休斯頓城市大學推動新一代人工智能創新者崛起

休斯頓城市大學推動新一代人工智能創新者崛起
 人工智能研討博覽會4月1日登場開放公眾　匯聚產學領袖共議未來發展

 作者：鄭通 (Zen Zheng)，休斯頓城市大學系統(HCC)西南校區傳播總監

來自產業界、教育界專家與學生群體代表將於4月1日齊聚休斯頓城市大學西環校園（Houston City College West Loop Campus），參加「人工智能創新研討博覽會」（AI Innovation Symposium and Expo），共同探討人工智能（artificial intelligence）對休斯頓教育體系、人才及勞動力發展與區域經濟的深遠影響。

此次活動標誌著HCC一年一度人工智能會議的快速躍升——從2022年的區域性論壇（regional forum），發展為2025年為期三天、吸引逾1,300名參與者的全國及國際性盛會。

這一發展勢頭與學院自身的轉型相呼應。該校於2025年更名為休斯頓城市大學（Houston City College, 縮寫HCC），並在應用型人工智能（applied AI）領域持續引領區域乃至全國發展。學院於2020年率先在德州（Texas）開設人工智能應用科學副學士學位（Associate of Applied Science in AI）課程，並於2023年成為美國首所開設人工智能與機器人應用技術學士學位（Bachelor of Applied Technology in AI and Robotics）的社區學院，目前亦在規劃更多學士學位課程。

總校長瑪格麗特・福特・費雪博士（Margaret Ford Fisher, Ed.D.）表示，這些擴展性課程回應了現實需求。她指出：「雇主不再問人工智能是否重要，而是在問他們能多快聘用相關人才。HCC率先布局，是為了讓休斯頓擁有一條本地培養的人工智能人才管道，使其能在當今產業中發揮引領作用。」

招生快速成長

休斯頓城市大學的招生數據印證了這一需求。人工智能副學士課程的學生人數已由2021年的45人增至目前的704人；學士課程則從2023年啟動時的14人增至61人。今年春季，共有765名學生攻讀人工智能相關學位，副學士畢業生亦持續銜接至學士階段，形成穩定的人才培養通道。

除學位課程外，證書課程（certificates）、雙學分銜接（dual-credit pathways）及持續教育（continuing education）正將人工智能培訓從高中課堂延伸至企業職場。一門12小時的「人工智能基礎」（AI Essentials）課程每年服務185名在職人士；而將於2026年秋季推出的第一級短期訓練證書（Level 1 certificate）亦將打通伸往副學士及學士學位的路徑。

西南校區校長邁克爾・韋伯斯特博士（Michael Webster, Ph.D.）將4月研討會稱為「將學生與頂尖思想、產業資源與發展機會相連結的一個延展的課堂」。
 他表示：「這是我們整體策略的一部分，透過課程、培訓與產業參與的結合，推動實質成果的產生。」

學生表現亮眼

學生的表現進一步鞏固了休斯頓城市大學的聲譽。團隊在英特爾全球人工智能影響力節（Intel Global AI Impact Festival）創新比賽中屢獲殊榮，包括於2022年憑藉一款用於高風險工業環境測繪的人工智能無人機（AI-powered drone）奪得全球總冠軍。2023年，學生團隊以結合電腦視覺（computer vision）與自然語言處理（natural language processing）的自動分診設備（automated triage machine）獲得全美最高獎項。2024年，一項用於兒童白血病早期檢測的學生開發人工智能工具亦獲得全國首獎。

畢業生正將課堂所學轉化為產業領導力。2022年首屆人工智能課程學生丹澤爾・威爾森（Denzel Wilson）現任英特爾（Intel）美國數位素養計畫（Digital Readiness initiatives）經理，專注於人工智能人才培育與數位共融。

在校學生亦透過富有競爭力的實習累積職場經驗。本科生安東尼・蘭德爾（Anthony Randall）於麥格理集團（Macquarie Group）將人工智能應用於全球營運；其同學喬納・菲利普斯（Jonah Phillips）則於休斯頓獲獎企業Persona AI人工智能公司從事類人機器人（humanoid robots）研發。

休斯頓城市大學數位與資訊科技卓越中心（HCC Digital and Information Technology Center of Excellence）院長薩米爾・薩伯（Samir Saber）表示：「學生這些成就表明他們生正在新興領域獲得機會。這說明我們的課程、培訓與產學合作正與產業及職場需求保持同步。」

全美領導地位

休斯頓城市大學與全球科技精英公司合作是此一模式的核心支柱。英特爾（Intel）為HCC提供課程支援與師資指導（curricular support and faculty mentorship）；亞馬遜雲端服務（Amazon Web Services）提供雲端基礎設施（cloud infrastructure）及機器學習大學（Machine Learning University）教材；微軟（ Microsoft）將教學資源與認證體系（certification pathways）銜接；輝達（NVIDIA）、蘋果（Apple）與谷歌（Google）亦持續為HCC提供工具與專業指導，確保課程內容與前沿產業接軌。

2024年，休斯頓城市大學與邁阿密戴德學院（Miami Dade College）及馬里科帕縣社區學院學區（Maricopa County Community College District）共同組成「全國應用人工智能聯盟」（National Applied AI Consortium）。該聯盟獲美國國家科學基金會（National Science Foundation）280萬美元資助，已在全美49個州、華盛頓特區、波多黎各及美屬維京群島培訓350所院校的2,000名教職員，預計約50,000名學生受惠。

2025年12月，Google.org（谷歌公司公益分支）向休斯頓城市大學提供200萬美元資金，以擴展區域人工智能教育。該計畫已培訓逾100名教師與工作人員，並將服務400名雙學分高中生及2,000名大學生；後續階段預計將涵蓋3,200名高中生與4,800名大學生。

總校長瑪格麗特・福特・費雪博士表示：「我們的任務是善用這些合作夥伴關係，確保休斯頓的勞動力不是在追趕未來，而是在定義未來。」

4月1日，這一未來將在休斯頓城市大學主辦的人工智能創新研討博覽會上集中呈現於機器人、前沿研究、學生創新，以及一所擁有55年歷史、正重新定義休斯頓人工智能人才版圖的HCC這所高等學府。

研討會向公眾開放，報名正火熱進行中，請點擊：
 https://hcc.idloom.events/artificial-intelligence-symposium-2026，電郵至dit.office@hccs.edu 或致電713-718-7631。

休斯頓城市大學（HCC）總校長瑪格麗特・福特・費雪博士（左）與西南區校長邁克爾・韋伯斯特博士在2025年HCC主辦的全美人工智能研討會上發言

（左起）HCC西南區傳播總監鄭通、HCC西南區校長邁克爾・韋伯斯特博士、美南新聞傳播集團執行長李蔚華與記者朱全勝在2025年HCC主辦的全美人工智能研討會上合影。

2025年HCC主辦的全美人工智能研討會專題討論

2025年HCC主辦的全美人工智能研討會會場一角

2025年HCC主辦的全美人工智能研討會工作坊

Houston City College drives next-gen AI innovators

AI symposium set for April 1 to explore Houston’s innovative future

By Zen Zheng, Director of Communications, Houston City College Southwest 

Industry leaders, educators and students will converge April 1 at Houston City College (HCC)’s West Loop campus for the AI Innovation Symposium and Expo, exploring artificial intelligence’s impact on Houston’s education, workforce and economy.

The gathering caps HCC’s rapid rise in its AI conferences from a regional forum in 2022 to a three-day national convening that drew more than 1,300 participants in 2025.

The momentum mirrors the college’s own transformation. Renamed Houston City College in 2025, the institution has been leading regional and national advances in applied AI. It became the first in Texas to launch an Associate of Applied Science in AI in 2020 and the first U.S. community college to offer a Bachelor of Applied Technology in AI and Robotics in 2023, with more bachelor’s degrees in planning.

HCC Chancellor Margeret Ford Fisher, Ed.D. said the expanded offerings respond to real-world demand.

“Employers aren’t asking whether AI will matter; they’re asking how fast they can hire talent,” she said. “HCC became the first so Houston would have a homegrown pipeline of AI professionals ready to lead in today’s industries.”

Surging enrollment

Enrollment at HCC reflects the demand. The AI associate degree has surged from 45 students in 2021 to 704 today. The bachelor’s program grew from 14 students at launch in 2023 to now 61. This spring, 765 students are pursuing AI degrees, with associate graduates steadily feeding the bachelor’s pipeline.

Beyond degrees, certificates, dual-credit pathways and continuing education extend AI training from high school classrooms to corporate offices. A 12-hour AI Essentials course serves 185 working professionals annually, and a new Level 1 certificate launching in fall 2026 will create a pathway to the associate and bachelor’s degrees.

HCC Southwest President Michael Webster, Ph.D., called the April symposium “an extended classroom connecting our students to the best minds, industry and opportunities.”

“It’s part of our comprehensive strategy combining curriculum, training and industry engagement to drive real results,” he said.

Student success

Student achievement has fueled that reputation. HCC teams have captured top honors at Intel’s Global AI Impact Festival, including a 2022 global grand prize for an AI-powered drone mapping high-risk industrial environments. In 2023, students won the top U.S. award for an automated triage machine combining computer vision and natural language processing. In 2024, a student-developed AI tool aiding early detection of childhood leukemia garnered national recognition.

Graduates are translating classroom learning into leadership. Denzel Wilson, from the inaugural 2022 AI cohort, now serves as program manager for Intel’s Digital Readiness initiatives in the U.S., focusing on AI workforce development and digital inclusion.

Current students are gaining experience through competitive internships. Anthony Randall, a bachelor’s student, applies AI to worldwide operations at Macquarie Group, a global investment and infrastructure firm. Classmate Jonah Phillips develops humanoid robots at Persona AI, an award-winning Houston firm.

“What matters most is that students are securing opportunities in emerging fields,” said Samir Saber, dean of the Digital and Information Technology Center of Excellence. “That tells us our curriculum, training and industry partnerships are keeping pace with workforce needs.”

National leadership

Industry collaboration anchors the model. Intel provides curricular support and faculty mentorship. Amazon Web Services supplies cloud infrastructure and Machine Learning University materials. Microsoft aligns teaching resources with certification pathways. NVIDIA, Apple and Google contribute tools and guidance to keep coursework current.

In 2024, HCC co-launched the National Applied AI Consortium with Miami Dade College and the Maricopa County Community College District. Backed by a $2.8 million National Science Foundation grant, the consortium has trained 2,000 faculty and staff at 350 academic institutions in 49 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, impacting an estimated 50,000 students.

In December, Google.org awarded HCC $2 million to expand AI education regionally. The funding has trained over 100 instructors and staff and will serve 400 dual-credit high school students and support up to 2,000 HCC students, with later phases projected to reach 3,200 high-schoolers and 4,800 college students.

“Our job is to leverage these partnerships to ensure Houston’s workforce isn’t catching up to the future; it’s defining it,” Ford Fisher said.

On April 1, that future will be on display at the HCC’s AI Innovation Symposium and Expo: robots, research, student innovators and a 55-year-old institution defining Houston’s AI workforce.

The event is open to the public. To register for the symposium, visit https://hcc.idloom.events/artificial-intelligence-symposium-2026, email dit.office@hccs.edu or call 713-718-7631.