The University College of the North (UCN) is pleased to announce it has joined the AI Workforce Readiness (AIWR) program. A national initiative led by the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii).
Supported by Google.org, the AIWR program brings together 29 Canadian polytechnics, colleges, and universities, collectively representing over 500,000 students. This initiative aims to close the national AI skills gap and prepare the next generation of workers. It is projected to impact approximately 125,000 students each year nationwide.
"At UCN, we're genuinely excited to join the Amii consortium because it puts powerful, future-ready skills directly in the hands of our students, faculty, and staff," says Tara Manych, AVP of Transformation, University College of the North. "This partnership is a meaningful step toward digital equity - not just for our institution, but for northern Manitoba as a whole. We're proud to help lead this kind of transformation, making sure that our communities don't just keep up, but thrive, as the workforce evolves."
UCN Subject Matter Experts will collaborate with Amii's machine learning educators in dedicated working groups to create AIWR Curriculum Resource Packages. This package will be a resource focused on equipping students with the AI competencies they need, including specialized, open-source teaching materials designed to integrate relevant AI skills and knowledge into existing programs and courses.
"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."
UCN is proud to be part of this strong national network that is leading the way in building Canada's AI-ready workforce.
