MDC Creates Consortium To Expand AI Education Nationwide
Powered by a $2.8 million grant from the National Science Foundation, a consortium of schools that includes Miami Dade College, Houston Community College and the Maricopa County Community College District are assisting other schools with developing artificial intelligence programs nationwide.
The National Applied Artificial Intelligence Consortium, which was created on Oct. 1, will partner with companies, including Amazon Web Services, Intel, Microsoft, Dell, IBM and NVIDIA, to host faculty development workshops in AI. An annual AI Summit will also be held to help educators connect.
“We’re going to connect everybody involved in the teaching, in the development of this program, so that we all share with each other, which makes a much stronger program for everybody,” said Eduardo Salcedo, an assistant professor at West Campus, who is participating in the program.
With the rise of AI, the overarching goal of the initiative is to create a diverse workforce trained in the technology, so people can apply it in their everyday life.
Miami Dade College and Houston Community College established the first associate’s and bachelor’s of science in Applied AI in their respective states.
The Maricopa County Community College District launched Arizona’s first associate’s of science and certificate program in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. And in the fall of 2025, the school will start a bachelor’s of science program in AI and Machine Learning.
“By embedding advanced AI training into our curriculum, MCCCD will equip the next generation of professionals with the experience needed to drive innovation and spur economic growth, creating both a national and global impact,” said Chancellor Steven R. Gonzales of MCCCD in a Miami Dade College press release on Aug. 5.
On Sept. 12, an additional $2 million grant was awarded to the three colleges by the NSF to develop an AI Entry Pathway Track to increase high schoolers and adult learners’ access to AI degrees.
The funding will pay for course development and materials for the AI Entry Pathway Track. The program will start in January.
“[We’re] really proud [of] the opportunity to help so many people nationally, and especially helping the educators that will later be teaching so many students,” said Antonio Delgado, vice president of innovation and technology partnerships at Miami Dade College.
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