Panel Discussion: Role of Academia to Cultivate Pakistan AI Talent

Total Communications organized 4th Artificial Intelligence Summit 2023 on 16th March 2023. Following is the summary of discussions from the 4th Panel (Role of Academia to Cultivate Pakistan AI Talent). The panelist included Dr. Khurram Khurshid , Dr. Seemab Latif , Dr. Fayaz Ali Dharejo , Dr. Sohail K. and Mr. Philip Birch .

Following were the findings regarding the role of academia in cultivating Pakistan AI talent:

1. The curriculum of computing programs (software engineering, computer science, artificial intelligence, data science and related) at both undergraduate and graduate levels needs to be immediately updated to reflect the current technologies and focused on the skills required by the rapidly evolving and dynamic industry. National Computing Education Accreditation Council - NCEAC , Higher Education Commission Pakistan

2. Universities and academic organizations need to involve industry in a way that make it useful for both sides to participate. Most of MoUs are stagnant and the industrial participation in most universities is dormant, that needs to be fixed.

3. Universities needs to jointly develop awareness campaigns in AI similar to PIAIC and promote data science and artificial intelligence by organizing seminars, workshops, datathons and programming competitions.

4. The academia needs to promote algorithms, data science and AI in basic education by introducing STEM programs in the elementary, secondary and higher secondary education. Thesis initiatives could be started at the regional level of each each university and Higher Education Commission Pakistan can develop a framework to facilitate the process.

5. The academia must start programs for the skill development of marginalized communities and for women empowerment in the field of computing.

6. Academia must actively engage with international initiatives and universities to bring more exposure to the students. Academia should also support the participation of students in international events.

7. Academia should support industry by providing a sandbox environment where the active development and insights can be rapidly obtained.

8. The academia can play an active role in transformation and training of existing workforce in the areas of Computing.