The Asian Institute of Management (AIM), in the Philippines, had recently won the Technological Innovation of the Year during the awarding of the Times Higher Education’s (THE) inaugural THE Awards Asia held at the Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi.
According to a recent press release, the Institute was cited for the Analytics, Computing, and Complex Systems (ACCeSs@AIM) laboratory for its multifaceted approach to engagement within research.
Set up in March 2018 to complement its existing academic programs, ACCeSs@AIM seeks to bridge the gap between theory and practice for research-led teaching in higher education.
ACCeSs@AIM
The laboratory’s Executive Managing Director explained that it serves as the Institute’s concrete step in improving the economy of developing countries in the ASEAN.
Moreover, it also promotes partnerships that will directly impact businesses, society, and communities.
It aims to lead, inspire, and transform the use of data science, artificial intelligence (AI), and computational models to help industries, government agencies, and other sectors innovate.
ACCeSs@AIM boasts of a multidisciplinary team of experienced scientists working with a 500-teraflop supercomputer, which is optimised for AI technology and said to be the fastest in the Philippines.
Data scientists and industry partners
The impressive resources provided through the laboratory extend to support the teaching of 106 Master of Science in Data Science (MSDS) students.
It provides them with “real-world” scenarios and direct links with industry partners.
Finding properly trained data scientists, whether in the Philippines or elsewhere, is not an easy task.
However, the laboratory and the Master program hope to provide the region with well-trained, proactive data science leaders who will create practical solutions to the challenges faced by industries and governments.
Moreover, ACCeSs@AIM has opened the doors to more collaboration across private industry, government agencies and other third-party research organisations.
The Institute’s President and Dean emphasised that the goal is to empower business leaders and managers, government officials, and policymakers to make data-driven decisions.
In less than a year, the laboratory has already produced relevant research for select industries and has deployed decision-support platforms for stakeholders.
Building the platforms demanded implementation of advanced-level analytics and formulation of mathematical and mechanism-based models; not to mention true understanding of business needs.
ACCeSs@AIM has given students a vital ability to learn with leading-edge technology that they can take into their future employment.
Transforming Asian countries
Guided by the mission of improving the economy of developing countries within the Asia-Pacific region, the laboratory will spearhead an ecosystem that:
- Bridges public-private R&D collaboration, involving industries, governments, and the academia.
- Promotes partnerships that enable faculty, researchers, graduate students, policy makers, and executives and industry decision makers to work on projects that will directly impact the businesses, societies and communities.
- Enhances the competitiveness, sustainability, and adaptability of companies with computing and modelling as strategic resources.
Enabling industries
The laboratory aims to enable industries to become more data-driven and data-informed. These industries include:
- Banks
- Conglomerates
- Manufacturing
- Equity funds
- Government