Simplilearn and Columbia Engineering Executive Education Launch Collaboration to Advance Agentic AI Skills Among Professionals
PLANO, Texas, Oct. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Simplilearn, the global digital upskilling platform, along with Columbia Engineering Executive Education, has launched the Agentic AI Systems: Build, Deploy & Scale. The curriculum is designed to equip professionals with the skills needed to build and monitor agentic AI systems ready for production. The eight-week offering follows a pedagogy that combines live interactive expert mentorship by Simplilearn SMEs, hands-on projects, live workshops, and a quarterly masterclass led by Columbia Engineering faculty.
Agentic AI is moving from controlled prototypes into systems that connect with enterprise data, APIs, and business workflows. Recent industry reports estimate that 40% of organizational applications are expected to embed AI agents by 2026, while global spending on agentic AI is projected to reach $201.9 billion in 2026. The learning path is designed to develop the skills needed to build and operate these systems. The curriculum provides professionals with a practical understanding of AI agents, agentic RAG, multi-agent systems, harness engineering, loop engineering, and agent swarms.
Commenting on the program, Krishna Kumar, Founder and CEO, Simplilearn, said, "Agentic AI is moving from an area of experimentation to a critical component of how organizations build and operate intelligent systems, making it important for professionals to go beyond understanding how AI agents work to orchestrating reliable systems. As an upskilling partner, we are continuously cognizant of industry developments and strive to bring the most timely disciplines to professionals. Through this offering, we aim to provide learners with the practical exposure and structured learning required to build and manage Agentic AI systems in real-world environments."
Learners will work with 20+ tools and frameworks, including LangChain, LangGraph, CrewAI, OpenClaw, and more, across eight hands-on projects, including a capstone. The modules encapsulate the complete Agentic AI lifecycle from foundational concepts and agent design to deploying and securing systems with guardrails and observability.
Sean Wiggins, Executive Director of Columbia Engineering Online and Executive Education, said, "We extend our executive education offerings with a clear understanding of the need for professionals to continuously upskill, particularly at a time when emerging technologies are being significantly integrated across major business functions. We are now past AI experimentation and have complex AI agents within workflows. The offering is curated to address the engineering challenges involved in developing AI systems that are dependable, while providing learners with exposure to relevant tools, technologies, and workflows. Through this learning journey, we will support professionals who are willing to adapt and stay at the forefront of the evolving roles and opportunities shaped by Agentic AI."
The offering covers a holistic learning pathway beginning with Python for Agentic AI, AI and GenAI fundamentals, before progressing into generative AI applications, multi-agent AI systems, open agent orchestration, harness engineering, loop engineering, and agent swarms. Learners will work on a range of practical projects such as, building an AI Product Discovery Assistant, an AI Contract Clause Finder, and a Multi-Agent Customer Support Assistant, and more.
Aspiring learners are expected to have a fundamental understanding of Python and at least two years of experience in tech or data roles. The offering is open to a diverse group of tech professionals looking to extend their skill set into Agentic AI, such as software and AI developers, full-stack and backend engineers, data scientists and analytics professionals, product managers, and cloud and solution architects.
The offering includes a quarterly masterclass led by Columbia Engineering faculty, providing learners with perspectives on modern AI research, technologies, and industry developments. Learners can also choose an elective through Microsoft Learn to explore AI agent development on Azure with exposure to Microsoft Foundry, MCP, and multi-agent orchestration.
Upon successful completion, learners will receive a program completion certificate from Columbia Engineering Executive Education, in partnership with Simplilearn. They will also earn a course completion certificate hosted on the Microsoft Learn portal for the 'Develop AI Agents on Azure' elective.
About Columbia Engineering Online and Executive Education
Columbia Engineering Online and Executive Education connects individuals and organizations around the world with the scholarship, research, and expertise of Columbia University's Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science. At the forefront of engineering, technology, and innovation, its programs translate cutting-edge knowledge and discovery into transformative learning experiences that equip professionals and organizations to lead, innovate, and thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Learn more at cvn.columbia.edu.
Since 1864, the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science at Columbia University has been a resource to the world for major advances in human progress. Today, Columbia Engineering is a global leader in engineering education, research, and impact. Located in the heart of New York City, the school convenes more than 250 faculty members and 6,000 undergraduate and graduate students to push the frontiers of knowledge and solve humanity's most pressing problems.
Learn more at www.engineering.columbia.edu.
About Simplilearn
Founded in 2010, Simplilearn, a Blackstone portfolio company, is a global leader in digital upskilling, enabling learners across the globe with access to world-class training for individuals and businesses. Simplilearn offers 2,000+ live classes each month across 150+ countries, impacting over 15 million learners worldwide. Its programs are designed and delivered in collaboration with world-renowned universities, top corporations, and leading industry bodies. From early-career professionals to managers, executives, small businesses, and large enterprises, Simplilearn's role-based, skill-focused, industry-recognized, and globally relevant training programs provide ideal upskilling solutions for diverse career or business goals.
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