Wilkes University is advancing its commitment to career readiness and innovation through a new partnership with Google, providing expanded artificial intelligence resources and training opportunities for students of all majors. The university recently joined the Google AI for Education Accelerator program, a national initiative aimed at strengthening AI education and workforce readiness.
Through this program, Wilkes students, faculty, and staff will have free access to a wide range of Google AI tools and professional development resources that are typically subscription-based. These include Google’s AI-powered platforms such as Gemini and certification courses offered through Coursera.
Wujun Lee, associate dean of the College of Business and Engineering, said the partnership is the result of a deliberate effort by university leadership to bring cutting-edge educational opportunities to campus.
“We wanted to find a way to participate in the AI accelerator program,” Lee says. “So we applied to the AI Accelerator Program on behalf of the School of Business Engineering…and we were selected to be a part of the program.”
This effort is part of Google’s broader global investment in AI education and workforce development.
“Google is probably investing more than $1 billion to power AI education around the world,” Lee said. “They are investing on behalf of Wilkes University by providing us with free AI resources, including Gemini. Students, faculty, and even alumni can access these resources for free.”
A key element of this partnership is access to Coursera, an online learning platform that offers industry-recognized certifications in areas such as data analytics, digital marketing, cybersecurity, and project management. These certifications, which typically require a monthly subscription fee, will be made available to the Wilkes community for free.
“If you want to get these certifications and training on your own through Coursera, you’ll probably be asked to pay around $60,” Lee said. “But if you’re using [a Wilkes] Account…that education is free. ”
University administrators say this access will be a major advantage for students entering an increasingly competitive job market. Abel Adekola, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Engineering, emphasized the value of combining traditional degrees with additional qualifications.
“This will be an added value…if students can say they have a degree and a certificate in AI,” Adekola said.
He also noted that Wilkes University is one of the selected institutions in the region participating in the program.
“We are one of the few universities in the region that is participating in this,” Adekola said.
Although the partnership was led by the College of Management and Engineering, Lee and Adekola emphasized that the initiative is designed to benefit the entire university community.
When asked if the program was limited to business students, Adekola said, “No, not at all.” “No matter what you study these days, AI is part of your generation. AI is becoming must-know knowledge.”
Lee noted that the resource extends beyond a single discipline and emphasized its accessibility.
“Any major, any student or faculty member or even staff member can actually have that access,” he said.
Faculty across campus have already begun exploring ways to incorporate AI into their courses. Lee said the program is customized for different academic disciplines, allowing students to apply AI tools in discipline-specific contexts.
“She wanted to incorporate that program into her courses so she could teach AI and educational leadership to doctoral students, and now that’s happening,” Lee said.
Beyond academics, this partnership also increases students’ professional visibility. Certifications earned through the program can be linked directly to platforms like LinkedIn, allowing students to showcase their skills to potential employers.
“Once verified, it will automatically link to your LinkedIn account,” says Lee. “You can actually showcase your skill set… It’s hard to do that if you don’t show evidence… but now you can showcase your qualifications.”
University leaders believe these opportunities will play an important role in shaping students’ career outcomes in the years to come.
“Our goal…was to be the leader in AI education in the region,” Lee said. “We are giving our students the opportunity to develop great expertise in AI-related jobs, which will help them land those jobs.”
Looking ahead, Professor Lee said the university expected both improved employment outcomes and continued innovation in teaching methods.
“I hope that in five years…many of our students will be able to get better jobs because of these experiences,” he said. “At the same time, we can innovate our curriculum. Not only can we change the way we think, but we can also change the way we teach our students.”
As artificial intelligence continues to transform industries, Wilkes management emphasizes the importance of adapting to new technology rather than resisting it.
“AI is not a threat,” Lee said. “If you are not innovating, AI will replace you…but AI will enhance what you are doing and make everything…efficient.”
To further introduce students and the campus community to these new opportunities, Wilkes will host an “AI Summit and Emerging Careers and Conference” at the Sims-McHale Athletic Complex on Friday, April 10th from 12:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. The event will feature keynote speakers and discussions focused on the growing role of artificial intelligence across industries and its impact on future career paths.
The summit is expected to provide students with further insight into how AI is shaping the workforce and how they can take advantage of new resources available through our partnership with Google. It also serves as an opportunity for students of all majors to interact with experts and gain a deeper understanding of how AI skills can be applied in their fields.
With expanded access to AI tools, free professional certifications, and new campus programming, the Google AI for Education Accelerator is a major step forward for Wilkes University. This initiative provides both immediate resources and long-term opportunities for students, faculty and staff alike to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving, technology-driven world.
“Please take advantage of these great resources,” Lee said.
