A $645,000 National Science Foundation is helping to fuel the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and data science into the .
The three-year project, scheduled to run from October 2026 through September 2029, aims to strengthen the state’s skilled technical workforce by equipping educators at and to confidently teach and research with modern AI frameworks. The goal is to build a robust pipeline of AI-literate graduates.
Online coursework, professional mentorship
Faculty cohorts will participate in self-directed study and online coursework, and receive individualized mentorship from AI and data science professionals. This collaboration is supported by the and a network of local AI experts.
“Community colleges play a critical role in training 麻豆传媒‘s skilled technical workforce, yet our STEM faculty may not have the specialized training or bandwidth to keep pace with rapid developments in AI,” said Principal Investigator Arjun Aryal, an instructor at Windward CC. “We are bridging this gap by pairing community college educators with industry AI experts, giving them the dedicated time and mentoring needed to embed data science and applied AI directly into their classrooms and research.”
The project will integrate AI concepts into STEM curricula, promote mentor-guided hands-on applications and host an annual symposium for faculty, students and local employers. Dissemination efforts will also include K–12 teacher workshops led by project faculty and the creation of open educational resources.
Co-Principal Investigator Aaron Hanai, a professor at Kapiʻolani CC, said. “Our sustained partnerships and annual symposiums will connect students directly with employers, and ensure our graduates enter the workforce with ethically grounded, highly valuable technical skills.”
This initiative complements the UH’s system-wide commitment to expanding AI literacy and preparing local talent to thrive in an AI -driven economy.