Leading British artificial intelligence (AI) company DeepMind has renewed its support for under-represented students pursuing postgraduate studies in AI at Queen Mary University of London.
The donation from DeepMind will be used to continue and expand the University’s DeepMind Scholarship programme, which launched in 2019.
During the academic year 2020/2021, the DeepMind Scholarships will be awarded to women and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) students living in the UK who are currently under-represented in the field of AI. Five scholarships will go to students who wish to study on the University’s MSc in AI programme and three scholarships will be for students to undertake a PhD in Machine Learning or Artificial Intelligence.
Isobel Bates, Institute of Coding (IoC) Programme Manager at Queen Mary, said: "We’re delighted to receive another significant gift from DeepMind to continue our valued scholarship programme. Queen Mary, in partnership with the IoC and the Office for AI, is determined to do its part to break down the barriers that discourage women and BAME students from digital education and careers. The DeepMind Scholarship programme is playing a key role in helping us address the under-representation of women and BAME students in the field by encouraging participation in the subject at postgraduate level."
Obum Ekeke, University Relations and Educational Partnerships at DeepMind, said: "At DeepMind we want to build advanced AI to expand our knowledge and find answers to some of the fundamental scientific questions facing society. It's an ambitious goal, and to achieve it we need a strong, diverse and inclusive AI community. The DeepMind scholarship programme is one way we seek to broaden participation in science and AI. By removing some of the financial barriers that prevent people applying to postgraduate study, and providing mentoring and pastoral support we hope to help build an AI community where everyone can participate and thrive - irrespective of their backgrounds.
“I’m delighted we’re able to support another cohort of DeepMind scholars at Queen Mary, particularly at such a critical time for the education sector.”
Four female students benefited from the DeepMind Scholarships in 2019, which covered their tuition fees and provided a living allowance, making full time study possible.
Student Gloriose Hitimana, who received a 19/20 DeepMind Scholarship to support her MSc in AI at Queen Mary, said: “I was working in order to save enough money to pay for my studies. Receiving the scholarship, eased up the stress on me and helped me focus better on my studies. In addition, DeepMind provided workshops and mentors to help me prepare for my career in the AI field.
“To all prospective students who feel underrepresented in the field of AI, please apply as your perspective, experience and your way of thinking is different and needed such that AI-based applications can truly benefit the many facades of society.”
Read more about the experience of Gloriose and other DeepMind scholars.
Queen Mary’s AI MSc programme is supported by IoC and forms part of the Industrial Master’s programme for Artificial Intelligence (IMAI) led by government’s Office for AI.
A world-first industry and government collaboration, the programme aims to boost the numbers of highly qualified AI experts and help give the UK’s tech industry the talent it needs to thrive in the future.
In September 2020, Queen Mary will be launching their new MSc Data Science and AI conversion programme for motivated students who have a good first degree in a subject other than Computer Science, who wish to develop knowledge and skills in the Data Science and AI industry.
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