Identifying and Activating Student AI Skills

The University of Phoenix (UOPX) is addressing workforce skills gaps by equipping students with career-aligned skills. Since its release, artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly redefined job roles and skill requirements. In response, a working group defined foundational and advanced AI skills through extensive research and stakeholder collaboration. The team identified key foundational AI skills and advanced AI skills, ensuring alignment with industry needs, and placing an emphasis on the durable skills critical for long-term success. This work has led to the development of an AI Literacy Framework and credit-bearing AI courses. These efforts aim to prepare students for an AI-driven workplace and have been shared at academic conferences to inspire, support, and guide other institutions.