A team of Texas A&M 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 Dec. 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 and interdisciplinary curriculum design can help fill the gap,” he said. “We are an interdisciplinary team including faculty with extensive research, teaching, and program design and teaching experience from science, engineering, policy, and human resource development and 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

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 transform the job market, universities need to respond to the evolving industry needs, identify emerging areas of growth, and continually adapt their programs to ensure graduates remain competitive. This requires balancing the dual role of providing strong foundational education while innovating through flexible, micro-credential pathways.”

The project looks at how AI literacy includes ethical awareness and data interpretation, beyond just technical skills. Researchers are also reviewing micro-credential programs worldwide to assess how they match 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-credentials courses for now, but hope our research will guide us in that direction,” Dirani said.

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