Charmaine Distor, Research Consultant at the United Nations University – Operating Unit on Policy-driven Electronic Governance (UNU‑EGOV), is contributing to the new professional certificate “Responsible AI in a Global Context: Building Skills to Navigate the AI Era”, developed by the United Nations University in partnership with Microsoft and made available through LinkedIn Learning.
The three‑course certificate aims to strengthen global capacity to responsibly assess, adopt, and apply Artificial Intelligence (AI), addressing emerging challenges related to governance, ethics, societal impact, and public sector transformation.
The official launch of the certificate will take place on 17 April 2026 at UNU Headquarters in Tokyo, during an event co‑hosted by the United Nations University, Microsoft and LinkedIn.
AI in Action: Global Case Studies from the Public Institutions
Charmaine Distor contributes to the course “AI in Action: Global Case Studies from Public Institutions”, which showcases concrete examples of AI implementation in the public sector. Her segment presents practical case studies from across Asia and the Pacific, including applications of AI in elderly care in South Korea, pandemic response in the Philippines, smarter urban systems in China and Taiwan, and disaster resilience in Indonesia and Australia.
These cases draw on previous research conducted in collaboration with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN‑Habitat) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP), highlighting how AI is being used by public institutions to improve service delivery and policy responses in diverse contexts.
Currently a doctoral researcher at the University of Lausanne (IDHEAP) and a Research Consultant at UNU‑EGOV, Charmaine’s work focuses on Artificial Intelligence in the public sector, with particular attention to responsible innovation and governance.
The Responsible AI in a Global Context professional certificate is available free of charge on LinkedIn Learning and targets policymakers, public servants, and professionals seeking to better understand AI’s global implications and governance requirements.
The launch event will feature addresses by UNU Rector Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala, Microsoft Elevate President Justin Spelhaug and LinkedIn Japan Country Manager Wakana Tanaka.
