Maryland partners with Google to offer free AI career certificates to students

The University System of Maryland has partnered with Google to provide free access to Google Career Certificates for students across the state system, including new AI training programs. The initiative aims to boost career readiness and give students a competitive edge in the job market, while positioning Maryland as a leader in emerging technologies under Governor Wes Moore’s tech-forward economic vision.

What students get: University System of Maryland students will receive free access to Google Career Certificates that typically cost $49 per month after a trial period.

• The certificates cover cybersecurity, data analytics, digital marketing and e-commerce, IT support, project management, and UX design.
• Students will also access Google AI Essentials and Prompting Essentials specialization courses.
• Programs typically take three to six months when studying part-time.
• Completed students gain access to Google’s “employer consortium,” a network of employers committed to considering certified candidates.

The AI integration challenge: Universities embracing AI face a delicate balancing act between career opportunities and academic integrity risks.

• “We’ve got to figure out: Is this a trade that we’re willing to make?” said Bryan Alexander, a futurist who teaches about AI’s impact on higher education.
• Individual faculty are largely left to make their own decisions about handling AI in classes.
• The school system’s academic integrity policy doesn’t specifically reference AI tools, with each institution developing their own specific procedures.

Broader context: Maryland joins a growing but still limited number of institutions strategically embracing AI in education.

• California State University brought AI training to over 500,000 students, faculty, and staff in February.
• “Most of American higher education has not made a strategic commitment to, engagement with or even policies about AI,” Alexander noted.
• University of Maryland campuses already offer free Google Gemini access to students and faculty.

What they’re saying: Leadership emphasizes the strategic importance of the partnership for Maryland’s economic competitiveness.

• “We’re excited to partner with Google, one of the most trusted leaders in industry certificates. This collaboration will boost the career readiness of our learners across the System and give them an undeniable competitive edge,” said USM Chancellor Jay A. Perman.
• Governor Wes Moore’s spokesperson called it “exactly the kind of public-private partnership that reflects the Governor’s broader commitment to economic competitiveness, workforce development, and making Maryland a national leader in emerging technologies.”

Looking ahead: The future of AI in higher education remains uncertain, with three possible scenarios emerging.

• Total integration where AI becomes as commonplace as Google Docs or Microsoft Office.
• Students potentially preferring AI over traditional higher education due to lower costs.
• Higher education gaining credibility as a more trustworthy source than error-prone generative AI systems.