DAVIE, Fla. - As artificial intelligence continues to reshape the workforce, a Broward College program is training its first-year students as well as students from Nova High School in essential AI skills. 

The Blue Collar AI project's goal is to expand AI career opportunities for low-income and nontraditional students by providing accessible training pathways and problem-based learning experiences. The project is funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation.

"Essentially what we want to do is really strengthen our workforce readiness and expand educational opportunities in both information technology and artificial intelligence for those students in that pipeline we're creating," said Dr. Candace Maharaj, Associate Director of the Blue Collar AI Grant Project.

Maharaj's partner on the project is Dr. Samar Swaid, Dean of the Information Technology & Engineering programs. Its focus areas are all driven by problem-based learning. The first focus is the Summer Bridge Program, a six-week course for incoming first-year students that helps them build credentials in Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals, entry-level Python programming, and CompTIA Data+ analytics. The credits earned in the program are aligned with the Data Analytics and AI programs in the STEM pathway.

Student Aaron Hoddy had some prior exposure to Python at his workplace, but the Summer Bridge Program elevated his knowledge much further.

"I've gained a newfound confidence in learning coding languages that I am certain will help me in the future to understand how the technology around me works, and how I can better design and work with that technology," Hoddy said.

Hoddy was able to put his new skills to immediate use at work, where he assisted in writing code for an America 250-themed drone show. He said the Python 1 certification he earned in the program would also boost his resume.

Another focus is working with Nova High students to develop their skills through hands-on training and mentorship. As part of the partnership, the College recently delivered four new laptops to Nova High. High school students benefit from seeing demonstrations on how AI can be beneficial in future blue collar professions, said Hermes Abrantes, AI and Cybersecurity Programs Director at Nova High.

"AI won't help an electrician wire a condo, but it can help pay and schedule employees or manage cashflow," Abrantes said. "You want AI to take care of headaches."

Maharaj said Nova High is an ideal partner for the program due to its current programs on AI, IT, and cybersecurity.

"Broward College really saw that as an effective pipeline for us to work that collaboration to advance those students from secondary to post-secondary with our pathway alignment," she said.

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