All students and staff at BU now have the chance to increase their understanding of AI and increase their career prospects, thanks to the University’s partnership with IBM.
Industry-driven training on AI provided by IBM will help equip students with the digital skills they can use in their studies and work placements, and prepare them for jobs in a wide range of industries where AI is playing an increasingly important role.
“AI is increasingly embedded into jobs to improve productivity and I expect it to become a critical skill for a much wider range of careers very soon,” said Dr Vegard Engen, Associate Professor in Digital Health and AI at Bournemouth University. “However, the technology is often misunderstood which impacts on people's ability to use it effectively and their awareness of its limitations. This training from IBM helps address these gaps,” he added.
“AI tools are already being used in industry to increase innovation and insight, and we’re committed to ensuring our students are ahead of the curve in knowing how to work with them effectively,” said Dr Ben Gorman, Deputy Head of the Department of Computing and Informatics at BU.
The online course is free to everyone in BU in recognition of how better AI literacy can improve everyone’s employment prospects and career development, regardless of their area of study or expertise. It consists of three modules:
- Introduction to AI
- Large Language Model (LLM) Basics
- Mastering the Art of Prompting
At the end of the course, students will receive a digital accreditation to enhance their CV, and access to further specialised training offered by IBM. Further, this partnership actively engages the students at BU to provide feedback and suggestions for IBM to continue to evolve their AI offering.
John McNamara from IBM said, “By providing leading-edge AI learning experiences, this partnership blends academic best practices with real-world industry insights, offering students a comprehensive view of AI.
“Together, IBM and Bournemouth University are paving the way for a future where technology and creativity converge to solve the world's most pressing challenges.”
This is the latest innovation in BU’s longstanding partnership with IBM which has seen the technology company deliver workshops and guest lectures on campus, and given students the chance to work with its staff on mentored projects.
“IBM is one of the most established and influential technology companies in the world, with a long legacy in shaping computing and artificial intelligence,” Dr Gorman said. “For our students, earning a certification from IBM not only builds technical and ethical awareness, but it’s a clear signal to employers that they’re prepared to work with the technologies shaping the future,” he added.
In addition to making students industry-ready, the training will help them with their studies by teaching them how they can use it ethically in their assignments and research.
“In the department of Computing and Informatics, we see the integration of AI tools in teaching not as a threat to academic integrity, but as an opportunity to evolve how students learn and demonstrate knowledge,” Dr Gorman said. “This training from IBM will help students develop both their ability to use AI and their judgment to use it well,” he concluded.
