RRC Polytech joins 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 over 500,000 students, in a collaborative effort to close the national AI skills gap and prepare the next generation of workers. This initiative is set to impact an estimated 125,000 students per year across the country.
"AI is a transformative force shaping every industry and the future of work. By embracing AI literacy, we can equip students with the essential tools and knowledge to succeed now and in the future," says Rebecca Molly Hiebert, Senior Strategic Advisor, AI Initiative, RRC Polytech. "Our participation in Amii's AI Workforce Readiness consortium ensures that our students are receiving the most current, evidence-based AI education available. By working with national leaders and peers, we are proactively embedding these crucial skills into the core of RRC Polytech's curriculum, giving our graduates a clear advantage in the evolving job market."
As a member of the consortium, RRC Polytech will send subject matter experts (SMEs) to collaborate with Amii's AI specialists to collaborate in dedicated working groups. 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 in the field of community services the AI competencies they need. Each package will include learning assets, such as:
- Reading and discussion materials
- Real-world use cases and case studies
- 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. We are excited to work with our inaugural group as part of a growing national network," says Cam Linke, Amii CEO. "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."
RRC Polytech will be working with Amii to support the integration of program-specific AI resources into the Early Childhood Education (ECE) program curriculum. "At RRC Polytech we are leaders in early childhood education and collaborating with Amii on the AI-Powered Curriculum Design for Early Learning project, will further support future early childhood educators to build AI competency that enhances creativity, strengthens workforce readiness, and increases confidence as leaders in their field," says Kelsey Shay Regnier, Chair, Early Childhood Education, RRC Polytech.
RRC Polytech is proud to be part of this strong national network that is leading the way in building Canada's AI-ready workforce. View the complete list of consortium members.
About Amii: Guided by our mission of AI for Good and for All, Amii (Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute) is an Alberta-based non-profit that supports world-leading research in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), and translates scientific advancement into industry adoption. As one of Canada's three centres of AI excellence, Amii strives to make AI & ML the primary drivers of sustainable economic growth by advancing leading-edge research, delivering exceptional educational offerings, and providing business advice all to bring AI out of the lab and into the real world.
