Portage College 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 includes 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 each year nationwide.
“Joining the AI Workforce Readiness consortium represents an opportunity for Portage College to empower our students with the skills needed to thrive in an AI-integrated future,” says Dr. Donna Feledichuk, Vice President Academics and Applied Research. “This collaboration directly advances a key goal in our academic plan to develop AI literacy across our programs. By partnering with Amii and fellow institutions across Canada, we’re embracing our role to provide our students with the tools, knowledge, and support they need to navigate the evolving technological landscape.”
As a member of the consortium, Portage College will have Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and Amii’s machine learning educators 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.
Portage College will determine the first set of programs to pilot AI integration in the most appropriate form to ensure program quality and integrity. Each package will include several 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.”
“For our rural communities, this represents more than just educational advancement. It’s about ensuring equitable access to skills that drive economic growth and sustainability. We’re excited to start this exploratory journey with Amii, expanding beyond traditional educational boundaries to create responsive, innovative pathways for our learners and the communities we serve,” says Feledichuk.
Portage College 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.
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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. www.amii.ca