Community Colleges Launch AI Training to Bridge Skill Gaps

Community colleges in the U.S. are stepping up to provide essential AI skills training and education for students across.  

To better prepare workers for the future of work, a notable initiative, the National Applied Artificial Intelligence Consortium (NAAIC), was announced this week. The consortium — led by Miami Dade College, Houston Community College, and Maricopa County Community College District — is funded by a $2.8 million grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation and is designed to scale up AI education and workforce development nationwide. 

Jobs requiring AI skills are expected to dominate the workforce in the coming years, and to properly prepare students many universities across the U.S. have been updating curricula to include courses on the subject.  

Community colleges are a part of this widespread effort to provide AI skills training to students. New America reports that these offerings include a a range of programs from non-credit certificates to applied bachelor’s degrees in AI. These institutions are uniquely positioned to help close the gap between employers’ needs for employees proficient in AI tools, and the workforce currently available.  

“NAAIC already counts on an expansive network of industry partners like Intel, AWS, Microsoft, Dell, IBM and NVIDIA, among others, that will provide AI resources to consortium members,” according to an announcement published by Houston Community College. “NAAIC will also engage a National AI Business and Industry Leadership Team (BILT) to identify the current and emerging needs of the AI workforce and ensure that the curriculum and competencies of community colleges align with industry standards and expectations.” 

As AI continues to influence the job market in the coming months and years, this consortium represents a notable step towards improving upskilling opportunities that community colleges across the U.S. will provide as resources for developing an AI-ready workforce.