in building and managing agentic AI systems, reflecting the growing enterprise shift toward autonomous AI-driven operations.

The 10-week program combines live virtual instruction with on-demand learning through Simplilearn’s learning management system, alongside online self-learning modules featuring Microsoft content. Participants are expected to commit six to eight hours per week as they explore topics such as Python for AI, foundational AI concepts, agentic AI frameworks, multi-agent ecosystems, and tooling protocols.

As organizations increasingly transition from AI experimentation to large-scale deployment, the curriculum emphasizes real-world implementation. Recent industry data highlights this momentum, with 66% of companies using AI agents reporting productivity gains and 88% of executives planning to increase AI investments by mid-2026.

A key component of the program is a dedicated masterclass on building and deploying agentic AI solutions using Microsoft Copilot Studio and AutoGen. Delivered by a Microsoft-certified trainer, the session demonstrates how low-code and open-source tools can accelerate development and enable enterprise-grade deployment.

The program features a robust hands-on approach, including over 40 demonstrations, 10 guided practice sessions, access to more than 30 tools and frameworks, and seven end-of-course projects. It culminates in a capstone project where learners design and implement a four-agent system capable of performing coordinated market research and go-to-market analysis. Participants will also benefit from peer collaboration via Slack and structured cohort support throughout the course.

Commenting on the launch, Kashyap Dalal, Co-founder and COO of Simplilearn, emphasized that agentic AI represents the next phase of artificial intelligence evolution, where systems move beyond assistance to autonomous reasoning and execution. He noted that the collaboration aims to balance academic rigor with industry relevance, preparing learners for real-world applications through a structured and comprehensive curriculum.

Denis Couturier, Dean of UCSB PaCE, highlighted the importance of the partnership in preparing professionals to design intelligent systems and interfaces. He added that the program focuses on all aspects of agentic AI success, including frameworks, multi-agent coordination, and prompt engineering, while ensuring strong alignment with practical, industry-oriented outcomes.

Upon completion, participants will receive a certificate jointly issued by UCSB PaCE and Simplilearn, along with Microsoft Learn badges for Microsoft-branded modules.

University of California, Santa Barbara, consistently ranked among the top public universities in the United States, brings academic excellence and research depth to the collaboration. UCSB PaCE complements this with flexible professional education offerings, while Simplilearn contributes its global reach and immersive, career-focused learning model. Together, the partnership aims to deliver industry-aligned training that equips professionals with the skills needed to lead in the evolving landscape of agentic AI.