Microsoft is a founding partner and sponsor of the National Applied AI Consortium. The collaboration enables direct support for colleges to develop an AI-ready workforce across the country. Microsoft's commitment to NAAIC includes:
• Industry-Aligned AI Curriculum
• Faculty and Staff Training
• National AI BILT Representation
Industry-Aligned AI Curriculum
Through the Microsoft Learn for Educators (MSLE) program, educators gain access to everything they need to equip students with in-demand technical skills that employers seek. Key highlights:
Ready-to-Teach AI Content:
Prebuilt modules covering fundamentals from cloud computing to AI that map directly to Microsoft’s industry-recognized credentials (e.g., Azure AI Fundamentals).
Turnkey Lab Environments:
Hands-on virtual labs allow students to practice real-world scenarios in a safe, scalable environment.
Microsoft Official Courseware:
Curriculum materials vetted by Microsoft subject-matter experts, including slide decks, exercises, and assessments.
Free Access for Educators:
MSLE is free to join. Once accepted, faculty can download courseware, access virtual labs, and integrate AI lessons into existing programs without added cost.
By leveraging MSLE, community colleges can rapidly stand up AI-focused certificate programs or embed AI modules into broader STEM and CTE courses ensuring students graduate with both broad theoretical knowledge and practical, industry-relevant skills.
Learn more about Microsoft Learn for Educators
Faculty and Staff Training
Microsoft has partnered with NAAIC to ensure that faculty feel confident teaching AI concepts and leading hands-on workshops, and community college administrators learn how to leverage Generative AI. Highlights include:
AI Bootcamps:
No-cost, immersive train-the-trainer sessions designed to prepare instructors for the AI-900: Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals certification.These bootcamps cover:
Core AI concepts within the Azure ecosystem
Best practices for designing AI lab exercises and grading rubrics
Strategies for integrating Microsoft Learn resources into course syllabi
Generative AI Training:
Introductory sessions for community college faculty and staff to the essentials of Generative AI and Microsoft Copilot. The sessions cover how AI works, ethical use, effective prompting, and practical applications, providing hands-on guidance for integrating these tools.
Ongoing Support:
After certification, faculty remain connected to a peer network of Microsoft-trained educators. This community shares teaching tips, lab enhancements, and feedback loops to continuously improve AI offerings.
Applications of AI:
Microsoft-sponsored webinars with applications of AI into different areas like manufacturing, healthcare and business for community colleges expanding curriculum in those areas.
Upcoming Microsoft Training and Events
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Generative AI and Microsoft Copilot Training for Community College Faculty
National AI BILT Representation
As a member of NAAIC’s Business and Industry Leadership Team (BILT), Microsoft ensures that curriculum stays aligned with evolving industry demands:
Curriculum Advisory:
Microsoft subject-matter experts contribute to curriculum reviews, ensuring that course outcomes match real-world job requirements in areas like AI engineering, data science, and cloud architecture.
Industry Insights:
Through quarterly BILT meetings, Microsoft shares emerging AI trends—such as ethical AI practices, responsible ML deployment, and sustainability in AI—to help community
Recruitment Pathways:
By connecting community colleges with Microsoft’s partner ecosystem, graduates gain visibility into internships, apprenticeships, and entry-level AI roles, creating clear pipelines from classroom to career.
By combining industry-aligned curriculum, immersive faculty training, and continuous BILT guidance, Microsoft empowers community colleges to build robust AI programs preparing students for the next generation of high-impact roles.
"Community colleges and technical programs are uniquely positioned to meet the needs of a diverse and often underserved group of students - from recent high-school graduates to working adults to career changers. By expanding training for all community college faculty and staff we hope to provide access to the opportunities AI can unlock for everyone."
