At the 2026 Teaching, Learning and Student Development (TLSD) Conference in Bristol, Quinsigamond Community College presented “Designing an AI Certificate Program: A Workforce Model for Applied AI Education”—a replicable model addressing critical gaps in affordable, hands-on AI training for community college students.
The Challenge
The AI economy faces significant barriers: lack of affordable hands-on training, rapidly evolving taxonomies, limited work-learn-earning pathways, and fragmented stakeholder buy-in across colleges, employers, government, and nonprofits.
The Solution
In collaboration with MIT PATH and Google.org, QCC designed a 22-credit AI Certificate Program consisting of four 4-credit courses (Python and Statistics prerequisite). At no cost to students in MassEducate and MassReconnect, the program combines:
- Technical Skills: AI Foundations, Data Science, Deep Learning, and Agentic AI—with and without coding options
- Human-Centered Design: Critical thinking, problem-solving, and responsible AI ethics
- Life Skills: Independence, confidence, adaptability, perseverance, and teamwork
- Industry Application: Hands-on learning through PATH action labs (colabs) mentored by MIT experts, where student teams solve real-world problems for clients
Support & Sustainability
MIT AIx PATH provides ongoing development through annual faculty summits, professional development workshops, curriculum co-design, and research/assessment support—ensuring the program remains scalable and evidence-informed.
Presenters: Dr. Hao Loi, Professor Gargi Chug, Professor Charu Trivedi, Dr. Dennis A. Dean, II, and Dr. Brady Hammond
