Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Florida International University (FIU) received a $518,036 Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation's Division of Computing and Communication Foundations under the Computer and Information Science and Engineering program (CFDA 47.070), effective June 1, 2026 through May 31, 2030. This collaborative research initiative, titled "Training and Learning for Emerging New Technologies with AI (TALENT-AI)," delivers evidence-based educational resources and workforce development programs designed to align undergraduate computing curricula with industry demands for artificial intelligence (AI) competencies. The primary deliverables include empirical research findings from interviews with hiring managers and current software engineers to identify essential AI-related knowledge, skills, and competencies; a career readiness training program for undergraduate computing students; internship opportunities paired with industry mentorship; refined training resources informed by intern and mentor feedback; and dissemination materials for national implementation across academic institutions.

The project is structured to produce tangible outputs across multiple phases: initial labor market research establishing competency requirements for software engineering roles; pilot implementation of training programs at two institutions with integrated internship placements; iterative refinement of curricula and training approaches based on practitioner feedback; and scaled rollout of validated resources to computing faculty and undergraduate students nationwide. Through strategic partnerships between academia and industry, the award generates actionable recommendations and replicable training methodologies that enhance student workforce competitiveness while addressing the rapid evolution of AI-based software development tools and their impact on job market skill expectations.