PC: Digital Dubai
Strategic Collaboration to Enhance AI Skills in Dubai’s Workforce
Digital Dubai, a government-led initiative, has announced its strategic partnership with the Rochester Institute of Technology in Dubai, aimed at bringing a new era of skills in artificial intelligence and machine learning to equip its workforce with state-of-the-art skills. The critical pact will become a springboard for innovation and wider digital literacy across various sectors within the emirate.
The partnership will offer two new programs: the Master the Art of Prompt Engineering Workshop and the Developing Custom Large Language Models Program. Tackling important, in-depth explorations of AI technologies and how they can be applied in different arenas, one is theoretical and the other experiential. It allows the participants to look into the wide range that AI offers and, at the same time, helps them become conversant with these very technologies for both institutional and community goal attainment.
Importance of Data in Driving Efficiency and Transformation
It is in this context that His Excellency Younus Al Nasser, Chief Executive of Dubai Data & Statistics Establishment – Digital Dubai, said the following about the added value of this enhanced cooperation: “Today, digital data is an enabler toward higher efficiency and effectiveness across a range of sectors. Such data would increase in importance with the advancing of analytical techniques, machine learning, deep learning, and other forms of artificial intelligence.”
He further affirmed that the academic sector, which RIT Dubai represents, is a vital player in that transformation. “This partnership strongly moves us forward to tailor-make the future, in harmony with the vision of our leadership to continue the journey of digital transformation and to solidify Dubai’s position as a role model to its sister cities.”
Bridging the Gap Between Academia and Industry
Dr. Yousef Al Assaf, President of RIT Dubai, also shared similar sentiments and underlined the role of AI and data in promoting innovation. “In this modern time, it can’t be refuted how powerful artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data are. It is always organisations analysing the data that become the Game Changers when it comes to insight and strategic decisions.”
Dr. Al Assaf also drew attention to the role of RIT Dubai regarding supporting government entities in making better use of their data: “Our collaboration with Digital Dubai sets an example of the partnership which should happen between the industrial and academic sectors, where both collaborate to advance the skillset of the employees in machine learning and artificial intelligence for the betterment of their organisations and societies.”
Future Skills in Data and AI
Sara Al Zarooni, Director of Data & Statistics Planning & Governance at Dubai Data & Statistics Establishment, said to Gulf Today: “Future skills in data and artificial intelligence are some of the biggest focus areas for the Authority. This initiative is part of our larger strategy at embedding AI expertise into the city’s workforce, supporting Dubai’s ambition of becoming a global hub for digital and data-driven excellence.”
In these advanced AI courses, Digital Dubai doesn’t invest in the people themselves but in the emirate’s digital landscape. The courses are believed to boost local competencies and must equip the participants with the particular methods to deal with challenges and opportunities that come with the impact of artificial intelligence.
Dubai’s Strategic Vision
This reinforces Dubai’s strategic orientations toward more innovation and toward digital transformation, while also increasing the leadership of this important city in the area of data and artificial intelligence. The collaboration between the academic competences and industrial capabilities will help the partnership to play a big role in positioning Dubai as a reference of the city of the future.
That between Digital Dubai and RIT Dubai is considered the most important milestone on the journey toward a more digitally empowered and innovative society, hence opening gates for new advancement in AI and machine learning across the emirate.
