Preparing Alberta Learners for the Future: CUE Joins AI Workforce Readiness (AIWR) Program
Concordia University of Edmonton (CUE) has joined a national initiative to strengthen AI literacy and workforce readiness for students and faculty.
In November 2025, CUE joined the AI Workforce Readiness (AIWR) initiative, a consortium of 29 post-secondary institutions across Canada led by the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii).
“At Concordia University of Edmonton, our liberal arts foundation and professional programs are designed to develop thoughtful, ethical leaders who can adapt to a changing world. Joining the AI Workforce Readiness consortium allows us to integrate AI literacy in ways that strengthen critical thinking, professional practice, and ethical decision-making, ensuring our students and faculty are well prepared to navigate an evolving technological and workforce landscape. “
— Dr. Barb van Ingen, Provost and Vice-President Academic
CUE faculty and students can access a suite of learning resources—such as case studies, interactive videos, classroom activities, lab assessments, and Module 0, a foundational 3-hour AI literacy course.
“This partnership with Amii provides students and faculty with meaningful access to high-quality AI learning resources that connect emerging technologies to real-world applications. It strengthens AI literacy, supports workforce-ready skills, and prepares graduates to lead responsibly in an ever-changing technological landscape.”
— Dr. Timothy P. Cusack, Dean, Faculty of Education
As technology reshapes career paths, CUE’s participation in this national consortium underscores its commitment to preparing students for current and future job markets influenced by AI.
Dr. Sherif Elbarrad, Dean, Faculty of Management, says of joining the AIWR program, “I believe this is a very important program. Our students pursuing the Cybersecurity and data analytics emphasis, and our graduate programs Masters of Informations Systems Security Management and Masters of Information Systems Assurance Management will gain critical AI literacy skills that are increasingly essential in today’s technology-driven landscape. We will benefit from fully-funded, open-source learning materials developed by leading machine learning scientists and develop practical AI competencies that employers are actively seeking.
For faculty, the program offers an excellent opportunity to work directly with Amii’s machine learning scientists to integrate AI concepts into existing courses, ensuring our curriculum remains at the forefront of industry needs.
This initiative aligns seamlessly with our undergraduate and graduate curricula, particularly given our emphasis on data analytics, cybersecurity, and information system assurance disciplines that are fundamentally intertwined with artificial intelligence.”
To learn more about the AI Workforce Readiness initiative, visit: https://www.amii.ca/courses-literacy/ai-workforce-readiness
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Media Contact
James Schutz
Manager, Marketing & Communications
james.schutz@concordia.ab.ca
780-479-9239