A new partnership at the University of Cincinnati’s 1819 Innovation Hub could give students what many graduates want most: a direct route from the classroom to in-demand technical jobs. UC launches in partnership with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Salesforce TCS First AI joba new program designed to provide students with skills certification in AI solutions, paid work experience, and a path to a full-time role at TCS upon graduation.
Building a bridge from the classroom to your career
TCS is a digital transformation and technology partner for industry-leading organizations around the world. Students complete hands-on projects, receive mentorship, practice interviews, and earn global certifications tailored to current industry needs.
This new initiative is aimed at final-year students and blends academic learning and workforce preparation through an intensive three-month experience. The program will be piloted in summer 2026 through a special topics information technology course open to both undergraduate and graduate students.
The goal is simple but ambitious: prepare graduates to contribute to an AI-driven workplace. From day one.
“In line with our goal to become the world’s largest AI-driven technology services company, TCS is committed to building a pipeline of AI jobs in America’s heartland,” said Amit Bajaj, president of TCS North America. “By building on our long-standing partnership with the University of Cincinnati and Salesforce, we are designing the blueprint for the future of AI work.”
Collaborative pathways into the role of AI
The foundation of this program is a new Salesforce Certification curriculum co-developed by three partners. Students have the opportunity to participate in TCS’ fall co-op and gain paid practical experience while completing their undergraduate studies.
The program extends the University of California’s nationally recognized collaborative education model to the rapidly growing AI workforce by alternating academic coursework with hands-on training.
“Companies increasingly expect entry-level job candidates to gain practical AI skills to hit the ground running,” said Hazem Saeed, professor and director at the University of California School of Information Technology. “We are creating a model that will help redefine the value of a college education and build a path to success for tomorrow’s AI leaders.”
The program builds on a model the university has already tested with industry partners. The School of IT previously used Kroger Technology to develop a custom Azure data engineering program and enrolled more than 1,000 students from 2023 to 2025.
Growing Cincinnati’s AI Talent
The program is deeply rooted in the region’s growing technology ecosystem. TCS recently opened a Salesforce Center of Excellence at its Global Distribution Center in Milford, the company’s largest distribution center in the United States.
“Together, we are helping our clients build a local, industry-ready workforce that accelerates outcomes and launches careers in AI,” said Meredith Navavi, Director of Workforce Development Partnerships at Salesforce.
The partnership reflects TCS’ extensive investments in U.S. talent and the growing Salesforce ecosystem, including recent acquisitions of Coastal Cloud and ListEngage.
This partnership could serve as a model for how universities and industry can work together to prepare students for rapidly changing technology-related careers and keep that talent working in Ohio.
Preparing the workforce for the future
At the heart of My First AI Job is bridging the gap between academic preparation and employer expectations. The program treats certifications and co-op experiences as real-world assessments, increasing students’ chances of quickly transitioning into a full-time role after graduation.
For UC students, this represents a new path into one of the fastest-growing career fields, and another step for the region to become a hub for AI talent and innovation.
Cover image: Adobe Photoshop CC
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