Special Report: AI degrees, trade partnerships and research hubs flourish in Florida (Courtsey of the Jacksonville Business Journal) — Florida’s higher education system carries the heavy weight needed to stay ahead of tech trends, meet workforce needs and continue to cultivate partnerships with the private sector.
Each of these creates a leg on the stool of success on which colleges and universities rest their futures to continue to help students excel and find future careers.
Colleges and universities have adapted their offerings — sometimes replacing the typical classroom with hands-on apprenticeship-style courses.
Take Valencia College in Orlando, which has partnered with the Lowe’s Foundation to create a program to meet the growing needs of trades jobs such as plumbing. The program, which can be completed in mere months, will help a growing need in Florida as the state will need 15% more plumbers by 2030 — nine percentage points higher than the 6% increase needed nationally in the next decade, according to U.S. Department of Labor data cited by the college in a news release.
The program graduated its first 10 students May 8 after 10 weeks of learning various skills, including installing pipes, replacing plumbing fixtures and more.
Meanwhile, tech advances also are making waves across the state — especially when it comes to artificial intelligence.
The University of South Florida in Tampa and Miami Dade College in South Florida are among several institutions that see AI’s role statewide.
USF is in the early stages of launching a new college focusing on artificial intelligence and preparing students to capitalize on related careers in the field of AI.
Miami Dade College offers a four-year degree in AI that can satisfy an enthusiast or upskill a tech professional, said the college’s website. The college also provides programs for high school students, including a summer program and an AI Bootcamp in partnership with the Mark Cuban Foundation.
In fact, support from outside organizations like foundations are another key aspect for colleges and universities.
For example, Jacksonville University has tapped the support of local health care systems to improve nurse training, and the University of Florida, with the help of a tech partner, sees potential in a downtown Jacksonville neighborhood that can lead to more cutting-edge research.
Overall, Florida’s higher education system is looking toward the horizon for what’s next.
This special publication shares how colleges and universities in Orlando, Jacksonville, South Florida and Tampa are paving the paths for themselves and the regions they serve.