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Make confident AI procurement decisions by evaluating suppliers, solutions, costs, performance and organisational fit.
Develop the leadership skills to evaluate AI suppliers, make evidence-based procurement decisions and establish responsible AI governance, assurance and human oversight.
Apply your learning to a real workplace challenge by producing a practical Vendor Evaluation Report and AI Governance Framework.
Choosing an AI product is not simply a technology decision.
Leaders need to understand the organisational need, test whether a proposed solution can deliver against it, assess supplier capability, examine data and security requirements and determine whether the risks associated with adoption are acceptable.
This module develops the practical leadership skills required to evaluate, procure and govern AI systems responsibly.
You will examine different AI deployment models and learn how to assess potential suppliers against structured criteria including cost, performance, organisational requirements, risk and data readiness.
You will consider testing and benchmarking, vendor lock-in, intellectual property, data, sustainability and cybersecurity alongside the wider ethical, legal and regulatory environment.
The module then moves beyond procurement to consider what responsible organisational AI governance should look like, including accountability, escalation, assurance, auditability, transparency and human oversight.
Build the capability to evaluate AI solutions, make defensible procurement decisions and establish the governance, assurance and oversight needed for responsible AI adoption.
Understand the rapidly developing AI supplier landscape and the different ways organisations can acquire and deploy AI.
You will examine on-premises, cloud and third-party SaaS models, develop structured vendor-evaluation criteria and consider approaches to horizon scanning for emerging AI solutions.
Develop an evidence-based approach to AI procurement.
You will explore procurement frameworks, testing and benchmarking methods, vendor lock-in, intellectual property, data and sustainability risks, and the challenge of aligning genuine organisational requirements with technical capability.
Consider how responsible AI decision-making should operate across an organisation.
You will examine governance principles, roles, responsibilities and escalation pathways alongside relevant legislative and regulatory considerations, ethics, values-based leadership and cybersecurity.
Build the governance mechanisms required after an AI solution has been selected.
You will explore assurance frameworks, documentation, auditability, human oversight and human-in-the-loop approaches, feedback mechanisms and engagement with non-technical colleagues.
The session concludes with structured support for your workplace capstone.
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Explore our campusesThe programme comprises four 7.5-hour workshop days delivered over four consecutive weeks.
Between teaching days, you undertake workplace application, directed learning and progressive development of your final deliverables.
A three-week capstone development period follows the final taught session, supported by an LSBU online clinic, peer review and VLE support.
Your assessment is based on a genuine or appropriately pseudonymised AI adoption scenario from your own organisation.
You will produce an integrated workplace deliverable comprising: raid="1818545523" paraeid="{ec63e675-f0a4-4121-9653-cde28478acee}{116}">Vendor Evaluation Report
AI Governance Framework — defining the accountability, ethical, regulatory, assurance and human-oversight arrangements required for responsible adoption.
Together, these form an approximately 3,000-word workplace deliverable.
Workplace Deliverable – 80%
Approximately 3,000 words comprising:
Part A: approximately 1,500-word Vendor Evaluation Report.
Part B: approximately 1,500-word Governance Framework.
A short reflective commentary is also included.
Viva – 20%
A 30-minute oral examination covering the learning outcomes of the module.
Successful completion provides the Skills England apprenticeship-unit outcome and 20 credits at LSBU Level 5.
This module is particularly relevant to senior leaders responsible for technology investment, procurement, digital transformation, risk and governance.
The LSBU module identifies particular relevance to roles including Chief Information Officer, Chief Technology Officer, Head of AI Governance and Director of Procurement, and has particular application within highly regulated sectors such as health, government and financial services.
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The same leadership-level eligibility requirements apply to this unit.
Participants must be employed and aged 19 or above, occupy a leadership position with autonomy to influence technological change and investment, have employer endorsement and have access to a real workplace context in which the learning can be applied.
A workplace sponsor is required.
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| Mode | Duration | Start date | Application code | Application method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part-time apprenticeship unit | 8–9 weeks | TBC | TBC | Direct to LSBU |
The validated LSBU module carries 20 Level 5 credits and comprises 200 notional learning hours, including 30 hours of live tutor-led teaching, 70 hours of workplace implementation, 60 hours of independent study and 40 hours of asynchronous/VLE learning.
Read more about how to apply for undergraduate courses.
International applicants can apply directly to LSBU and should consult our international how to apply guide for further information on the application process and key dates.
Maximum apprenticeship-unit funding: £750 per eligible learner.
Funding is available through the Growth and Skills Levy via the employer’s Apprenticeship Service account. There is no direct training cost to the learner.
