休斯顿城市大学推动新一代人工智能创新者崛起

休斯顿城市大学推动新一代人工智能创新者崛起
 人工智能研讨博览会4月1日登场开放公眾　匯聚產学领袖共议未来发展

 作者：郑通 (Zen Zheng)，休斯顿城市大学系统(HCC)西南校区传播总监

来自產业界、教育界专家与学生群体代表将於4月1日齐聚休斯顿城市大学西环校园（Houston City College West Loop Campus），参加「人工智能创新研讨博览会」（AI Innovation Symposium and Expo），共同探讨人工智能（artificial intelligence）对休斯顿教育体系、人才及劳动力发展与区域经济的深远影响。

此次活动标誌着HCC一年一度人工智能会议的快速跃升——从2022年的区域性论坛（regional forum），发展為2025年為期三天、吸引逾1,300名参与者的全国及国际性盛会。

这一发展势头与学院自身的转型相呼应。该校於2025年更名為休斯顿城市大学（Houston City College, 缩写HCC），并在应用型人工智能（applied AI）领域持续引领区域乃至全国发展。学院於2020年率先在德州（Texas）开设人工智能应用科学副学士学位（Associate of Applied Science in AI）课程，并於2023年成為美国首所开设人工智能与机器人应用技术学士学位（Bachelor of Applied Technology in AI and Robotics）的社区学院，目前亦在规划更多学士学位课程。

总校长玛格丽特・福特・费雪博士（Margaret Ford Fisher, Ed.D.）表示，这些扩展性课程回应了现实需求。她指出：「雇主不再问人工智能是否重要，而是在问他们能多快聘用相关人才。HCC率先布局，是為了让休斯顿拥有一条本地培养的人工智能人才管道，使其能在当今產业中发挥引领作用。」

招生快速成长

休斯顿城市大学的招生数据印证了这一需求。人工智能副学士课程的学生人数已由2021年的45人增至目前的704人；学士课程则从2023年啟动时的14人增至61人。今年春季，共有765名学生攻读人工智能相关学位，副学士毕业生亦持续衔接至学士阶段，形成稳定的人才培养通道。

除学位课程外，证书课程（certificates）、双学分衔接（dual-credit pathways）及持续教育（continuing education）正将人工智能培训从高中课堂延伸至企业职场。一门12小时的「人工智能基础」（AI Essentials）课程每年服务185名在职人士；而将於2026年秋季推出的第一级短期训练证书（Level 1 certificate）亦将打通伸往副学士及学士学位的路径。

西南校区校长迈克尔・韦伯斯特博士（Michael Webster, Ph.D.）将4月研讨会称為「将学生与顶尖思想、產业资源与发展机会相连结的一个延展的课堂」。
 他表示：「这是我们整体策略的一部分，透过课程、培训与產业参与的结合，推动实质成果的產生。」

学生表现亮眼

学生的表现进一步巩固了休斯顿城市大学的声誉。团队在英特尔全球人工智能影响力节（Intel Global AI Impact Festival）创新比赛中屡获殊荣，包括於2022年凭藉一款用於高风险工业环境测绘的人工智能无人机（AI-powered drone）夺得全球总冠军。2023年，学生团队以结合电脑视觉（computer vision）与自然语言处理（natural language processing）的自动分诊设备（automated triage machine）获得全美最高奖项。2024年，一项用於儿童白血病早期检测的学生开发人工智能工具亦获得全国首奖。

毕业生正将课堂所学转化為產业领导力。2022年首届人工智能课程学生丹泽尔・威尔森（Denzel Wilson）现任英特尔（Intel）美国数位素养计画（Digital Readiness initiatives）经理，专注於人工智能人才培育与数位共融。

在校学生亦透过富有竞争力的实习累积职场经验。本科生安东尼・兰德尔（Anthony Randall）於麦格理集团（Macquarie Group）将人工智能应用於全球营运；其同学乔纳・菲利普斯（Jonah Phillips）则於休斯顿获奖企业Persona AI人工智能公司从事类人机器人（humanoid robots）研发。

休斯顿城市大学数位与资讯科技卓越中心（HCC Digital and Information Technology Center of Excellence）院长萨米尔・萨伯（Samir Saber）表示：「学生这些成就表明他们生正在新兴领域获得机会。这说明我们的课程、培训与產学合作正与產业及职场需求保持同步。」

全美领导地位

休斯顿城市大学与全球科技精英公司合作是此一模式的核心支柱。英特尔（Intel）為HCC提供课程支援与师资指导（curricular support and faculty mentorship）；亚马逊云端服务（Amazon Web Services）提供云端基础设施（cloud infrastructure）及机器学习大学（Machine Learning University）教材；微软（ Microsoft）将教学资源与认证体系（certification pathways）衔接；辉达（NVIDIA）、苹果（Apple）与谷歌（Google）亦持续為HCC提供工具与专业指导，确保课程内容与前沿產业接轨。

2024年，休斯顿城市大学与迈阿密戴德学院（Miami Dade College）及马里科帕县社区学院学区（Maricopa County Community College District）共同组成「全国应用人工智能联盟」（National Applied AI Consortium）。该联盟获美国国家科学基金会（National Science Foundation）280万美元资助，已在全美49个州、华盛顿特区、波多黎各及美属维京群岛培训350所院校的2,000名教职员，预计约50,000名学生受惠。

2025年12月，Google.org（谷歌公司公益分支）向休斯顿城市大学提供200万美元资金，以扩展区域人工智能教育。该计画已培训逾100名教师与工作人员，并将服务400名双学分高中生及2,000名大学生；后续阶段预计将涵盖3,200名高中生与4,800名大学生。

总校长玛格丽特・福特・费雪博士表示：「我们的任务是善用这些合作伙伴关係，确保休斯顿的劳动力不是在追赶未来，而是在定义未来。」

4月1日，这一未来将在休斯顿城市大学主办的人工智能创新研讨博览会上集中呈现於机器人、前沿研究、学生创新，以及一所拥有55年歷史、正重新定义休斯顿人工智能人才版图的HCC这所高等学府。

研讨会向公眾开放，报名正火热进行中，请点击：
 https://hcc.idloom.events/artificial-intelligence-symposium-2026，电邮至dit.office@hccs.edu 或致电713-718-7631。

休斯顿城市大学（HCC）总校长玛格丽特・福特・费雪博士（左）与西南区校长迈克尔・韦伯斯特博士在2025年HCC主办的全美人工智能研讨会上发言

（左起）HCC西南区传播总监郑通、HCC西南区校长迈克尔・韦伯斯特博士、美南新闻传播集团执行长李蔚华与记者朱全胜在2025年HCC主办的全美人工智能研讨会上合影。

2025年HCC主办的全美人工智能研讨会专题讨论

2025年HCC主办的全美人工智能研讨会会场一角

2025年HCC主办的全美人工智能研讨会工作坊

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.