The project, called CyberJaxAI-PATH, brings together Jacksonville University, the University of North Florida, Florida State College at Jacksonville and Duval County Public Schools. The partners aim to build AI literacy and cybersecurity instruction into K-12 classrooms and help students see routes to college study and careers in the fields.

Jacksonville University will design and deliver a four-week professional development program, help teachers and partners develop curriculum and assessments, and arrange faculty classroom visits and experiential learning. Training will combine self-paced online coursework with intensive in-person instruction. Optional elements will help participants prepare for Florida’s K-12 computer science teacher certification exam.

The university plans to use its Center for Cybersecurity and Cyber Range for training and outreach. The initiative builds on Jacksonville University’s existing AI engineering coursework and computer science concentration in AI.

“Jacksonville’s employers have expressed the need for a strong cybersecurity and AI workforce and that pipeline begins long before a student arrives on a college campus,” interim university president Lisa Sutherland said. She said the partnership can help teachers introduce those skills earlier and connect them to college and career opportunities.

The coalition is led by Swapnoneel Roy, a University of North Florida computing professor and director of its Center for Cybersecurity, who is the project’s overall principal investigator. Jacksonville University’s lead investigator is Mini Zeng, director of its School of Engineering and Technology. JU faculty members Saeed Al-Haj and Reza Sarraf will help with curriculum development and teacher instruction as co-principal investigators.

Zeng said preparing students for emerging careers requires updating what is taught in classrooms. The project’s stated goal is to expand AI and cybersecurity learning across Northeast Florida while strengthening the regional workforce pipeline.