Key Points:
- Google Partnership: PA universities offer free AI training.
- AI Skills: Students gain practical AI and career skills.
- Impact: Strengthens PA’s leadership in tech education.
Several Pennsylvania universities within the State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) are joining forces with Google to advance artificial intelligence (AI) education. As part of the inaugural Google AI for Education Accelerator, five PASSHE institutions—Cheyney, East Stroudsburg, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, PennWest, and Millersville—will provide students, faculty, and staff with free access to AI training resources.
AI Skills Integrated Across Academic Programs
The initiative aims to equip students with foundational AI skills that go beyond technology-focused majors. PASSHE Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino emphasized that AI is becoming a vital tool across all industries and academic disciplines. “I imagine a future in which every PASSHE university graduate will engage with AI as a tool in their future careers,” he said, underscoring the importance of integrating AI knowledge across various fields.
Students participating in the program at Pennsylvania Universities will learn how to use AI effectively and responsibly, including techniques for prompting AI tools, analyzing information, and applying AI in academic research. These skills are expected to help students study more efficiently, better understand complex materials, and prepare for diverse career paths. Additionally, AI training will support students in resume building, job interview preparation, and field-specific projects.
PASSHE Vice Chancellor Diana Rogers-Adkinson highlighted the broader impact of AI education, noting that graduates from these Pennsylvania Universities will be crucial contributors to industries such as business, health care, STEM, education, and more. “College equips students with the critical thinking skills to use AI most effectively in the workplace,” she said, stressing that AI should be applied thoughtfully with judgment and creativity.
Building on Existing Educational Partnerships
This AI-focused initiative builds on PASSHE’s earlier collaborations with Google. In 2023, PASSHE became the first higher education system in Pennsylvania to partner with Google to offer Google Career Certificates. The program delivered training in areas like cybersecurity, data analytics, digital marketing, business intelligence, and IT support. Students could earn industry-recognized credentials while completing undergraduate coursework, allowing them to apply new skills immediately in the classroom.
Lisa Gevelber, founder of Grow with Google, praised the collaboration, saying, “Every student deserves access to the AI skills needed to succeed in today’s job market.” She added that this partnership extends Google’s commitment to providing advanced AI tools and resources to educational institutions, helping students prepare for evolving career opportunities.
PASSHE’s adoption of AI training is seen as a strategic move to position Pennsylvania as a leader in technology education. The program’s broad reach across academic disciplines reflects the growing recognition that AI is not confined to computer science or engineering fields but is increasingly relevant in areas like health care, marketing, and education.
Students and educators alike are encouraged to view AI as a resource rather than a challenge. The program offers tools to enhance learning, foster innovation, and prepare students for future careers where AI will play an integral role. As these Pennsylvania Universities integrate AI education into their curricula, they are setting a new standard for how technology can be harnessed in higher education to support both academic achievement and career readiness.