Online Courses
Are you looking to leverage data and digital technology to create a positive impact in your community? Open North offers a range of online courses that can help you develop the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate the world of data governance, digital strategy, and more. Our courses cover a wide range of topics, from the basics of data governance and management to advanced subjects like implementing privacy policies and social procurement solutions.
Join our community of learners today and start driving positive change in your community with the support of Open North’s online courses. Whether you are a municipal staff member or simply interested in learning more about open-source policies, artificial intelligence, or civic tech, our courses are tailored to meet your unique needs. With options available for both beginners and advanced learners, you can select the level of instruction that best suits you.
Do you have feedback to share about any of our courses? Is there a relevant topic we should consider including in future course offerings? Send your comments and suggestions to us at info@opennorth.ca.
Why take Open North’s online courses?
What Is Open Procurement?
Transparent procurement practices increase public confidence in governance decision-making. This basic course gives an overview of the Open Smart City approach to procurement, designed to foster public confidence in governance decision-making, democratic engagement and efficient spending.
What Is Social Procurement?
Adding a social value to existing purchasing is an approach to procurement practices that strengthens the health of communities. This basic course gives you an overview of this method and offers concrete examples of its implementation from a municipal policy perspective.
Assessing Smart City Infrastructure for Privacy and Security
To ensure open smart city initiatives succeed, communities need to assess potential risks to data privacy and integrity. This course will support you in making decisions that improve data privacy and infrastructure security.
Social Procurement Solutions
Social procurement decisions build community capital and generate intentional community benefits. This advanced course teaches you how to identify local social and community development goals, procurement opportunities, and social value outcomes and metrics.
Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence—machine learning and algorithms—is playing an increasing role in technologies used in smart city initiatives. This basic course gives an overview of the history of AI, its risks and potentials when used in the community context, and recommendations for engaging with it successfully and ethically.
Developing an IT Procurement Policy
IT procurement policies have the potential to balance economic outcomes with the privacy and safety of citizens. This advanced course outlines the ways open procurement policies sidestep vendor lock-in and use procurement as a means of stimulating innovation.
Fundamentals of Open Smart Cities
The Open Smart City is an approach that encourages citizen engagement and strengthens government accountability. In this course, you will learn about this paradigm, what it looks like in action, and how it is applicable to your context.
Accessibility in Open Smart Cities
This basic course provides an introduction to the concept of accessibility as it relates to the development and implementation of technology and data initiatives in open smart city communities.
Fundamentals of Indigenous Data Sovereignty
Fundamentals of Indigenous Data Sovereignty is aimed at municipal staff or at anyone who wants to learn more about Indigenous data sovereignty and how you can implement best practices into your work.