The National Applied Artificial Intelligence Consortium (NAAIC) is a new NSF ATE-funded initiative that addresses the growing demand for skilled AI professionals in industries nationwide. A collaboration between Miami Dade College, Houston Community College, and Maricopa County Community College District, NAAIC serves as a bridge between community college academia and industry. By developing innovative training programs, offering mentorship, and fostering partnerships with tech giants like Intel, AWS, Microsoft, and Google, NAAIC empowers community colleges to prepare students for impactful careers in AI.

To tell us more about the work of NAAIC, ATE Impacts interviewed NAAIC Co-PI, Antonio Delgado Fornaguera. Antonio is Miami Dade College’s Vice President of Innovation and as such, has secured over $50 million in grants and has launched key programs like the first Bachelor and Associate degrees in Applied AI in Florida, the NSA-designated Cybersecurity Center of the Americas, and the Electric Vehicle Training Center in collaboration with Tesla.

Through NAAIC, Antonio and his team are advancing the education and training of a diverse technical workforce. By creating pathways to industry-aligned AI certifications, supporting faculty professional development, and building a vibrant community of practice, NAAIC ensures that community colleges remain essential to shaping the future of applied AI education.

Can you talk a little about the creation of NAAIC? What needs in the workforce did you see that led to the development of this consortium? 

The National Applied AI Consortium (NAAIC) was created to address a critical shortage of skilled AI professionals and meet the growing demand for workforce development in artificial intelligence. As AI reshapes industries, employers need a workforce that is not only technically proficient but also capable of applying AI to real-world industry challenges. Community colleges play a vital role in addressing this need, as they can provide accessible, practical training programs that are aligned with local and regional workforce demands. With their focus on affordability and flexible learning paths, community colleges are uniquely positioned to offer hands-on, industry-relevant AI training, making it possible for a broader and more diverse student population to enter the AI field. 

NAAIC draws on the practical experience and leadership of pioneering institutions like Miami Dade College (MDC), Houston Community College (HCC), and Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD), which are the first colleges in the U.S. to develop and implement undergraduate AI degrees. These community colleges bring unique insights into AI workforce development, having created some of the nation’s earliest degree programs tailored to the demands of modern industries in collaboration with companies like Intel, Microsoft, AWS and Google. Their initiatives address the critical shortage of skilled AI professionals by equipping students with foundational and applied AI knowledge that is directly transferable to the workforce. 

How does NAAIC collaborate with industry partners like Intel, AWS, and Microsoft to ensure that students are gaining relevant, real-world AI skills? How did you set up those partnerships? 

NAAIC collaborates closely with industry partners like Microsoft, Intel, AWS, and Google to ensure community college faculty are trained to teach relevant AI skills and have access to cutting-edge curriculum, resources, and industry-standard tools. These partnerships support hands-on learning and certification programs, that lead to students gaining practical experience with platforms widely used in the field. Additionally, these companies also contribute AI subject matter experts to the Consortium’s AI Business Industry Leadership Team to align the community college’s curriculum with current industry demands, expert guidance, and real-world project opportunities to prepare students for successful careers in AI. 

The partnerships were created based on the common interests in preparing community colleges to train the AI workforce, with each company offering unique opportunities to support faculty in preparing students with AI jobs: 

• Intel’s AI for Workforce Program offers over 1,000 hours of content in pre-packed AI courses with assignments, quizzes, and lab activities, and Ongoing peer support network for college faculty 
• Microsoft supports the Consortium with industry-aligned AI curriculum available on Microsoft Learn for Educators and faculty AI bootcamps to prepare faculty to teach AI skills.  
• AWS offers free educator enablement programs to create pathways to AI/ML jobs and provides ready-to-teach curriculum that prepares students to pursue industry-recognized certifications. 
• Google is making their Grow with Google certificates and courses available to community colleges at no cost to support students learn and adopt AI skills 

Can you share some success stories or examples of how NAAIC has already made a difference for students or faculty in the AI space? 

NAAIC has already upskilled over 200 faculty from 100 community colleges through training or convenings. The Microsoft AI Bootcamp, offered during November 2024 at no cost, prepared 200 community college faculty to teach Microsoft AI skills related to the AI-900: Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals certification, and provided them an overview of Microsoft Learn for Educators (MSLE). Additionally, the Community of Practice launched by the Consortium in the same month of November, gathered X community college faculty interested in teaching or already teaching AI courses to foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and professional growth among them. 

At Houston Community College, one of the leaders of the Consortium, the AI degree program has propelled students toward impressive achievements in both academia and industry. Graduates have secured positions with leading companies like Tesla, Cephid Pharmaceuticals, McKinsey, Seed AI, and Dell, and contributed to major projects at Diligent Robotics and the U.S. Space Force. Students have excelled in national and global AI competitions, winning Intel’s competitions in Industrial Safety and Healthcare applications, with some reaching finalist positions in Intel’s 2024 Global Competition. They’ve also built advanced rigs for large language models, used AI in entrepreneurial ventures like trucking, and contributed to industry conferences. Some have transferred to prominent institutions for further studies, while others have co-founded tech startups. Additionally, graduates have held influential positions, including roles as co-executive directors in professional societies, and are applying AI in innovative ways, such as building digital twins. 

Can you tell us what educators and industry leaders can expect from this year’s AI Summit? 

The AI Summit, hosted at Houston Community College on April 9-11, 2025, will be an insightful event for community college faculty and AI industry leaders, as it focuses on bridging the gap between academia and industry to cultivate a skilled workforce in AI. With a strong emphasis on workforce development, the summit will explore how academia and industry can collaborate to build a local talent pipeline equipped for the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence. 

The conference will feature a wide range of topics covering the latest developments in AI, including Careers in AI, AI in Energy & Manufacturing, Cybersecurity and AI, AI in Gaming, Governance and Policies in AI, AI in Arts, and AI in Healthcare. Hands-on labs will include activities such as an AI red teaming exercise, AI essentials workshops, AI skills workshops for marketing, student competitions, and surprises for participants of all ages. A key focus of the summit will be on responsible AI development, addressing the critical need for professionals who are both skilled and mindful of AI's ethical implications for society. 

For educators, the summit offers a chance to stay current with emerging AI tools and certifications, learning how to integrate these into their curricula to better prepare students for future career opportunities. Faculty will gain valuable insights into the competencies and knowledge sought by the industry, helping them refine their courses to align more closely with real-world applications. 

Industry leaders, meanwhile, will benefit from engaging directly with academic professionals. This collaboration provides a platform for industry to communicate the skills and knowledge they prioritize in new hires, helping to shape academic programs to better align with workforce needs. 

 
How can more community colleges or companies get involved with NAAIC, and what opportunities does the consortium offer to those looking to participate? 

The overall goal of NAAIC is to advance the education and training of a diverse and highly skilled technical workforce in the field of AI by working with community colleges, AI subject matter experts and companies seeking AI talent. Community colleges can get involved by either applying to receive mentorship to develop and implement an AI associate degree or sending faculty for professional development activities to improve their skills to teach AI. NAAIC’s mentorship is based on MDC, HCC and MCCCD’s experience, AI subject matter experts feedback, and resources from industry partners. Each college selected will be provided with a Faculty Mentor who will provide direction and support throughout the AI program's development and execution for one academic year. For more information on NAAIC’s mentorship program, visit the Consortium’s Webpage.

AI subject matter experts with a passion for developing the next generation of AI talent through community colleges are welcome to apply to join our National AI Business Industry Leadership Team (BILT). The BILT members meet regularly to identify, update, and disseminate the evolving and emerging requisite knowledge and skills that are required of workforce-ready graduates from 2-year programs in applied AI. Their feedback is essential to guide the work of the Consortium. More information about the National AI BILT can be found here.

Finally, companies looking for AI talent can reach out directly to NAAIC via email to [email protected]. We are always looking for job opportunities for graduates from community colleges AI programs.

Additionally, we are getting ready to support small and medium companies with job descriptions of applied AI technical roles that they can leverage to hire talent from our AI degrees. To stay informed about all new initiatives from NAAIC, we encourage everyone to subscribe to our newsletter on NAAIC’s home page.

 
Looking ahead, where do you see the field of applied AI going in the next 5 to 10 years, and how is NAAIC preparing students and faculty for those future challenges? 

In the next five years, applied AI will become essential across industries, with applications in sectors like healthcare, manufacturing, and logistics, where automation, data-driven decision-making, and real-time processing are key. As AI moves from experimental stages to critical roles within organizations, the need for a skilled workforce capable of implementing, managing, and optimizing AI systems will grow substantially. Community colleges, supported by initiatives like the National Applied AI Consortium, are uniquely positioned to lead in this workforce development by offering accessible, practical AI education that equips students with real-world skills. 

Focusing on roles like AI technicians, ML analysts, and AI implementation specialists, community colleges are set to address a vital talent gap. These roles do not typically require advanced degrees, making them ideal for community college graduates who have specialized, job-ready skills. By preparing students for these positions, community colleges help build a sustainable AI workforce that supports regional economic growth and makes high-demand AI careers accessible to a diverse range of learners. As applied AI continues to shape the future of work, community colleges will remain central to training the workforce that can drive and sustain this technological transformation. 

NAAIC will be laser focused on helping community colleges create and deliver programs that emphasize hands-on, technical training in applied AI skills that industries need. NAAIC will remain committed to upskilling faculty and mentoring colleges to design innovative curricula, establish industry partnerships, and implement cutting-edge programs in Applied AI. By fostering collaboration between academia and industry, NAAIC ensures that students and faculty stay ahead of emerging trends and are well-prepared to meet the evolving demands of the AI-driven economy.