麻州集資50萬美元為400名高中生擴大應用學習人工智慧機會

     （Boston Orange編譯）麻州政府7月22日宣佈，投資50萬美元，為400名公立高中生提供擴大應用學習人工智慧（AI）機會，參加有產業導師指導，能完成符合先進製造、醫療、清潔能源與生技等產業需求的AI專案，以縮短學用落差，為未來職涯鋪路。

        這項付費、虛擬的暑期實習計畫，經費來自麻州STEM諮議會（STEM Advisory Council）提供的25萬美元，以及教育科技組織Britebound的等額慈善捐款，將由麻州AI中心（MA AI Hub）與工作本位學習聯盟（WBLA）共同執行。學生每週參加2至3小時的線上協作，針對企業實際挑戰提出AI解決方案，企業導師則藉此低門檻模式參與人才培育。

        教育廳長史蒂夫·澤里克（Dr. Steve Zrike）強調，這計畫可幫助學生理解未來職涯實況，並學習倫理與負責任地使用AI。經濟發展廳長艾瑞克·帕利（Eric Paley）則指出，這能強化麻州創新人才庫。Britebound總裁暨執行長茱莉·拉默斯（Julie Lammers）表示，付費與虛擬設計可降低門檻，促進多元參與。

        本屆實習計畫開放供所有麻州公立高中生申請，優先錄取已參與創新職涯路徑、職技教育（CTE）、大學先修或雙重學分課程者；共有76所高中、66個學區的學生獲選。

        STEM諮議會共同主席，包括副州長Kim Driscoll、聯邦眾議員Jake Auchincloss及福泰製藥(Vertex Pharmaceuticals )董事長Jeffrey Leiden等人都支持這實習計畫，強調這不僅回應州內AI產業的人才需求，也體現跨部門協力推動教育公平與經濟競爭力的政策方向。

Healey-Driscoll Administration Celebrates $500,000 Public-Private Investment to Expand Paid AI Internships for 400 Massachusetts Students  

 

BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration today celebrated a $500,000 public-private investment to expand applied artificial intelligence (AI) learning opportunities for 400 public high school students across Massachusetts. Through paid, virtual internships this summer, students from 76 high schools across 66 school districts are collaborating with industry mentors on applied AI projects, developing deliverables aligned to real business needs across sectors such as advanced manufacturing, healthcare, clean energy, and biotechnology. 

 

This announcement was at the Quarterly Massachusetts STEM Advisory Council Meeting at Britebound in Boston. The Massachusetts STEM Advisory Council brings together leaders from education, industry, and government to advance three statewide priorities: STEM skills through applied learning, guided pathways to college and careers, and alignment with workforce needs through employer partnerships. The paid AI internship program advances all three priorities by giving students hands-on AI experience, connecting them with industry mentors, and preparing them for high-demand careers. 

 

“Career-connected learning means helping high school students understand what a future career can look like in practice—and ensuring those opportunities are accessible to every student, regardless of background or circumstance,” said Education Secretary Dr. Steve Zrike. “We’re opening doors for hundreds of young people to build the skills they need for the jobs of the future, including how to use AI ethically and responsibly, and we’re grateful to partners like Britebound for helping us expand that opportunity.” 

 

This AI internship opportunity is funded through $250,000 from the administration’s STEM Advisory Council with a philanthropic match from Britebound. The Massachusetts AI Hub (MA AI Hub), a division of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech), is administering the program in partnership with the Work-Based Learning Alliance (WBLA), a national leader in connecting high school students to real-world business challenges through structured, virtual internships.

 

"Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the world of work, and students deserve the opportunity to build the skills and confidence they'll need to succeed in that future," said Julie Lammers, President and CEO of Britebound. "We're proud to support this initiative because it combines paid, real-world experience with meaningful mentorship, helping more young people explore what's possible while expanding access to the careers of tomorrow." 

 

Employers and industry leaders serve as mentors, helping students build practical AI skills by working on real-world business challenges while strengthening the state's future workforce. Through the Work-Based Learning Alliance's fully virtual model, mentors support student teams for two to three hours per week as they develop AI-enabled solutions and deliverables aligned to real business needs. This flexible, turnkey approach makes it easy for organizations to participate while helping cultivate the next generation of AI talent and gaining fresh perspectives on business challenges.  

 

"Building the workforce of the future starts with giving students opportunities to apply new technologies like AI in real-world settings," said Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley. "By connecting students with real AI projects and industry mentors, we're strengthening the talent pipeline that will keep Massachusetts at the forefront of innovation while expanding opportunity for students across the state." 

 

"Work-based learning opportunities including paid internships provide students with tools to succeed in an ever-changing economy and helps Massachusetts employers prepare the next generation to be part of our future workforce," said Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Lauren Jones. "This initiative and others like it are essential for students as they gain new learning experiences to responsibly use AI combined with mentorship and other values gained in the workplace as we build a strong talent pipeline across Massachusetts.”  

 

"The best way to prepare young people for an AI-enabled future is to let them experience it. These paid internships give students the opportunity to apply AI to real business projects while providing employers with a practical, low-lift way to help shape the Commonwealth's future workforce," said Work-Based Learning Alliance Executive Director Prue Clifford. "Expanding access at scale requires sustained collaboration and WBLA is proud to deliver these opportunities alongside our partners. By providing the infrastructure that removes barriers for students, educators and employers, we're helping build the capacity to make high-quality, career-connected learning equitable, scalable and accessible to more young people across Massachusetts." 

 

By eliminating transportation barriers and offering paid opportunities, the program is designed to broaden participation in career-connected learning and ensure students from all regions of the state can engage in high-quality STEM experiences. Students enrolled in Innovation Career Pathways, Career Technical Education (CTE), Early College, and Dual Enrollment programs receive priority placement, though the opportunity is open to all Massachusetts public high school students.  

 

“I’m grateful for this opportunity for high school students to participate in career-connected learning and learn about in-demand industries in Massachusetts,” said Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez. “Offering these paid and virtual internships creates opportunities for more students to learn about AI-focused work in the Commonwealth.”  

 

“Introducing younger generations to AI-focused technology and exposing them to careers in the field early on, will help Massachusetts remain at the forefront of the industry,” said MassTech CEO Carolyn Kirk. “As a global leader in the development, deployment and governance of AI, the MA AI Hub is able to provide students the resources they need to learn about AI while connecting them with leaders and executives currently forging the industry.” 

 

The STEM Advisory Council was established to expand access to high-quality STEM education for students across Massachusetts and is currently co-chaired by Lieutenant Governor Driscoll, U.S. Congressman Jake Auchincloss, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Chairman, President and CEO Dr. Jeffrey Leiden.