Twelve months ago, the acronym AI was a popular but still relatively esoteric topic. Today, the technologies, techniques, hopes, and concerns surrounding artificial intelligence have made it the most consequential subject since the advent of the Internet. Announcements about higher education’s involvement in AI integration are in constant rotation. Here are three from just this week:
edX, a leading global online learning platform from 2U, Inc. announced the launch of its groundbreaking new Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence MicroBootCamp program in partnership with 12 leading universities. The intensive online program is designed to rapidly equip technology professionals with the core skills needed to excel in the dynamic fields of machine learning and AI.
The Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence MicroBootCamp program will initially be offered by 12 university partners including Columbia University’s Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, Southern Methodist University, The Ohio State University College of Engineering, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, University of Denver, University of Kansas Jayhawk Global, University of Central Florida, University of New Hampshire Professional Development & Training, University of Richmond, and others. Enrollment is open at edX.org, with the first cohorts starting in July 2023. Prior coding experience in Python is highly recommended.
Through the 10-week, project-based program, learners will be immersed in cutting-edge AI topics and skills, including supervised and unsupervised machine learning, neural networks, natural language processing (NLP), and emerging AI developments. The program’s interactive lessons have been meticulously designed to provide real-world context to the concepts and skills taught. “AI and machine learning aren’t just buzzwords; they’re the rocket fuel propelling us into the future,” said Anant Agarwal, Founder of edX, Chief Platform Officer at 2U, and former director of CSAIL, MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. “At edX, we’re teaming up with premier university and industry partners, crafting top-tier, flexible programs that fast-track career readiness. Together, we’re turning learners into leaders in the AI landscape.”
In the last six months, there has been a surge in learners interested in AI-related higher education programs, evidenced by an 80% increase in searches for ‘artificial intelligence’ on edX.org. To help meet this demand, the Machine Learning and AI MicroBootCamp was developed to help professionals build skills that can be immediately translated and applied to current job roles or be used as a foundation to pursue additional education and support future career outcomes. For more information and to enroll in courses, visit edx.org/learn/artificial-intelligence.
International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad (IIITH) and Goldman Sachs announced the partnership to establish a Center of Excellence for artificial intelligence and emerging technologies at IIITH campus. The multi-year collaboration is focused on research and development efforts with an objective to drive innovation and unlock new opportunities across a wide range of business use cases in financial services, while leveraging the extensive ecosystem of research in India academia.
Speaking on this partnership, C.V. Jawahar, Dean – Research and Development, IIIT Hyderabad said, “As a research university, we are happy to see this kind of interest in our deep-tech research. The collaboration with Goldman Sachs will see the applications of AI and emerging technologies in finance space.”
The International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad (IIIT-H) is an autonomous research university founded in 1998 that focuses on the core areas of Information Technology, such as Computer Science, Electronics and Communications, and their applications in other domains through inter-disciplinary research that has a greater social impact. Some of its research domains include Visual Information Technologies, Human Language Technologies, Data Engineering, VLSI and Embedded Systems, Computer Architecture, Wireless Communications, Algorithms and Information Security, Robotics, Building Science, Earthquake Engineering, Cognitive Science, Computational Natural Sciences and Bioinformatics, Education Technologies, Power Systems, IT in Agriculture and e-Governance.
Cynalytica Inc., a leading provider of industrial cybersecurity solutions announced a strategic partnership with the Centre for Secure Information Technologies (CSIT) at Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland and its Cyber-AI Hub, an initiative of CSIT supported by UK government funding. As part of the partnership, Cynalytica will collaborate with CSIT and its Cyber-AI Hub on projects to develop and apply AI and machine learning techniques to enhance the cyber-physical security of industrial control systems (ICS) for national critical infrastructure.
The Cyber-AI Hub is a unique research facility that brings together industry, academia, and government to collaborate on cybersecurity research and development in Northern Ireland.
ICS/SCADA and OT systems control the essential operational processes for critical services such as power grids, water treatment plants, and manufacturing facilities. They are increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks, which can have potentially devastating consequences.
Dr Kieran McLaughlin, CSIT, Queen’s University Belfast commented, “With Industrial Control Systems globally becoming more and more digitally connected, their security is vital for our society. Over the past few years, Cynalytica has provided valuable industrial context to our research in this area. We are excited to explore a collaborative project with Cynalytica through CSIT’s Cyber-AI Hub, which will bring new AI-enabled techniques to the cyber security industry.”
Cynalytica joins the Cyber-AI Hub’s impressive roster of eight industry partners, which includes leading companies in cybersecurity and AI, developing products that service a global export market and represent a diversity of products in the cybersecurity market.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with CSIT and its Cyber-AI Hub to advance the state-of-the-art in ICS cybersecurity”, said Richard Robinson, CEO at Cynalytica. “AI is rapidly transforming every industry and being able to better understand what applications and impacts AI will have for machine-to-machine communications is necessary. The combination of CSIT’s expertise in cybersecurity and cutting-edge research capabilities make them the ideal partners for us to help answer these questions and help develop innovative solutions to protect critical infrastructure.”
