Wilkes University is advancing its commitment to career readiness and innovation through a new partnership with Google, bringing expanded artificial intelligence resources and training opportunities to students across all majors. The university recently joined the Google AI for Education Accelerator program, a national initiative aimed at strengthening AI education and workforce preparation.
Through the program, Wilkes students, faculty and staff will gain 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, as well as certification courses offered through Coursera.
Woojun Lee, associate dean of the College of Business and Engineering, said the partnership was the result of a deliberate effort by university leadership to bring cutting-edge educational opportunities to campus.
“We wanted to find a way to become part of the AI accelerator program,” Lee said. “So, I applied for the AI accelerator program on behalf of the college of business and engineering… and we were selected as part of the program.”
The initiative is part of a broader global investment by Google in AI education and workforce development.
“Google invests, I think, more than a billion dollars to enhance AI education across the globe,” Lee said. “They are investing on behalf of Wilkes University by giving us free AI resources, including Gemini… students and faculty and even alumni can access those resources for free.”
A key component of the 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 now be available to the Wilkes community at no cost.
“If you wanted to gain those certification and training through Coursera by yourself, you will be asked to pay… $60 or something,” Lee said. “But if you are using [a Wilkes] account… you can get that education for free.”
University administrators say this access provides a significant advantage for students entering an increasingly competitive job market. Abel Adekola, dean of the College of Business and Engineering, emphasized the value of combining traditional degrees with additional credentials.
“This will be an added value… for our students when they have a degree and they can say that they have a certificate in AI,” Adekola said.
He also noted that Wilkes is among a select group of institutions in the region participating in the program.
“We are one of the few universities around here that is part of this,” Adekola said.
Although the partnership was spearheaded by the College of Business and Engineering, both Lee and Adekola stressed that the initiative is designed to benefit the entire university community.
“No, that’s absolutely not,” Adekola said when asked whether the program is limited to business students. “No matter what you study these days, AI is part of your generation… AI is becoming a must know.”
Lee reinforced that accessibility, noting that the resources extend beyond any single discipline.
“Any major and any student and faculty, even staff, can actually get that access,” he said.
Faculty across campus have already begun exploring ways to integrate AI into their courses. According to Lee, programs are being customized to align with different academic fields, allowing students to apply AI tools in discipline-specific contexts.
“She wanted to incorporate that program into her courses so that she is able to teach AI and educational leadership to her doctoral students, which is now happening,” Lee said.
Beyond academics, the partnership also enhances students’ professional visibility. Certifications earned through the program can be directly linked to platforms such as LinkedIn, allowing students to showcase their skills to potential employers.
“Once they complete the certification, they can be automatically linked to your LinkedIn account,” Lee said. “You can actually showcase your skill set… without showing proof, it is hard… but now you are able to showcase your credentials.”
University leaders believe these opportunities will play a key role in shaping students’ career outcomes over the next several years.
“Our goal… was to become a leader in AI education in this region,” Lee said. “We are giving our students an opportunity to become excellent… expertise in AI related jobs… so that they will help them to land the job.”
Looking ahead, Lee said the university hopes to see both improved employment outcomes and continued innovation in teaching methods.
“I hope that in five years… many of our students will get a better job thanks to those experiences,” he said. “At the same time, we can innovate our curriculum… not only changing how we think, but also how we teach our students.”
As artificial intelligence continues to transform industries, Wilkes administrators stress the importance of adapting to new technologies rather than resisting them.
“AI is not a threat,” Lee said. “AI will replace you if you are not innovating… but AI will strengthen what you do… and make everything… efficient.”
To further introduce students and the campus community to these emerging opportunities, Wilkes will host the “AI Summit & Emerging Careers and Conference” on Friday, April 10 from 12 to 2:30 p.m. at the Simms McHale Athletic Complex. The event will feature keynote speakers and discussions focused on the growing role of artificial intelligence across industries, as well as its impact on future career paths.
The summit is expected to provide students with additional insight into how AI is shaping the workforce and how they can take advantage of the new resources available through the Google partnership. It also serves as an opportunity for students from all majors to engage with professionals and better understand how AI skills can be applied within their fields.
With expanded access to AI tools, free professional certifications and new campus programming, the Google AI for Education Accelerator represents a significant step forward for Wilkes University. For students, faculty and staff alike, the initiative offers both immediate resources and long-term opportunities to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving, technology-driven world.
“Please take advantage of these great resources,” Lee said.