With the amount of data being generated around the planet, AI having become not only a useful tool but a necessary one, valued at every level of business, AI skills have become high demand across all industries and is predicted via a survey conducted by Linkedin on job trends, that AI job opportunities have a 70% annual growth, making AI and Data Science related graduates the highest in demand. Additionally, as forecasted in a recent McKinsey report, Al is expected to generate $13 trillion in economic activity by 2030.

With AI courses in Australia known for being one of the most respected amongst employers across the globe, due to their rigorous, challenging and comprehensive curriculum with emphasise on hand-on training, The Sri Lanka Technological Campus (SLTC), one of the leading higher education providers in Sri Lanka, through its Centre for Global Education (CGE) recently tied up with Deakin University Australia to launch an exclusive Artificial Intelligence degree for Sri Lankan students. Deakin is currently ranked amongst the top 1% of universities in the world.

Deakin is also one of Australia’s fastest-growing research universities, and 89% of Deakin’s research is rated at or above world-class, making it a top-notch university of choice to study for career progressive degrees. Through this partnership, students in Sri Lanka have the opportunity to be registered with Deakin University itself and continue their studies through the Deakin Cloud Campus for the first year while being located in Sri Lanka for the first three degree programs for the Bachelor of Software Engineering. After the completion of the first year, students can transfer to Deakin University to continue the rest of their studies on campus for a period of two years.

They will be entitled to have local academic support through the CGE and will get a chance to be a part of a real university community at SLTC. The curriculum for the AI degree will be taught by both Deakin and SLTC faculties, making it an international learning experience. It includes artificial intelligence theory, methodologies and applications infused throughout the program, where students will learn about applications that are reliant on artificial intelligence technologies, such as robotics, autonomous systems, intelligent control and smart systems and devices. Furthermore, the degree will focus on theory and algorithms for learning, data analysis, optimization and decision making and also study the legal and ethical context for AI in real-world applications.

Working alongside inspiring researchers and industry professionals, students will get hands-on practice in a variety of contemporary artificial intelligence techniques, from knowledge representation to deep learning, developing in-demand skills and leadership qualities for exciting careers in AI. As well as learning the technical skills required for this rapidly growing industry, students will also have the chance to explore realistic applications through group and individual projects offered through the connection that the Centre for Global Education (CGE) has with major technology companies, that in turn will provide the perfect opportunities to obtain hands on practical experience of industry-initiated projects.

Students will thereby learn tools and techniques to develop and use artificial intelligence systems to make a significant contribution to communities, the success of organisations and the global economy. The degree thereby will make ideal training for students seeking to develop the knowledge and skills to become a specialist in this growing and highly competitive field, opening up careers within the wide range of industries that recognise the transformative potential of AI. Overall, obtaining this degree in AI will create tremendous value for its graduates, with career opportunities opening up from software engineering to data mining and analysis, research, data analytics, and more.

The next intake for the program will commence on the 1st March 2022. Further information can be obtained by logging on to www.cge.lk