Nearly half of Connecticut's workforce is employed by middle market and small businesses that lack the capacity to develop their own training programs. Meanwhile, learners, especially those from low-income backgrounds or who are underemployed, struggle to access affordable, industry-aligned training that leads directly to stable job opportunities. As AI reshapes work, the gap between employers' talent needs and learner preparation continues to widen.

Charter Oak State College and the Business-Higher Education Forum (BHEF) are partnering to deliver a skills-first, employer-driven education model powered by the Open edX platform, designed to support Charter Oak students, job seekers, educators, and employees of small and mid-sized businesses. This partnership launches with an AI-focused curriculum built on employer-validated competency frameworks and refined with input from more than 100 Connecticut business and higher education leaders, including The Hartford, Travelers, Accenture, and AWS. The approach also emphasizes durable skills, such as communication, problem-solving, adaptability, and digital literacy, that remain relevant across industries while connecting learners, employers, and state-level job boards in a unified ecosystem.

Over three years, students will gain recognized, stackable credentials with direct ties to employment through flexible training. Starting with AI foundations, the model will expand into business, health tech, and cybersecurity, first across Connecticut and then into additional states. The goal is to reach at least 10,000 learners within five years, creating a replicable statewide strategy sustained through state funding, institutional partnerships, and employer co-investments. This partnership positions Connecticut as a national leader in bridging higher education and workforce systems, creating a model that surrounding systems and states can adapt.