Funding boost for new courses in artificial intelligence and data science

Teesside University has been awarded funding to launch innovative postgraduate conversion courses in artificial intelligence (AI) and data science.

£13 million has been awarded to 18 universities across England to boost the number of graduates in AI and data science technologies over the next three years.

The Teesside University project will develop graduates with the ability to address the profound professional, ethical, security and social implications of future artificial intelligence and data science technologies.

It will help to address the digital skills gaps in the Tees Valley by providing inclusive masters’ level courses in applied artificial intelligence and data science for recent graduates and professionals from academic backgrounds such as health and business.

Students will benefit from industry mentors, multidisciplinary teaching with flexible delivery and internship opportunities.

Project partners range from small and medium sized enterprises such as Clicksco and Applied Integration, to global companies including Accenture and Cisco. Graduates will leave with the skills to start new companies, or to help established organisations to capture new opportunities.

Students targeted for scholarships will include those from backgrounds often underrepresented in these industries.

The funding awarded to the 18 universities follows a competitive bidding process run by the Office for Students (OfS) to deliver the funding on behalf of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the Office for Artificial Intelligence (OAI).

Through specialist teaching and paid work placements, the conversion courses will allow graduates from both STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and non or far STEM subjects to significantly boost their digital skills – helping to address the shortage of AI and data specialists joining the UK workforce.

Of the total £13 million funding awarded, £10 million will be used for scholarships to support students from underrepresented groups. Start dates for the conversion courses are to be confirmed.

The data science and AI courses developed by these universities will teach skills relevant to a wide range of industries, including medicine, transport, social sciences, biosciences and sports business.

AI is being used in innovative ways in many fields, for example in countering online abuse, detecting early signs of disease, and driving improved support for at-risk communities such as refugees.

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