World’s most in-demand qualifications in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at Informatics Institute of Technology

The premier IT and business campus, Informatics Institute of Technology (IIT) is a pioneer in British higher education in Sri Lanka. Informatics Institute of Technology (IIT), which has continued to set the standard for ICT education in Sri Lanka, is recognized as a leader in artificial intelligence and data science. These are among the most in-demand qualifications in the world, offering abundant career paths both in Sri Lanka and abroad as well as plenty of work prospects with top corporations and here’s how Dr. Ruvan Weerasinghe, Dean (Academic), shared thoughts on Informatics Institute of Technology as we seek in.

Q As a pioneering institute in Sri Lanka offering programmes in AI & Data Science for both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, could you elaborate on Informatics Institute of Technology’s commitment to advancing AI and Data Science education?

 Looking back to 2015, IIT was quick to identify an absence in the university education system regarding the newly emerging fields of data science and machine learning. We searched for new university partners that could verify a Master’s degree program created by local experts in this area of study. As a result of this early discovery, IIT had to collaborate with the state university academics and industry practitioner communities to create a curriculum that would be similar to Robert Gordon University’s Data Science program in the United Kingdom, in order to launch a ground-breaking initiative.  IIT was able to offer this program as a Master of Science in Big Data Analytics (BDA) starting in September 2016 in an effort to pique the interest of interested postgraduate students already working in Sri Lanka’s highly competitive software industry. The program was so popular that applications were received from people who had never coded! This led us to the conclusion that non-programmer communities have a significant demand for analytics expertise. It caused us to revert to the “drawing board” and co-design a new program, the Master of Science in Business Analytics (BA), starting in September of the following year with Robert Gordon University, our new academic partner.

Q What is the long-term vision of the university regarding the integration and development of AI and Data Science within IIT academic and research programs?

 A new initiative to offer an undergraduate degree in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science (AI and DS) that started in 2018 and materialized with the first intake in September 2020 is indicative of the field’s long-term commitment. This group is graduating this month after completing the entire curriculum. These graduates are prepared to take the Sri Lankan IT sector to new heights since they have a thorough understanding of the theories, principles, and applications of DS and AI projects in the field. AI and DS are also among the academics’ main areas of focus for research. Furthermore, a significant portion of the cohorts of students from the Computer Science and Software Engineering programs conduct machine learning and data science research projects for their final year projects. Many members of the IIT academic staff are overseeing these undergraduates.

QGiven the rapid advancements in AI and Data Science, what are some of the key opportunities IIT foresee for the graduates in these fields?

Since Sri Lanka is lagging in this regard, some of the recent graduates might find employment in the software sector. However, IIT would be ready with their second and third batches as our local industry sets up and ramps up their AI projects, becoming a proactive partner in the Sri Lankan industry development. Artificial Intelligence will permeate every facet of our life and IT systems in the coming years! Therefore, all IIT graduates with a degree in computers or business would be incorporating AI into their curricula, not only those in AI and DS. 

QHow does IIT prepare and groom aspiring students to excel in AI, Data Science, and related disciplines? Could you share some specific initiatives or programs that support this goal?

Considering how far behind Sri Lanka is in this area, some fresh graduates may be able to find work in the software industry as a whole. But when our local business gets established and ramps up its AI initiatives, IIT will be prepared with their second and third batches, becoming a proactive partner in the development of Sri Lankan industry. In the upcoming years, artificial intelligence will be present in every aspect of our lives and IT systems! Consequently, AI would be included in the curricula of all IIT graduates who have a degree in business or computer science, not just AI and DS. 

Q With programs in undergraduate and postgraduate levels, how does IIT bridge the gap between academia and industry to ensure students are industry-ready?

Since many industry professionals visit IIT programs as visiting lecturers for both undergraduate and postgraduate courses, the industry-academia relationship at IIT has always been robust. Specifically, the state-of-the-art postgraduate courses in Business Analytics and Big Data Analytics have a faculty composed of industry professionals and academics. Additionally, as part of a fresh, creative approach, IIT is working to place academic staff in the business sector. It is anticipated that this experience will improve undergraduate and graduate instruction in IIT programs.

Q What are the future plans for AI and Data Science programs and are there any upcoming initiatives or expansions that you would like to highlight?

 On the 30th and 31st of May 2024, IIT is hosting its ICIIT Conclave focusing on the currently hot topic of Large Language Models (LLM) via 3 major events - a Shared Task on Sinhala LLM development, a set of tutorials on LLMs for beginners and practitioners, and a workshop bringing all those involved in LLM development in the country - from State and Private Universities as well as the IT industry. This platform, once established, is expected to be an ongoing engagement with the AI and DS community with various gatherings and programmes in the pipeline. Please visit https://iciit.iit.ac.lk/ for more details.