Stuart Anderson MP has welcomed a £220,000 government investment in the University of Wolverhampton’s digital diversity scholarships for the 2023-24 academic year. The University is one of 31 institutions receiving funding to deliver scholarships for new postgraduate Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Science conversion courses to boost skills and diversity in AI jobs, which has potential to increase UK GDP by up to 10.3% by 2030 – the equivalent of an extra £232 billion.
The £30 million initiative was established in 2020 to address the lack of supply and diversity of the UK’s AI talent pool, with businesses reporting challenges filling vacancies and finding it difficult to access the AI talent that they need. So far, the programme has awarded 887 scholarships to students from underrepresented backgrounds, with 73% awarded to women, 35% to black students, and 26% to disabled students. 45% of graduates have since started a new job or secured a job offer, and 8% have started a doctorate. 95% of the graduates in employment were working in the UK, despite 44% of these respondents being non-UK domiciled. This suggests that the courses may be enabling the transition of international students into the UK workforce.
From 2023-25, the Government has allocated funding to deliver up to 2,000 further scholarships to encourage more students from groups underrepresented groups in the tech industry, depending on level of industry co-funding. This programme is a key part of the Government’s flagship AI skills initiative from the National AI Strategy, and forms part of almost £200 million investment into AI skills to date. Further funding remains subject to confirmation.
The Government is calling on industry to co-fund these scholarships and enable the UK’s brightest postgraduate students to continue their studies and join the AI workforce. For each scholarship co-funded by industry, the Government will fund an additional three across the programme. The number of scholarships available to students for the next academic year (2024-25) will be calculated at the end of Autumn. This means that the Government needs to urgently increase the number of co-funding pledges from industry before this deadline to ensure that more underrepresented students can receive a scholarship and undertake a masters course.
Stuart Anderson MP said: “I am delighted that the University of Wolverhampton has been awarded £200,000 as part of the Government’s digital diversity scholarships. The AI and Data Science Conversion Courses are the first of their kind and will help us to develop the best and brightest right here in the UK. This underscores our commitment to ensure that anyone, regardless of their background or where they live, can pursue an education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects. The programme also presents an excellent opportunity for businesses to invest in regional talent in partnership with the University. I hope that as many local students will apply before applications for this academic year close in the Autumn.”
The Office for Students is delivering the AI and Data Science Conversion Course programme on behalf of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, providing people with the opportunity to find new employment in AI and data science sectors, even those who had no previous experience in the field. Funding to support scholarships worth £10,000 each will be available between April 2023 and March 2025. For more information, please visit www.officeforstudents.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/skills-and-employment/….