Opit launches the Professional Doctorate in Applied Artificial Intelligence

OPIT (Open Institute of Technology), a leading academic institution in the provision of online bachelor's and master's degrees in technology, announces the launch of the 'Professional Doctorate in Applied Artificial Intelligence', an international fully online professional doctorate dedicated to Artificial Intelligence starting in September 2026. The new doctoral route is a level 8 qualification according to the European qualification system EQF/MQF, consisting of 180 ECTS over three years. It is designed for experienced professionals, executives and managers interested in an applied research pathway on the use of AI to drive change and innovation in their industry.

The programme, which is completely online, ranks among the first initiatives in Italia and Europe in the field of professional doctorates applied to AI and represents a milestone for OPIT, after three years of presence on the education market: the academic institution was in fact founded in 2023 thanks to the intuition of two leading personalities, Francesco Profumo (OPIT Rector, former Minister of Education) and Riccardo Ocleppo (entrepreneur and founder).

The 'Professional Doctorate in Applied Artificial Intelligence', which can also be attended on a part-time basis, was created to respond to a growing demand for doctoral courses that are closer to the needs of the world of work, in a context in which the adoption of AI is rapidly transforming processes, rules and organisational models. Unlike the traditional PhD, which is more oriented towards academic research, this PhD emphasises applied research: methodological rigour and development of applied research projects that aim at direct impact and concrete, measurable results.

Among the programme's distinguishing features is its focus on real-world impact: evaluation is not only about the soundness of the research, but also about the ability to produce transferable and usable solutions in operational contexts. Moreover, the entirely online formula offers a rigorous but compatible pathway to professional activity, as an alternative to many AI PhDs that require continuous presence and a strongly laboratory-based approach. "In a world where knowledge is evolving at an unprecedented speed, education can no longer be considered a phase of life, but a continuous process," says Francesco Profumo, Rector of OPIT. "Innovative doctoral programmes such as OPIT's represent an important step towards training professionals capable of driving technological and social change. Investing in lifelong learning means investing in the future of people and our societies'.

The programme is aimed at professionals from sectors such as technology, healthcare, finance, education, manufacturing, public policy and consultancy, but also at application-oriented specialists and researchers who want to integrate AI into their discipline, and also at teachers and researchers interested in strengthening their profile, linking research and teaching, and driving the adoption of AI in their field.
"A structured applied research track is the natural complement to an academic career that traditionally ends with a Master's degree. In light of the major social and professional changes resulting from the ongoing revolution, there will be an increasing need for leaders who - supported by a strong methodological approach - know how to use AI responsibly and productively, translating technical possibilities into concrete decisions and results,' adds Riccardo Ocleppo, founder and director of OPIT. "This PhD was created to fill a gap: not a path focused only on theory or on too specific areas, but a PhD that puts AI at the centre as a strategic lever to face real challenges of companies, institutions and society, with the flexibility needed by those who work".