Lethbridge Polytechnic has joined the inaugural consortium for the AI Workforce Readiness (AIWR) program - a national initiative led by Amii (Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute), one of Canada's three national AI centres and a recognized leader in AI literacy.
Supported by Google.org, the AIWR program convenes 29 Canadian polytechnics, colleges and universities, collectively representing more than 500,000 students, in a collaborative effort to close the national AI skills gap and prepare the next generation of workers. This initiative is expected to benefit an estimated 125,000 students per year across the country.
"At Lethbridge Polytechnic, we're committed to giving students the career-ready skills they need through programs that evolve with industry," says Dr. Brad Donaldson, president and CEO. "Our partnership in the AIWR opens new doors for students, providing resources and opportunities that will help them thrive in their studies and beyond."
The consortium provides opportunities for educators to work with Amii to develop AI resources for their disciplines. This effort will result in the creation of AIWR Curriculum Resource Packages: specialized, open-source teaching materials designed to seamlessly integrate relevant AI skills and knowledge into existing programs and courses.
The resources will focus on giving students the AI competencies they need. Each package will include several learning assets, such as:
- reading and discussion materials;
- real-world use cases and case studies; and
- videos, activities and lab assessments.
"Amii's goal has always been to make AI education accessible, and the AI Workforce Readiness program is the culmination of that commitment," says Cam Linke, CEO of Amii. "We are excited to work with our inaugural group as part of a growing national network. By fostering a strong national collaboration, we are directly addressing the urgent AI skills gap and empowering both instructors and students - especially those in underserved communities - with the necessary AI literacy skills and resources. This foundational work ensures that post-secondary students across the country are equipped for the future of work."
Lethbridge Polytechnic is proud to be part of this strong national network that is leading the way in building Canada's AI-ready workforce. For a complete list of consortium members, click here.
