Future of Work Research
Expanding Opportunity at Scale
At Carnegie Mellon, we use data, experimentation and theory to understand how people learn — and what will prepare them for the work of the future. Then we apply that knowledge to expand opportunity at scale.
Learning Science
To teach people the skills that will prepare them for the work of the future, we first need to know how people learn. This is the mission of learning science, a field that Carnegie Mellon pioneered. Today, researchers at CMU continue to move learning science forward with a range of initiatives.
The Open Learning Initiative, for example, applies learning science and continuous feedback to open, research-backed courses used by hundreds of institutions worldwide. The Simon Initiative develops accessible tools and methods that extend CMU’s expertise in learning science throughout the university and beyond it — to any person or institution that wants to improve outcomes for their own learners.
And CMU’s Master of Science in Learning Engineering (METALS) program trains graduate students to create effective, research-backed instruction and educational technologies.
Removing Barriers to the Workforce
Learnvia, a nonprofit collaborative cofounded by CMU, develops free, evidence-based, AI-enabled courseware that prepares learners for the modern workforce. It’s currently focused on introductory math courses, which are required for many high-demand jobs but often derail academic progress and degree completion.
Military Preparedness
For more than a century, researchers at Carnegie Mellon have partnered with the U.S. military to help meet the demands of a changing world. Today, several joint initiatives are building the knowledge, tools and talent required to maintain a decisive edge.
The TEEL Lab, for example, runs an intensive, eight-month, online AI technician training program. Through a six-year partnership with the Army's Artificial Intelligence Integration Center (AI2C), the program has trained over a hundred military personnel who transitioned into productive roles.
Another initiative, the U.S. Army Data Driven Leadership Certificate Program, equips officers and civilian personnel with the knowledge, tools and frameworks to lead confidently in a data-centric environment. It was designed by CMU researchers in collaboration with Army leadership. Participants learn how to translate information into impact.
Preparing Navy Sailors for the Future of AI
The U.S. Navy is increasing its use of autonomous vehicles. To address the growing need for personnel capable of operating them, the Office of Naval Research and CMU researchers created a seven-week course designed to help Navy sailors prepare for AI-enabled systems.
Workforce Development in High-Demand Fields
Research at Carnegie Mellon has led to the development of several programs and initiatives that train workers in high-demand fields.
The Robotics Academy’s Smart Manufacturing and Advanced Robotics Training (SMART) programs build talent pipelines and allow graduates to enter community colleges with credits waived, saving thousands in tuition dollars and reducing the cost of attendance.
The Sail() online learning platform, developed by the TEEL Lab, offers research-backed courses for students and workers in cloud computing, data science and artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML). Prioritizing experiential learning, the courses are designed to give learners both technical proficiency and problem-solving skills.
And the CS Academy provides a world-class, online and entirely free high school computer science curriculum — a necessary foundation for many of today’s highest-demand fields.
Advancing Understanding of Cybersecurity for AI
CMU’s CyLab Security Academy is helping learners build a foundation in cybersecurity for AI. Its AI Foundations Learning Path program teaches core AI concepts while introducing the security, privacy and ethical challenges that accompany today's AI technologies.
Opportunity By the Numbers
$ 55 million
Investment by the Gates Foundation
The foundation’s largest grant to a single higher education entity helped establish Learnvia — a nonprofit collaborative that develops free, AI-enabled courseware to prepare students for the modern workforce.
Over 1 million
Students learning cybersecurity
CMU’s CyLab programs teach middle and high school students real-world cybersecurity skills and build a pipeline of talent to the cybersecurity workforce of tomorrow.
6 x
Improvement in learning outcomes
Compared with traditional instruction in a recent study, online courses developed by CMU’s Open Learning Initiative achieved far superior results in half the time.
Future of Work Departments, Institutes & Centers
Departments, institutes and centers connect interdisciplinary expertise to advance workforce development and learning science research across robotics, cybersecurity, human-centered technology and more.
CyLab Security and Privacy Institute
CyLab catalyzes, supports, promotes and strengthens security and privacy research and education to achieve significant impact on research, education, public policy and industry.
Human-Computer Interaction Institute (HCII)
HCII faculty, students and staff contribute innovative research to a variety of disciplines, including human-computer interaction, human factors in computing systems, educational technologies and more.
Leonard Gelfand Center for Service Learning and Outreach
The Gelfand Center runs on-campus and community-based activities that improve educational opportunities, especially in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics education for youth.
Robotics Institute
The Robotics Institute applies robotics, computer vision and artificial intelligence to assistive technology, rehabilitation, health monitoring and human-machine interaction.
Technology for Effective and Efficient Learning (TEEL) Lab
The TEEL Lab develops intelligent tutoring systems, collaborative platforms and data-driven methods that enhance education and workforce training in cloud computing, data science, AI and more.
Collaboration Multiplies Impact on the Future of Work
CMU works with federal agencies, research institutions and companies to take on challenges that no single organization can solve alone.
One example of this collaborative ethos is Learnvia, a nonprofit learning collaborative dedicated to transforming student success in higher education. Learnvia was co-founded by Carnegie Mellon with a $55 million investment from the Gates Foundation.
Other partners in workforce development and learning science research include the U.S Army, the U.S. Navy and many more.