Charter Oak State College, Business-Higher Education Forum, and Axim Collaborative Expand AI Academy to Empower Connecticut’s Small Businesses and K-12 Districts

Charter Oak State College, in partnership with the Business-Higher Education Forum (BHEF) and Axim Collaborative, is proud to announce the significant expansion of its AI Academy. This initiative moves beyond traditional curriculum by delivering specialized Artificial Intelligence (AI) training that connects learners directly to workforce needs using the Open edX platform.

Through this partnership, Charter Oak learners, job seekers, educators, and employees of small and mid-sized businesses will gain new pathways to in-demand careers. The AI Academy expansion addresses a critical economic need: ensuring that a significant portion of the business community isn't left behind in the AI revolution. Simultaneously, the Academy is launching a dedicated pathway for K-12 school districts, focusing on an AI mindset and strategic deployment rather than specific software, allowing educators to build sustainable, future-proof AI policies regardless of the AI tools they adopt.

"Connecticut's economic strength lies in its small and medium-sized businesses. The expansion of the AI Academy is a direct investment in those businesses, providing them with the high-level AI fluency typically reserved for large corporations. Furthermore, by bringing a tool-agnostic, mindset-first approach to our K-12 districts, we are helping educators move past the 'hype' and focus on the strategic deployment of AI. We aren't just teaching people how to use AI; we are empowering Connecticut's schools and businesses to lead with it," said Dr. Dave Ferreira, Provost, Charter Oak State College.

The initiative will launch with an AI-focused curriculum shaped by input from more than 100 Connecticut business and higher education leaders, including representatives from The Hartford, Travelers, Accenture, and Amazon Web Services.

As AI-driven changes accelerate across industries, the gap between employer demand and workforce preparation continues to grow. Nearly half of Connecticut's workforce is employed by small and mid-sized businesses, which often lack the capacity to develop internal training programs. At the same time, many learners, particularly those underemployed or from low-income backgrounds, face barriers to accessing affordable, industry-aligned education that leads directly to job opportunities.

"The future of work demands a new kind of collaboration - one where business and higher education don't just communicate, but build together," said Kristen Fox, CEO of the Business-Higher Education Forum. "When employers and institutions join forces to equip learners with AI skills and durable competencies, we create real pathways for people to unlock new opportunities, advance their careers, and thrive in an economy that is changing faster than any one sector can address alone. This is the model we need - and Connecticut is showing how it's done."

Through the partnership, Charter Oak learners will earn recognized, stackable credentials over three years, through flexible, career-aligned training with clear pathways to employment. The model emphasizes durable skills - such as communication, problem-solving, adaptability, and digital literacy - while connecting learners, employers, and state job boards within a unified ecosystem.

"By partnering with employers to co-design AI-focused curricula, Charter Oak and BHEF are equipping learners with the skills and experiences they need to thrive in a changing economy while fueling regional economic development," said Stephanie Khurana, CEO of Axim Collaborative. "These organizations are shaping the future of education and work through this collaborative statewide partnership that promises to be an exemplar for how to scale programs and expand to other states."

Beginning with AI foundations, the model will expand into high-demand fields including business, health tech, and cybersecurity. It will scale statewide across Connecticut before extending nationally, with a goal of reaching 10,000 learners over five years and establishing a sustainable, replicable model supported by state investment, institutional partnerships, and employer co-investment.

"This partnership reinforces our commitment to building clear, career-ready pathways for learners across Connecticut," said Dr. O. John Maduko, Interim Chancellor of Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU). "By connecting education directly to real employer needs and emergent skills like AI, we are strengthening the state's talent pipeline and workforce, ensuring learners are prepared for the opportunities of tomorrow."

This initiative positions Connecticut as a national leader in aligning higher education with workforce needs, while offering a model that can be adapted by other states and systems.

This partnership builds on Charter Oak State College's CT AI Academy, which was launched in 2025 in partnership with Google. The Academy tackles the growing disconnect statewide between employer talent needs and learner preparation by offering - at no cost to Connecticut residents 18 and older - AI fundamentals and a Google AI Essentials credential online. To date, more than 3,500 learners have completed the academy since its launch in 2025.

About Charter Oak State College

Charter Oak State College is Connecticut's only dedicated, public, online college, offering associate and bachelor's degrees in high-demand fields including Business, Healthcare, Technology, Nursing, Social Work, Education, and Public Safety. The College offers master's degrees in organizational leadership, Health Data Analytics, Healthcare Administration, and Curriculum and Instruction. Charter Oak is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education and is one of the six Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) governed by the Connecticut's Board of Regents for Higher Education.

About The Business-Higher Education Forum (BHEF)

The Business-Higher Education Forum is a national network connecting corporate and college leaders to identify emerging skills and co-develop inclusive pathways that address talent needs. BHEF empowers and catalyzes collaborations that deliver accelerated, inclusive, and effective solutions across education and work and to meet the changing talent needs of learners, workers, and businesses.

About Axim Collaborative

Axim Collaborative is a nonprofit organization co-founded by Harvard and MIT that transforms education-to-work pathways by investing in innovative partnerships to ensure every student can thrive in a changing economy. Axim uses catalytic funding to foster collaborative partnerships, build capacity, and scale innovations to strengthen pathways that improve outcomes for millions of learners. These pathways engage students in their course of study, enable them to persist through their programs, and prepare them to excel in their careers.

Axim also stewards the Open edX project, an open-source platform and community that empowers educators to design high-quality, globally accessible courses that connect students with the skills and knowledge they need for both academic and career success.