As recently
announced, Dubai’s Higher Colleges of
Technology (HCT), represented by its Centre of Excellence
for Applied Research and Training (CERT), signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) to cooperate in the nation’s capacity building
and student training in AI technologies.
The CERT is the commercial, research and training arm of the
HCT, which is the largest higher education institution in the UAE. In 1996, CERT
established the first Technology
Park in the UAE, realising the importance of collaborations and synergies
in the fields of education, technology, research and business incubation.
Signing in the presence of Minister of State for Artificial
Intelligence Mr Omar Sultan Al Olama, the agreement includes providing
specialised training to obtain Oracle professional certification in AI
technologies, as well as introducing a specialised programme in AI. The
agreement also includes cooperation with CERT to provide training courses to
interested organisations and members of society, and introducing a specialised
AI programme in collaboration with HCT.
The Minister of State for AI commended the initiatives of
academic institutions in the UAE to develop their educational curricula. He
praised HCT’s initiative to launch this specialised programme in AI science and
technologies.
Minister Al Olama highlighted that capacity building is
vital in adopting AI technologies. He emphasised that preparing qualified young
Emiratis who are capable of using AI technologies and tools to develop
solutions for current and future challenges, is key to the government's efforts
to achieve the UAE Strategy for AI.
“Academic institutions in the UAE play a key role in
developing educational and training programmes and introducing disciplines that
prepare the next generation of leaders who are capable of developing key sector,”
he said.
Vice Chancellor of HCT Dr Abdullatif Al Shamsi echoed that it is important to empower students
with tools and skills of the future. Over the past years,
HCT have worked closely with Oracle in technology education. This MoU enhances
partnership between the two sides to benefit the students and empower them with
skills of the future.
“Today, we face the challenges associated with the rapid
advances, especially in AI technologies. We see this in the Internet of Things
(IoT), drones, Big Data, and other technologies that shape the future of the
industry and global economic growth. This makes it necessary to empower the
youth with these technologies to help them contribute to the UAE development
through ideas and innovations related to technological developments,” Dr Al
Shamsi said.
Dr Al Shamsi added that this cooperation allows students to
visit the Innovation Hub to learn from experts about AI concepts and
applications and how to employ them to promote happiness in society.
Specialised training will be provided to around 500 students who will be
divided into weekly training groups. They will experience first-hand an
interesting and realistic experience of various AI applications, and will
receive certificates of completion after finishing the training course.
HCT will also discuss with its partner the possibility of
introducing an applied academic programme in AI for students to train and get a
professional specialised certificate in AI. This will enhance their skills and
career prospects after graduation, as well as support one of HCT’s strategic
objectives to help students obtain international professional certification.
Dr Al Shamsi also emphasised the importance of AI which will
even impact the educational process in the future.
“Big Data will help determine the interests of
each student. Using AI, we can prepare a tailored curriculum for each
individual student, which will support innovation since people are usually more
creative in the areas they are interested in,” he said.