Miami, Feb. 19, 2026 – Miami Dade College (MDC) and Intel Corporation celebrated their landmark five-year collaboration transforming the landscape of artificial intelligence education in South Florida and announced a major national expansion through the National Applied AI Consortium (NAAIC) that positions MDC as a national hub for AI workforce development.
Education and technology leaders, as well as AI students and faculty, gathered at MDC’s AI Center at the Wolfson Campus for a celebration that included a panel discussion on the future of applied AI. This milestone partnership began in 2021, when MDC became one of the first institutions to adopt Intel® AI for Workforce program. What began as a regional initiative has since evolved into a nationally recognized model empowering thousands of students with the technical and ethical skills required for the digital economy.
As the lead institution of the NAAIC – a partnership among MDC, Maricopa Community Colleges and Houston City College – MDC will now serve as the primary access point for community colleges nationwide seeking to leverage Intel’s AI for Workforce curriculum, resources and faculty professional development.
“Over the past five years, our collaboration with Miami Dade College has expanded access to cutting‑edge technology education and opened new pathways into the AI workforce. Through NAAIC, we are now scaling that impact to ensure even more students gain the practical AI skills needed for high‑demand jobs in today’s rapidly evolving economy,” said Al Thompson, Intel Vice President, US Government Affairs. “We congratulate Miami Dade College for this remarkable achievement and leadership in driving access to AI education nationally.”
The event highlighted key achievements from the first five years of the partnership and NAAIC’s work, including the launch of Florida’s first associate and bachelor’s degrees in applied AI at MDC and the training of more than 2,000 faculty members. Looking ahead, NAAIC will focus on:
- National Resource Hub: Serving as the official gateway for U.S. colleges to integrate Intel’s more than 1,000 hours of AI content.
- Faculty Empowerment: Leading “train-the-trainer” bootcamps to certify educators in AI domains such as computer vision, natural language processing and data science.
- Workforce Alignment: Collaborating with Intel to ensure curriculum remains aligned with the rapidly evolving needs of the global tech industry.
“Five years ago, we recognized that AI would be the defining technology of our generation. Our partnership with Intel allowed us to move at the speed of industry to prepare our students,” said Antonio Delgado, Vice President of Innovation and Tech Partnerships of Miami Dade College. “By scaling this model through the NAAIC, we are ensuring that community colleges nationwide have a proven roadmap and the direct support from Intel needed to build a diverse, AI-ready workforce for the entire country.”
For more information about Intel’s collaboration with the National Applied AI Consortium, visit https://www.naaic.ai/strategic-partners/intel.
This celebration will be followed by the NAAIC AI Summit at MDC’s Wolfson Campus from Thursday, Feb. 19, to Friday, Feb. 20. The event is designed for faculty and administrators, industry practitioners and policymakers interested in building the U.S. AI workforce pipeline through community colleges. Working media are welcome.
About the National Applied AI Consortium (NAAIC)
NAAIC connects academic institutions, industry leaders and educators nationwide to build a robust national AI talent pipeline. Led by Miami Dade College, Houston City College and Maricopa Community Colleges, the NAAIC is democratizing AI education by bringing cutting-edge, industry-informed teaching to the educators building the AI workforce. For more information, visit https://www.naaic.ai.
About Miami Dade College
Miami Dade College (MDC) is the most diverse institution in the nation, with 167 nations and 63 languages represented in its student body. The college’s eight campuses and outreach centers offer over 300 distinct degree pathways, including associate and baccalaureate degrees, certifications and apprenticeships. MDC is the recipient of many top national awards, including the prestigious Aspen Prize, and has been ranked #5 among Top Public Institutions in the Southern Region by U.S. News & World Report. The College changes lives through accessible, high-quality teaching and learning experiences. It is home to the Miami Culinary Institute, the Miami Animation & Gaming International Complex, the Miami Fashion Institute, The Idea Center, the Cybersecurity Center of the Americas, two AI Centers, the Center for Learning, Innovation and Simulation at the Medical Campus, the Business Innovation & Technology Center, the School for Advanced Studies and New World School of the Arts, among others. MDC has been recognized among the nation’s “Great Colleges to Work For” since the program’s inception. The College serves as an economic, cultural, and civic leader for the advancement of our diverse global community. MDC alumni and employees contribute more than $5 billion annually to the local economy, and graduates occupy top leadership positions in every major industry. MDC’s renowned rich cultural programming includes the Miami Book Fair, Miami Film Festival, the National Historic Landmark Miami Freedom Tower, Koubek Center Mansion and Gardens, Live Arts Miami at MDC, the Lynn and Louis Wolfson II Florida Moving Image Archives, and the Museum of Art and Design. MDC has admitted more than 2.5 million students and counting, since it opened its doors in 1960. Approximately 125,000 students are currently enrolled. Learn more at www.mdc.edu.
NAAIC media contact: Julia Wakefield, Roar Media, (305) 962-0736, jwakefield@roarmedia.com