Supporting AI readiness in higher education

At the EDUCAUSE Annual Conference, Google.org unveiled support for three initiatives aimed at strengthening AI readiness in higher education. The projects target ethical AI integration, institutional planning modernization, and student success, addressing resource gaps faced by many colleges and universities. Google highlighted the need for formal AI training among educators, noting that 41% of higher-ed instructors report no prior exposure to AI tools in learning environments.

Google.org is funding the Urban Adult Learner Institute (UALI), led by the Coalition of Urban Serving Universities and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. The initiative integrates Grow with Google resources and AI-enhanced lessons into professional development certifications for faculty and advisors. Educators at 30 universities will pilot these methods to improve career guidance for adult learners, who face higher dropout rates and lower second-year retention compared to traditional students.

The Urban Serving Universities is also scaling career-focused community-based learning (CBL) models enhanced by AI over the next 15 months. The project will analyze 10 case studies, publish findings, and convene a working group to develop scalable work-based learning pathways. The goal is to create flexible, discipline-spanning opportunities to expand workforce readiness for diverse student populations.

The Education Design Lab’s Reimagining Community Colleges (RCC) initiative, supported by Google.org, is transforming strategic planning at two-year institutions. Following a recent educator summit and a pilot cohort of five colleges, a national competition will launch in early 2027 for a state-level system to adopt technology-enabled solutions. The initiative will apply the Future of Learning framework to build durable, scalable improvements in student support and continuous innovation.