BBVA takes employee training to the next level with new courses on generative AI
BBVA has taken a firm step toward the future by expanding its Data University program, which now features new courses on generative artificial intelligence (generative AI). As part of the agreement signed with OpenAI, the bank is calling on its employees, from data scientists to any other member of the team, to apply the latest advances in AI, machine learning and advanced analytics in developing innovative financial products. BBVA’s Data University has already impacted more than 50,000 employees in 6 years, of whom nearly 5,000 have completed specialized courses. BBVA is also looking to strengthen its educational ecosystem through partnerships with prestigious institutions such as the University of Navarra, Telefónica and Coursera.
AI has been around for decades, but has experienced explosive growth in recent years. BBVA has been integrating it for years in its transformation strategy, along with advanced analytics, to make its services increasingly personalized and meaningful for its customers and to automate its internal operations. In response to the demand and the need to incorporate these new capabilities, Campus BBVA—the Group's training model—has been proactive in designing an innovative training proposition that is enabling professionals to acquire these skills according to the level required in their daily work. Historically, courses tended to focus on predictive AI, encompassing advanced machine learning techniques, natural language processing (NLP) and big data analytics. With the recent surge in generative AI, BBVA has updated its training catalog by including modular programs designed to democratize access to such content and tailor it to the needs of each professional profile.
The agreement with OpenAI has marked a decisive step forward in the use of generative AI. Along with the deployment of the 3,000 ChatGPT Enterprise licenses that have been handed out to a group of employees from all of the Group’s geographies, a playlist has been designed and structured to include specific training resources on generative AI with the aim of speeding up the uptake of the capabilities needed to make a more effective use of the licenses. This playlist, available at Campus BBVA, includes:
- First steps with generative AI tools and ChatGPT Enterprise
- Prompt engineering
- Key capabilities for an AI professional
According to Elena Alfaro, head of AI Adoption at BBVA, “the goal is for employees to integrate the use of ChatGPT Enterprise in their daily work and to succeed, continuous training is key, as is keeping up to date with this ever-changing technology.”
Aside from this core training to make users more proficient in the use of generative AI, BBVA is busy designing an advanced program to enable data scientists and engineers to take part in building solutions leveraging the use of the large language models behind this technology.
Data University, BBVA’s data training program
This knowledge of generative AI is complemented by the training resources now available through the Data University, the Group's innovative ecosystem for learning and relearning knowledge about data and keeping the bank's talent permanently up to date with all the latest advances within the industry. Within Campus BBVA, the Data University has an extensive and innovative catalog that is regularly updated to include methodologies enabling the effective application of the knowledge learned as the Bank’s employees go about their day-to-day work.
Nearly 5,000 employees (including data scientists, data specialists and data engineers) have completed specialized courses at the Data University. Moreover, upward of 50,000 Group employees have taken part in some form of training in the world of data and AI.
Looking outward to broaden horizons
BBVA has forged alliances with numerous universities and other top-drawer educational centers around the world to enrich the training it offers and supplement the in-house knowledge of the Bank’s experts. Courses range from basic (alongside Telefónica) to advanced ( alongside the University of Navarra, among others). This has allowed more employees to develop solutions to business problems through the use of data, thus broadening the company’s analytical capabilities.
BBVA has also built partnerships with several universities to offer external training to its workforce. These agreements allow employees with a background in mathematics or coding to pursue master’s degrees in Big Data Science at the University of Navarra and the Universidad Panamericana in Mexico, as well as doctorates at the University of Navarra. Universidad Carlos III de Madrid also provides specialized courses on machine learning and natural language processing specifically tailored to BBVA’s needs.
BBVA also facilitates access to digital platforms such as GetSmarter, Coursera and O’Reilly, where bank employees have access to high quality knowledge from leading academic institutions worldwide, including MIT, Oxford and Harvard.
Ultimately, BBVA has deployed an innovative training model there to promote a culture of continuous learning among its employees, cementing the Bank’s status as a benchmark in the use of data to transform financial services.