Thanks to multi-million dollar funding, Miami Dade College (MDC) recently announced plans to expand its technology programs, as the college launches a gateway to connect students, community members, and employers in South Florida with tech offerings at MDC.
The funds comprise a $7 million grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, a $5 million contribution from Miami-Dade County, $2 million from the City of Miami, and $1 million from the Miami Downtown Development Authority.
“MDC has been the higher education leader in the South Florida community for 62 years, helping to build and elevate our city from within,” said MDC President and alumna Madeline Pumariega, in a statement. “With these historic investments, we are expanding that mission, preparing students for top jobs in emerging and growing technology careers, helping residents upskill to attain economic mobility, and driving the growth of businesses in South Florida while fueling local talent for the jobs of tomorrow, today.”
According to MDC, over the past five years the engineering and technology (EnTec) school has garnered the support of IBM, Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, Google, Cisco, and Oracle. Since 2017, enrollment in tech-related programs has grown by 120%. EnTec serves more than 5,000 students each year across more than 30 degrees.
“Miami Dade College is a cornerstone institution in Miami, offering high-quality, accessible educational and workforce training programming for our incredibly talented and diverse community,” said Raul Moas, senior director of the Knight Foundation Miami program. “With this new investment from Knight Foundation and our valued partners here in Miami, MDC is significantly growing its ability to meet the growing community demand for careers in tech while fueling industry with needed talent.”
Since 2012, Knight Foundation has invested more than $55 million in Miami’s tech and startup ecosystem by connecting entrepreneurs, attracting investments, and growing the city’s talent base.
In November 2021, Knight Foundation announced a $2.25 million investment in CodePath to expand and launch programming at Florida International University (FIU), Florida Memorial University, and MDC to connect students to tech careers.
This latest investment builds on Knight’s support of Miami Tech, including a $15 million commitment to FIU, the University of Miami (UM), and Baptist Health South Florida announced in February 2021.
MDC’s gift will allow the college to increase by over 20 percent its EnTec faculty with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and implement AI for All, an initiative that aims to train every MDC student in applied AI regardless of their degree track.
“Time and time again, Miami Dade College has proven itself to be an invaluable partner in Miami’s development as the Capital of Capital—and during a time where human capital is just as, if not more, valuable as financial capital, this $2 million from the City of Miami to invest in a talent pipeline is $2 million well spent, with immeasurable returns,” said City of Miami Mayor Francis Suarez.
Through this initiative, MDC will be the first college in the nation to implement an artificial intelligence course in its core curriculum. MDC will also build an AI Center to foster experiential learning and collaboration between industry and academia, which will join existing MDC technology centers focused on animation and gaming, cloud computing, and cybersecurity.
“Downtown Miami has become a fertile ground for innovation and a high-tech cluster is taking shape before our eyes. Like Miami Dade College, the Miami Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has been on the front lines in growing our economy and grooming talent,” said City of Miami Commissioner and Chairman of the Miami Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Manolo Reyes. “Recognizing that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already playing a critical role in our daily lives and that its impact will grow with time, the Miami DDA is making a $1 million investment to help put Downtown Miami on the global map as one of the top places to learn and develop the science behind AI.”
MDC will expand its educational offerings in applied AI, data analytics, and related emerging technologies with funding from a $15 million combined investment.
“We are an extremely talented community with a vibrant entrepreneurial spirit that could take the current tech boom to the next level if given an opportunity to do so,” said Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “It is an honor for Miami-Dade County to partner with our local college community to invest in our residents and open new doors in the tech industry for local talent. Together, we are giving the tech industry local roots so it can grow even stronger and our community can thrive.”
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