Saïd Business School, University of Oxford
Public University • UK
Showing 13 courses from Said-business-school-university-of-oxford
The Business Case for ESG
Saïd Business School, University of Oxford (via Coursera)
This course explores how ESG integration creates business value and examines the crucial role of ESG reporting in modern business practice. You'll discover the links between ESG performance and financial outcomes, and learn how organisations are leveraging ESG to drive innovation, manage risks, and create competitive advantage. Through examination of cases, you'll understand how organisations are successfully integrating ESG into their operations and strategy. Moving from strategy to reporting, you'll learn why ESG disclosure has become essential for organisations and their stakeholders. You'll explore major reporting frameworks and standards, understanding their key differences and applications. Through examples, you'll learn how to evaluate the quality of ESG reports and disclosures, and understand the challenges organisations face in collecting and managing ESG data. Whether you're a business professional looking to enhance your organisation's ESG practices, an investor seeking to better understand ESG disclosures, or a sustainability practitioner wanting to improve your reporting capabilities, this course provides practical insights into how companies can effectively implement ESG strategies and communicate their ESG performance to stakeholders. This course is intended for individuals working in finance, accounting and those with sustainability, management or leadership roles who contribute to annual reports. By the end of this course you will be able to: Analyse the relationship between ESG performance and financial performance, drawing on key research findings Identify the potential risks and opportunities associated with ESG factors for businesses. Evaluate the role of ESG in driving long-term value creation and competitive advantage. Assess the expectations of investors and other stakeholders for corporate sustainability and responsibility. Explain the importance of ESG reporting and disclosure for businesses and their stakeholders. Identify a...
AI and Content Recommendation
Saïd Business School, University of Oxford (via Coursera)
Build your subject-matter expertise This course is part of the AI in Media specialisation. When you enrol in this course; you'll also be enrolled in this Specialisation. ● Learn new concepts from industry experts ● Gain a foundational understanding of modern strategic tools ● Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on scenario-based projects ● Earn a shareable career certificate About this Course In a world where content is tailored to users, understanding recommendation algorithms is vital for any media professional. This course explores how organisations use machine learning to build 'models of you', predicting tastes in real time to maximise engagement and customer lifetime value. Through real-world examples such as Netflix and YouTube, you will discover how supervised and reinforcement learning drive the social feeds and streaming menus we use every day. You will also examine the societal risks of these systems, such as radicalisation and filter bubbles, and explore the 'algotorial' approach, where human editorial judgement balances algorithmic efficiency. Whether you are a marketer, producer, or strategist, this course provides the essential foundations of the modern media landscape. What you'll learn • Analyse the impact of artificial intelligence on the media value chain, specifically evaluating how recommendation algorithms function to maximise audience engagement and retention. • Apply core machine learning concepts—including content-based and collaborative filtering—to real-world media scenarios, while formulating strategies to mitigate ethical risks such as filter bubbles and algorithmic radicalisation. • Assess the emerging importance of AI optimisation and generative AI reputation, developing approaches for organisations to manage their visibility within large language models.
Generative and Agentic AI
Saïd Business School, University of Oxford (via Coursera)
Generative and agentic AI systems are pushing the boundaries of what artificial intelligence can create, automate, and initiate. This course explores the cutting-edge capabilities behind tools like ChatGPT and autonomous agents; unpacking not just how they work, but how they’re transforming workflows, communication, and decision-making across industries. You’ll dive into the mechanics of large language models (LLMs), the design of effective prompts, and the power of retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) to ground outputs in real data. As AI systems become more proactive and goal-directed, you’ll examine what agentic AI means for autonomy, alignment, and organisational control. Alongside technical insights, this course guides you in understanding the strategic and operational challenges of deploying these systems responsibly. With simulations, practical demonstrations, and expert-led content, you’ll gain the tools to evaluate generative and agentic AI systems with clarity and confidence. Whether you’re exploring content automation, AI agents for business tasks, or governance strategies, this course helps you navigate both the potential and the pitfalls of this fast-evolving field. This is the second course in the AI Foundations for Business Professionals specialisation. We recommend completing AI Essentials first to build a strong conceptual foundation before applying these advanced AI systems in your organisation.
AI and Creativity
Saïd Business School, University of Oxford (via Coursera)
Build your subject-matter expertise This course is part of the AI in Media specialisation. When you enrol in this course; you'll also be enrolled in this Specialisation. ● Learn new concepts from industry experts ● Gain a foundational understanding of modern strategic tools ● Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on scenario-based projects ● Earn a shareable career certificate About this Course Generative AI represents a communications revolution on par with the printing press or the internet. This course provides a deep dive into how large language models are transforming the creative process; offering creators a 'factory in the sky' that enables rapid; scalable content production. You will explore the mechanics of how these models work—predicting the next token through vast statistical patterns—and learn to use them to generate high-quality text; imagery; video and music. Beyond the tools; you will engage with the philosophical questions at the heart of the industry: Can a machine truly innovate? Does 'stochasticity' represent a new form of creativity? By the end of this course; you will understand how to harness AI as a creative partner; beating the bot to produce 'luxury' human-made content in an age of automated 'slop'. What you'll learn ● Explain the fundamental architecture of generative AI and Large Language Models, including the processes of tokenisation, vectorisation and next-character prediction. ● Apply a variety of generative tools to create diverse media assets, including high-fidelity images, synthetic video, audio and dynamic game environments. ● Analyse the philosophical and strategic debate regarding machine creativity, using the concepts of stochasticity and 'temperature' to distinguish between algorithmic remixing and original human vision. ● Assess strategic models for organisational 'self-disruption' that balance the adoption of generative efficiencies with the preservation of human-led creative excellence.
Open Data and Intelligent Finance
Saïd Business School, University of Oxford (via Coursera)
Financial services are changing, from how they’re designed to how they’re delivered. Increasingly, the tools we use to bank, borrow, save, and invest are powered by artificial intelligence, delivered through platforms, and built on open data infrastructure. But what happens when finance becomes invisible? When decisions are automated? When users don’t realise they’re engaging with a financial product? This course explores the rise of intelligent, data-driven finance and how to design systems that are not only efficient but also ethical and inclusive. You’ll learn how Open Data and Open Finance enable cross-sector innovation, and how AI transforms static products into real-time, personalised services. You’ll explore embedded finance models and platform architectures, and examine real-world case studies from global leaders like the UK, India, and Brazil. Along the way, you’ll investigate risks, from consent fragmentation and data inequality to black-box decision-making and regulatory blind spots. Through hands-on activities and a final design project, you’ll apply your learning to propose responsible, user-centred innovations for the future of finance. By the end of the course, you will be able to: • Define the principles and evolution of Open Data and its relationship to Open Banking and Open Finance. • Analyse the key technical, legal, and ethical components that support intelligent, data-driven financial ecosystems. • Evaluate how AI and blended data sources can improve personalisation, credit access, and service delivery. • Interpret global Smart Data initiatives and policy frameworks in countries like the UK, India, Brazil, and Australia. • Identify risks and governance challenges associated with AI, privacy, consent, and data inequality in finance. • Design responsible, inclusive data-sharing strategies that align with transparency, fairness, and innovation goals. This is the third course in the 'AI in Financial Services: Foundations through Future Trends' s...
AI Governance
Saïd Business School, University of Oxford (via Coursera)
As AI systems become more powerful and embedded across industries, the need for effective governance is no longer optional – it’s essential. This course explores how organisations can ensure that AI tools are not only effective but also safe, fair, and accountable throughout their lifecycle. You’ll learn to identify key risks such as bias, misalignment, and overreliance, and explore why even well-intentioned AI systems can fail. From ethical frameworks to incident response plans, this course provides practical tools to embed trust into every stage of AI development and deployment. Using real-world scenarios and governance models like the Trustworthy AI Cycle, you’ll examine how principles such as transparency, oversight, and explainability can be operationalised in business settings. Whether you're selecting vendors, building internal systems, or crafting policy, this course equips you to lead AI implementation with integrity. With case studies, strategic frameworks, and implementation guidance, you’ll leave with a roadmap for aligning AI systems with legal, ethical, and societal expectations. This is the third course in the AI Foundations for Business Professionals specialisation. To get the most out of this course, we recommend completing AI Essentials and Generative and Agentic AI beforehand to build both the technical understanding and applied context for responsible AI leadership.
AI Fundamentals in Financial Services
Saïd Business School, University of Oxford (via Coursera)
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping the financial services landscape. From fraud detection and algorithmic trading to customer service chatbots and credit scoring, AI is at the heart of a new era in finance. This course is designed to give you a clear, practical understanding of how AI works, what it enables, and how it’s transforming the way financial institutions operate. Through real-world examples, case studies, and engaging learning activities, you’ll gain insights into the key technologies that make AI possible, including machine learning, deep learning, and natural language processing, and see how they are applied across core functions in banking, fintech, and asset management. You’ll also explore how data drives these systems, the different learning methods AI uses, and the implications for strategy, governance, and ethics. Whether you’re a financial professional, policymaker, or simply curious about the future of finance, this course will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to engage in AI-related conversations and decision-making. No programming background is required, just an interest in how technology is shaping the future of financial services. By the end of the course, you will be able to: • Understand the foundational technologies that underpin Artificial Intelligence (AI), including Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, and Deep Learning. • Explore the central role of data in powering AI systems, and the key learning methods used to train them. • Identify how AI is applied in financial services, including use cases such as fraud detection, credit scoring, customer service, and algorithmic trading. • Critically evaluate the risks, limitations, and ethical challenges associated with deploying AI in financial services. This course is the first in the AI in Financial Services: Foundations through Future Trends specialization. It provides the essential groundwork for understanding how AI works and why it matters in fina...
Designing the Future of Finance
Saïd Business School, University of Oxford (via Coursera)
Artificial Intelligence is reshaping financial services, but its success depends on the infrastructure that powers data access, control, and interoperability. This course explores how Open Banking, Open Finance, and platform-based models are transforming the design and delivery of financial services around the world. You’ll examine how regulatory frameworks, API ecosystems, and evolving consumer expectations are enabling smarter, more personalized financial products. Building on the foundation of Open Banking, you’ll learn how Open Finance expands access to a broader set of financial data and what this means for innovation, competition, and inclusion. Through real-world case studies, strategic insights, and global policy comparisons, this course offers a practical, forward-looking view of the open financial ecosystem. Whether you’re a policymaker, technologist, financial professional, or curious learner, you’ll come away with the context and confidence to engage with the future of AI-enabled finance. By the end of the course, you will be able to: • Explain the evolution of financial infrastructure from traditional institutions to open, platform-based ecosystems. • Describe the core principles, objectives, and regulatory frameworks underpinning Open Banking and Open Finance initiatives. • Evaluate the strategic role of data accessibility and interoperability in enabling AI applications in financial services. • Analyse real-world case studies that illustrate how Open Finance and AI are being implemented globally. • Identify the opportunities and challenges presented by embedded finance, disintermediation, and platform envelopment. • Assess how emerging financial infrastructure impacts the design and deployment of intelligent, data-driven financial products. This is the second course in the 'AI in Financial Services: Foundations through Future Trends' specialization. We recommend completing 'AI Fundamentals in Financial Services' course first for a strong fou...
AI and Production
Saïd Business School, University of Oxford (via Coursera)
Build your subject-matter expertise This course is part of the AI in Media. When you enrol in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialisation. ● Learn new concepts from industry experts ● Gain a foundational understanding of modern strategic tools ● Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on scenario-based projects ● Earn a shareable career certificate About this Course As AI moves from the IT department to the centre of the office, production workflows are being radically reinvented. This course focuses on the practicalities of operating a media organisation in the AI era, addressing the technical, legal, and ethical realities of modern production. You will learn how AI aids in discovering new factual knowledge—from translating animal sounds to unravelling ancient scrolls—and how it can supercharge productivity in editing and research. Crucially; you will tackle the challenges of 'AI and the Truth'; examining bias mitigation; the lawsuit landscape surrounding copyright and the rise of AI agents. Through hands-on activities, you will apply your learning to design responsible, resilient and innovative strategies for the next generation of media organisations. What you'll learn ● Evaluate the transformation of media production workflows and the shift from marginal experimentation to core operational strategy. ● Analyse the impact of AI on media employment and productivity, identifying opportunities for human-AI collaboration versus displacement risks. ● Assess the risks of disinformation, deepfakes and algorithmic bias in journalism to maintain integrity in news gathering and content distribution. ● Examine the complex intellectual property landscape surrounding generative AI, including training data provenance and evolving copyright legislation. ● Outline robust AI compliance frameworks and select risk-weighted tools that align with regulatory standards and organisational values. ● Identify the key components of a comprehensive business proposal for a...
Foundations of Sustainability and ESG
Saïd Business School, University of Oxford (via Coursera)
This course introduces you to the fundamental concepts of sustainability and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks. Through a structured exploration of sustainability's three core dimensions - environmental, social, and economic - you'll learn how these pillars interconnect and why they're crucial for modern business and society. We'll examine major global sustainability challenges and explore how organisations can address these through effective stakeholder engagement and strategic integration of sustainability principles. Moving from sustainability fundamentals to ESG, you'll discover how this framework has evolved to become a critical tool for evaluating corporate performance and driving business strategy. You'll learn to distinguish between environmental factors like climate impact and resource use, social factors including labour practices and community relations, and governance aspects such as board diversity and business ethics. You'll understand how ESG metrics are measured and reported, how ESG ratings work, and why they matter for business success. Whether you're a business professional, investor, or someone interested in sustainable business practices, this course provides essential knowledge and practical insights into how sustainability and ESG are reshaping business strategy and investment decisions in today's world. This course is intended for individuals working in finance, accounting and those with sustainability, management or leadership roles who contribute to annual reports. By the end of this course you will be able to: Define sustainability and its three core dimensions (environmental, social, and economic). Identify the major global sustainability challenges and their implications for organisations and society. Explain the role of organisations and other stakeholders in achieving sustainability goals. Evaluate the benefits and challenges of integrating sustainability into business strategy and operations. Define E...
Leadership Problem-Solving with AI: Think Like a Leader
Saïd Business School, University of Oxford (via Coursera)
In today’s fast-paced and complex workplaces, successful leaders need more than instincts: they need structure, clarity, and the ability to think critically under pressure. In this course, you’ll step into the role of a leader at a fictional company, Solvex, and learn how to diagnose problems, prioritise effectively, and develop evidence-informed recommendations using structured tools and responsible AI support. You’ll practise using frameworks like SWOT, 5 Whys, the Fishbone Diagram, and the Importance-Urgency Matrix to uncover root causes and map strategic responses. Along the way, you’ll learn how to integrate AI tools to accelerate your thinking, not replace it, while reflecting on the risks, limitations, and best practices of AI-assisted leadership work. By the end of the course, you’ll be able to: · Diagnose complex workplace challenges using structured analysis · Generate, evaluate, and justify strategic solutions · Use AI tools critically and ethically as a leadership support partner
AI Essentials
Saïd Business School, University of Oxford (via Coursera)
Artificial Intelligence is no longer just a futuristic concept, it is a present-day force reshaping industries, workflows, and decision-making across the global economy. This course introduces the core ideas, methods, and applications of AI, with a focus on how business professionals can engage with this fast-moving field responsibly and strategically. You’ll explore the foundations of machine learning, deep learning, and neural networks, and examine how different types of AI systems – from narrow, task-specific models to generative tools – are built and deployed. By connecting technical concepts to real-world use cases, you’ll gain insight into how AI creates value, what risks it introduces, and why ethical and governance frameworks are essential for its safe use. Through accessible explanations, practical examples, and expert insights from the University of Oxford, this course provides the conceptual grounding to understand AI today and prepare for what’s next. Whether you’re a manager, analyst, policymaker, or team leader, you’ll leave equipped to ask better questions, evaluate AI opportunities, and collaborate more effectively with technical teams. This is the first course in the AI Foundations for Business Professionals specialisation. It provides the essential knowledge base you’ll need before progressing to more applied topics in Generative and Agentic AI, and AI Governance.
Sustainable Finance: Products, Instruments and Future Trends
Saïd Business School, University of Oxford (via Coursera)
This course introduces you to the rapidly evolving world of sustainable finance and its transformative role in driving positive environmental and social impact. You'll explore how sustainable finance differs from traditional finance and discover the key products and instruments that are reshaping the financial landscape, from green bonds to sustainability-linked loans and impact investing. You'll learn how financial institutions are incorporating sustainability into their operations and how they're developing innovative products to meet growing investor demand. You'll examine the features and benefits of different sustainable finance instruments, understanding their potential to drive positive change while generating financial returns. The course covers both theory and practice, helping you understand not only the principles behind sustainable finance but also how these principles are applied in real business contexts. You'll learn how to evaluate the suitability of different sustainable finance solutions for specific organisational needs and explore the roles various stakeholders play in the sustainable finance ecosystem. This course is intended for individuals working in finance, accounting and those with sustainability, management or leadership roles who contribute to annual reports. By the end of this course you will be able to: Define sustainable finance and its key components and strategies. Identify the major drivers and trends shaping the growth of sustainable finance globally. Evaluate the potential of sustainable finance products and tools (e.g., green bonds, ESG funds) to drive positive impact. Analyse the roles and responsibilities of financial institutions in promoting sustainable development. Compare and contrast the key features and benefits of different sustainable finance products and instruments. Assess the suitability of different sustainable finance solutions for an organisation's specific needs and goals. Examine case studies o...