A team of Texas A&M University researchers wants to know how universities can better prepare graduates for an AI-driven economy through curriculum design and micro-credentials.
Funded by the
Microsoft – AI Economy Institute
,
the project brings together faculty from our
College,
the
Texas A&M Energy Institute
and the
College of Engineering
to examine the growing disconnect between traditional academic programs and evolving workforce demands.
The research, which is expected to conclude by the end of December 2025, aims to identify the skills most essential for future employment and explore how higher education can adapt.
Dr. Khalil Dirani
,
professor and head of our
Department of Educational Administration and Human Resource Development
,
said the research focuses on preparing students for an AI-driven workforce.
“We are looking at AI and the required skills for the future of work and how micro-credentials help fill the gap,” he said.
“The team is multidisciplinary with faculty with science, engineering, policy and human resource development expertise working together organically.”
The research applies natural language processing techniques to analyze more than 1.3 million global job postings from 2024, identifying which skills are most in demand across various sectors.
Dr. Bassel Daher, assistant director for sustainable development at the Texas A&M Energy Institute and lead principal investigator on the project, explained the motivation behind the work.
“The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence is transforming workforce demands, revealing a growing gap between traditional academic curricula and the skills required for emerging roles,” he said.
“As AI continues to reshape the job market, universities are rethinking their educational offerings to stay aligned with evolving needs.”
The project examines how AI literacy extends beyond technical skills to include ethical awareness and data interpretation.
Researchers are also reviewing micro-credential programs worldwide to assess how well they align with labor market demands, particularly in energy and sustainability.
The team hopes their findings will inform how Texas A&M and other universities approach these programs in the future.
“We are not implementing micro-credential courses for now, but hope our research will guide us in that direction,” Dirani said.