Artificial intelligence isn’t just ChatGPT, image generators, or the latest tech trend. It’s a field with decades of history, powerful real-world applications, and a rapidly growing need for skilled professionals. And if it’s a career field you want to get into, Centennial College has a program that can help you get there, called Software Engineering Technology – Artificial Intelligence. That’s exactly what drew Adriana Ariza to us. As an Artificial Intelligence graduate, Adriana has seen firsthand what it’s like to study AI, work in the tech industry, and build a career shaped by constant innovation. This is her story, and it’s a story for anyone exploring AI careers, tech jobs in Canada, or the best artificial intelligence programs available today.
How Adriana Re-Invented her Career
“I am from Colombia, where I earned my degree in Mechatronics Engineering,” Adriana says. “During my studies, I was always enthusiastic about programming, but I initially chose a different career path. I worked in the manufacturing industry for about five years, where I eventually became a Production Manager. Over time, I realized I wanted a career that was more challenging and less repetitive, so I decided to transition into Software Engineering.” Adriana knew that to advance her new career, she needed an environment that offered access to cutting-edge AI training, which led to her looking for a tech education in Canada.
“I decided to come to Canada in search of better professional opportunities,” she says, “and studying was the best pathway to achieve this goal. From my perspective, the next level of Software Engineering is Artificial Intelligence.” As an international student comparing programs, she found Centennial College’s offering stood out immediately to anyone looking to study artificial intelligence in Canada.
“When I was looking for programs available for international students,” she says, “I noticed that Centennial College offered one of the most specialized programs in Artificial Intelligence. Unlike other colleges with similar curricula that were more focused on Data Science, Centennial’s program had a stronger emphasis on AI concepts and practical applications, which aligned better with my career goals.”
What it’s Like to Study in Centennial College’s AI Program
The depth of machine learning training, AI programming courses, and real-world projects helped set Centennial College’s Artificial Intelligence program apart.
“We had the opportunity to explore both the technical foundations of Artificial Intelligence and its ethical implications,” Adriana says about her time in the program. “On the technical side, we learned the core concepts behind AI, including machine learning models, data preprocessing, algorithm design, and how to train and evaluate models effectively. We worked with tools and programming languages such as Python to build and test AI solutions, gaining hands-on experience with real-world applications like predictive systems and automation.” These practical experiences reflect what many students search for in hands-on AI programs.
Just as importantly, the program helped Adriana understand AI’s responsibilities and challenges.
“The program placed strong emphasis on the ethical side of AI,” she says. “We discussed topics such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, transparency, and the social impact of automated decision-making. This helped us understand not only how to create intelligent systems, but also the responsibility that comes with developing technology that can affect people’s lives.” She also appreciated the program’s versatility, perfect for building a tech portfolio suited for modern AI jobs.
“Another strong aspect of the program is its significant web development component,” she says. “Students gain a solid understanding of front-end and back-end development, as well as database systems and the orchestration of all three, which makes their professional profiles more versatile.” This is a major advantage for students researching full-stack development programs or AI software engineering skills.
“I had the opportunity to develop a complete end-to-end project,” she says. “I worked on a multilingual live chat system, developing the front-end and back-end, and designing and training an AI translation model for the application. The project allowed real-time text message translation between Spanish and English, allowing users to communicate seamlessly in their native languages.” Projects like this showcase why Centennial is recognized as a top AI college in Canada.
Beyond technical abilities, the program also helped Adriana refine the soft skills that employers value.
“I improved my communication and strengthened my English, particularly in speaking and writing,” she says. “I had an amazing COMM teacher who truly made a difference. From a technical perspective, since every semester we explored a new tool or technology, I also learned how to learn—adapting quickly and picking up new skills efficiently.” This adaptability is key for anyone preparing for emerging technology jobs.
How A Co-op Position Launched Adriana’s Career
Centennial’s strong co-op programs and industry partnerships help students step directly into the workforce, and Adriana was no exception.
“I was a co-op student, which allowed me to connect directly with the industry after my second semester,” Adriana says. “I completed a full-time co-op placement during the summer, and continued working with the same company as a part-time co-op student while I was finishing the program. This was not only a valuable immersion in the industry, but also financially beneficial at the time.”
“After completing my program at Centennial College, I continued working at TD bank, where I completed my co-op, now as a Data Engineer,” she says. “What we do is process data every single day. With that information, we open the market the next day, with the pricing and the risk, and with everything about every single security.” Her work reflects the demand for data engineering jobs, fintech careers, and professionals trained in big data technologies.
How AI is Changing Different Industries
“We're not using AI,” Adriana says about machine learning for banking, “but we could, if we wanted to, to have a more accurate rating of the securities. I do know that TD is using AI as assistance, so the customers can understand the stock market, so they can do better decisions with their investments.”
Adriana is especially inspired by AI’s potential in healthcare.
“There is this use case,” she says, “where they're using images to do preventive diagnosis on cancer. That’s one of the most useful things about AI. If we can collect all this data, we can improve our access to health, or better understand and react to illnesses.” These innovations tie into growing interest in AI in healthcare and medical machine learning.
Why it’s Important to Learn about AI
For Adriana, AI represents the next major shift in our lives, which is why she finds it so important to learn how to start a career in AI.
“Artificial intelligence is going to be in our everyday life from now on,” she says, “more than people think. It’s like when the computer first came out. It was very specialized, and it was only for people who had access to a computer or who knew how to use the computer. Nowadays, if you just want to communicate with others, or you just want to do a bank transaction or anything, you will need a computer.”
“The same thing is going to happen with AI,” she continues. “You will be using AI tools for most daily things that you are going to do, so it’s better to start doing it now.”
Planning Ahead
“Although my original goal was to move directly into an AI-focused role,” Adriana says, “I quickly realized that opportunities in the AI field can be competitive and sometimes require additional specialized experience or research credentials.” That’s why she’s pursuing graduate studies in advanced AI education, like many students interested in AI masters programs.
“I’m applying to the Master of Science in Applied Computing with a focus on AI at the University of Toronto,” she says, “and I’m also considering other options, such as Georgia Tech. I hope this will help me build advanced AI skills and open doors to opportunities in the field.”
Adriana’s Advice for Future Technologists
“I would say that always keep learning,” she says, “because in technology, every single day there's a new thing coming out. One of the things that you learn when you're studying is how to learn, and the most you learn, the easier it is for you to learn a new thing. So, I would say to just keep learning, keep being curious about everything, and be consistent with any project you start. Try to finish, and try to see what you can do with all that you are learning.”
Adriana’s journey is just one example of how Centennial College’s Software Engineering Technology – Artificial Intelligence program is one of the top AI programs in Canada. With hands-on projects, strong industry connections, and training that blends technical depth with ethical awareness, the program gives future innovators the skills they need to succeed in an AI-driven world. Centennial College is an excellent place for anyone ready to explore the real potential of artificial intelligence and build a dynamic new career.
By Anthony Geremia