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Entrepreneurs enhance management skills with ITC's 1st AI-tutored course

22 January 2025
ITC News

Over 400 participants registered for the course, which combined personalized learning, instant feedback, and AI-assisted interactions.

The first-ever AI-powered tutoring course from the International Trade Centre (ITC) was both ‘challenging’ and ‘inspiring’, according to participants interviewed.

A woman with braided hair in a white blazer and black pants sits confidently on an office desk, with elegant lighting and shelves in the background.
Nigerian entrepreneur Amaka Immaculata Anya improved her management skills after completing ITC first AI-tutored course.
Photo by Amaka Immaculata Anya

Delivered from 23 September to 20 October 2024, the AI-powered Course Raising Funds for Your Business introduced participants to three groundbreaking AI personas: the AI Moderator, AI Tutor, and AI Grader. These tools were designed to enhance learning techniques and provide personalized support, creating a dynamic and engaging learning experience.

After completing the training, Mary Gatere swiftly applied her newly acquired skills to her daily business activities.

'I use these features to reach more customers, develop a catalogue to showcase products and services, and automatically handle customer inquiries'. She manages online services and runs small-scale farms, including dairy production and crop cultivation.

For Amaka Immaculata Anya, founder and CEO of Nigeria-based Bakhita Ltd, the content learned

during the AI-powered course helped her improve her management skills. ‘I adopted the checklist for assessing operations and financial situation using the templates provided for the students.’

New approach to digital education

The programme’s structure ensured mastery of each module before progressing, offering learners a rigorous yet rewarding experience.

Learners appreciated the AI Tutor's intuitive and supportive responses, which resembled those of a live instructor.

‘There was instant feedback; I could not proceed to the second module without passing the first one’, shared Gatere.

The AI Grader stood out as a key element, broadening participants' critical thinking and problem-solving skills. 'The AI Grader required detailed clarifications before allowing progress. This repetition helped me internalize concepts and develop a deeper understanding,' said Anya.

For Anya, the AI-tutoring experience presented an added challenge compared to traditional e-learning methods, but she encouraged future participants to stay determined. ‘During the first module, I struggled and almost felt discouraged. However, when I found the courage to continue, I managed to complete the course within two days.’

About the SME Trade Academy

The SME Trade Academy is the online learning platform of the International Trade Centre. It offers over 100 online courses on trade and trade-related topics. Currently, the e-learning platform has recorded over 600,000 individual enrolments in its courses and issued over 90,000 certificates of completion.

The courses are designed for entrepreneurs, business-support organizations, government agencies, students, and trade professionals looking to expand their knowledge.

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19 December 2022