Victoria University of Wellington (Te Herenga Waka) has launched the Centre for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. It will bring together faculties from various disciplines within the University who specialise in data science, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML).
The Centre will specialise in several technology themes, including modeling and statistical learning, evolutionary and multi-objective learning, deep learning and transfer learning, image, text, signal, and language processing, scheduling and combinational optimisation, and interpretable AI/ML.
The Director of Te Whiri Kawe, Mengjie Zhang, noted that the Centre aims to establish sustainable research excellence and drive innovation in data science and AI. It will conduct advanced fundamental research, develop innovative methods and techniques for key applications, and lead knowledge advancements that have substantial impacts on the economy, environment, health, and society.
“We would like to see the Centre become the international hub of data science and AI research, and a national hub for research collaboration, industry engagement, and commercialisation with Crown Research Institutes, companies, universities, and government agencies,” Director of Te Whiri Kawe, Mengjie Zhang said.
In addition to conducting traditional research, the Centre will implement various initiatives to support Maori students in their educational journey, including establishing a pipeline of scholarships and internships. Also, it will offer training programmes for early career researchers. At present, the Centre has more than 30 core academics, 8 postdoctoral researchers, and over 50 postgraduate researchers in data science and AI.
At the Centre launch event, the university held a full-day workshop focused on the cutting-edge research areas, capability, and infrastructures of the Centre. It also explored the major applications of data science and AI in primary industry, climate change, health outcomes and high-value manufacturing, and social impacts. A panel discussion was also held on the future of data science and AI.
There were over 200 attendees from New Zealand universities, Crown Research Institutes, Regional Research Institutes, private companies, and government agencies including the Science for Technological Innovation, the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment, the Ministry for Primary Industries, and the Ministry of Social Development.
Victoria University is at the forefront of AI research and innovation, showcasing its commitment to advancing the field. Last year, it announced the country’s first undergraduate major in AI. It offers students a deep understanding of AI concepts, techniques, and tools, empowering them to address real-world challenges. They learn how to apply that knowledge to solve problems, combined with programming skills that will enable them to build software tools incorporating AI technology that will help shape the future.
Students studying AI at the University are taught by academics from its internationally renowned AI/ML research group, which is one of the largest in the southern hemisphere. The major is designed to open doors for graduates to opportunities nationally and around the world. There has been an increase in the adoption of AI technologies globally, and a growing demand for people who can apply AI techniques to address a wide range of problems, which the University aims to address.
After completing their degree, graduates will have a variety of career options, such as AI scientist, business consultant, AI architect, data analyst, machine learning engineer, and robotic scientist among others. They will also have the option to further their study through the University’s Master of AI programme.