While many businesses bemoan the lack of skilled workers, some are actually doing something about it. And for tech leader Intel, that “something” is big.
Last year, Intel kicked off a pilot program it referred to as the "AI for Workforce Program,” an initiative the company described as "empower(ing) students with necessary Artificial Intelligence skills for employability for the digital economy.”
Intel said it’s plan was to collaborate with community colleges to provide more than 200 hours of AI-related instruction to its educators in order to enable them to turn around and offer courses on AI. The intended results of this "train-the-trainer” type program were to help institutions establish everything from supplemental coursework to full-blown certificates or associate’s degrees focusing on this growing area of research.
After a successful online pilot that incorporated Arizona’s Maricopa County Community College District, Intel has announced that it has expanded the program significantly. AI for Workforce will now add 18 schools to the program across eleven states, providing this learning opportunity to more than 800,000 students.
According to survey data compiled by Intel, only 45% of surveyed educators in higher education institutions say AI-specific content is offered at their schools, though 69% believe there is increasing demand for such skills.
According to Intel, coursework covers "statistical data, natural language processing, and computer vision skills” as well as "includes multiple industry use cases incorporating the latest technology trends and practical application projects.”
