Anthropic, the US-based AI safety company, has co-developed a suite of four self-paced AI literacy courses with academics from University College Cork and Ringling College of Art and Design, launched through Ireland's Higher Education Authority (HEA) to build generative AI competency across the country's higher education sector.

According to the HEA, the courses were developed alongside Professor Joseph Feller of UCC's Cork University Business School and Professor Rick Dakan of Ringling College of Art and Design, with support from the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education.

The resources build on the AI Fluency: Framework and Foundations course launched in June 2025, with three new additions covering AI fluency for educators, for students, and for those teaching AI fluency. Combined enrolments across earlier releases have exceeded 300,000 globally.

Professor Feller said the framework targets applied competence rather than theoretical understanding. "AI fluency is about working with AI in ways that are effective, efficient, ethical, and safe," he said. "The framework identifies a set of core competencies that help learners to set goals and delegate work appropriately, communicate effectively with AI systems, and critically evaluate AI outputs."

The initiative aligns with Ireland's National Digital and AI Strategy 2030 and complements the recently launched Generative AI in Higher Education Teaching and Learning: National Policy Framework.

HEA Chief Executive Dr Alan Wall said the partnership reflects a sector-wide responsibility. "Supporting staff and students to develop the knowledge and skills to engage with these technologies in informed and responsible ways is therefore an important priority," he said.

All four courses are freely accessible on OpenCourses.ie as open educational resources, with integration pathways provided to support adoption across higher education institutions nationally.

Access the full details of the initiative and course offerings in the original announcement.