New partnership to expand Intel’s AI for Workforce program to all 50 states by 2023, creating next generation of the U.S. workforce.
Washington, D.C. – December 16, 2021 – Today, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) announced a joint commitment with Intel and Dell Technologies to enhance artificial intelligence (AI) education across community and technical colleges in all 50 states by 2023 as part of Intel’s AI for Workforce program. This program will prepare the AI-ready future workforce and enable community colleges to be the first line for the instruction, reskilling and upskilling of the U.S. workforce.
The AI for Workforce program launched in the fall of 2020 at Maricopa Community College (MCC) in Arizona, with Intel introducing an AI-based curriculum that allows students who successfully complete the program to receive a certificate or an associate degree in AI. In the last year, the program has expanded to 31 schools across 18 states. To support the program’s expansion across the U.S., the AACC and Intel are collaborating with Dell Technologies as the exclusive technology partner to provide resources for the nation’s community colleges that provide these AI training and certificate programs.
“Community colleges provide skill training and credential programs to 11 million students each year,” said Walter G. Bumphus, president and CEO of AACC. “These programs are intended to provide the needed skills training for students to enter the job market and thrive in a job that earns them family-sustaining wages. This partnership with Intel and Dell will help us to ensure that these programs lead to meaningful employment and can also serve as the first step toward degree attainment.”
Resources from both Intel and Dell include technical and infrastructure expertise for the development of virtual and on-campus artificial intelligence in education labs as well as a curriculum designed to ensure that community college AI programs are relevant, cost-effective, and provide skills training that leads to real-world jobs.
“This is an exciting partnership that will build a robust and diverse talent pipeline to help support future jobs in AI and technology,” said Carlos Contreras, Senior Director of AI and Digital Readiness at Intel. “The next-generation workforce will need this kind of specialized training to develop solutions to the world’s greatest challenges, and community colleges have a huge role to play in unleashing innovative thinking.”
According to data from the AACC, 57% of community college students are women – 27% identify as Hispanic, 13% as Black and 6% as Asian/Pacific Islander. Currently, 17 of the schools participating in the AI for Workforce program are classified by the U.S. Department of Education as Minority Serving Institutions. This new partnership will focus on minority serving institutions and Tribal colleges to support under-resourced communities and are committed to continual growth of this program.
“Access to technology and skills has never been more important, allowing more communities to participate in today’s digital ecosystem. By collaborating with Intel on its AI for Workforce program, Dell is able to complement Intel’s innovative AI course content with Dell’s technology expertise to deliver AI learning experiences to a wide swath of diverse college students helping them prepare for the workforce of the future,” according to Adam Garry, Senior Director, Education Strategy, Dell Technologies.
The efforts to recruit community colleges will begin at the AACC Workforce Development Institute 2022: Reimagine on January 26-29, 2022, in Jacksonville, Florida.
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About AACC
As the voice of the nation’s community colleges, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), delivers educational and economic opportunity for nearly 12 million diverse students in search of the American Dream. Uniquely dedicated to access and success for all students, AACC’s member colleges provide an on-ramp to degree attainment, skilled careers, and family-supporting wages. Located in Washington, D.C., AACC advocates for these not-for-profit, public-serving institutions to ensure they have the resources and support they need to deliver on the mission of increasing economic mobility for all. https://www.aacc.nche.edu/
About Intel
Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) is an industry leader, creating world-changing technology that enables global progress and enriches lives. Inspired by Moore’s Law, we continuously work to advance the design and manufacturing of semiconductors to help address our customers’ greatest challenges. By embedding intelligence in the cloud, network, edge and every kind of computing device, we unleash the potential of data to transform business and society for the better. To learn more about Intel’s innovations, go to newsroom.intel.com and intel.com