- Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science are among the most popular courses as demand for future skills surges in the UAE
- Dubai retains top national talent as city strengthens position as global study destination
Dubai, UAE. 7 September 2022: The University of Birmingham Dubai, one of the UAE’s only global top 100 ranked institutions, has awarded its prestigious Provost Academic Scholarship to some of the country’s brightest and highest performing students.
Four students, who have secured close to the maximum grades possible in various education systems, were awarded the scholarship, which is given to outstanding students who exhibit the highest standards of academic excellence.
The top-flight students are enrolled in the university’s Computer Science School. They are studying BSc Computer Science, BSc Artificial Intelligence & Computer Science, MSc Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, and MSc Computer Science.
Computer science, AI and machine learning skills are in high demand. It is predicted that globally, 97 million jobs involving artificial intelligence (AI) will be created between 2022 and 2025.[1] In the UAE, AI is forecast to be the country’s most important industry over the next decade.
Since launching the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031 and appointing His Excellency Omar Al Olama as Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, the UAE has invested heavily in creating jobs that require skills in AI, data, machine learning and computer science.
“The UAE is emerging as a global AI hub and as one of the world’s leading higher education institutions, we are committed to supporting this transition by preparing the next generation of tech leaders,” commented Professor David Sadler, Provost at the University of Birmingham Dubai.
“We are delighted to welcome some of the UAE’s brightest pupils onto our brand-new smart campus, which launched earlier this year. These students reflect a wider trend among the UAE education sector, which is increasingly retaining top talent from schools in the country. Moreover, Dubai is emerging as a global study destination of choice. We are witnessing greater interest from students in countries such as India, Nigeria, and China.”
According to a recent survey from Zurich International Life, 35% of parents across the GCC regard the UAE as their preferred location for their children to attend higher education.
Professor Sadler added: “Our graduates are often targeted by prestigious and established companies when looking for new employees. As well as supporting students with scholarship options, we provide the specialist knowledge and transferable skills that make them attractive to potential employers in what is an increasingly competitive job market.”
The world’s smartest global campus
The university opened its new smart campus in Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) in April, in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai.
The campus can currently support up to 2,900 students and will eventually be able to support up to 4,500 students, and features innovative teaching and research space to encourage cross-disciplinary working.
The University of Birmingham has a partnership with Siemens that combines digital sensor and analytics technologies, AI, decentralised energy generation and storage, renewable energy and concepts that help change users’ behaviour to transform the UK and UAE campuses into the world’s smartest global campus, creating a ‘Living Lab’ where research, teaching and learning all benefit from access to new data and connectivity.
The University was the first global top 100 and UK Russell Group university to establish a campus in Dubai in September 2018, and now adds to the leading education hub’s roster of global and local internationally accredited academic institutions. The University of Birmingham Dubai is accredited by the UAE Ministry of Education, recognising the quality of its educational experience.