Stuart Anderson MP is delighted that the University of Wolverhampton has become one of thirty universities to have been awarded a share of £8.1 million funding for artificial intelligence (AI) and data science conversion course student scholarships. The scholarships aim to help address the shortage of AI and data specialists in the UK and to increase diversity in the sector, supporting the Government’s priority to invest in AI to encourage innovation in every sector and region. The scholarships will support the delivery of up to 817 scholarships in 2023-24 - each worth £10,000. Further funding will be available for 2024-25, subject to confirmation. The funding is from the Government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and Office for Artificial Intelligence, and is being awarded by the Office for Students (OfS), the independent regulator of higher education in England.
Stuart welcomed the news the University of Wolverhampton was successful in its bid to this competitive funding process. The University is offering masters’ courses in Data Science and AI, which include a programming and mathematics induction programme to give students the skills that they need to succeed in this field. These conversion courses are providing the opportunity to develop new digital skills or retrain to help find new employment in the UK’s cutting-edge AI and data science sectors, even for those who have no previous experience in the field. Students with any undergraduate degree can apply for the courses, allowing them to gain new skills for future career opportunities. They are aimed at students who are currently significantly underrepresented in these types of courses, such as black students, disabled students, and students who are from low socioeconomic backgrounds.
In Parliament, Stuart has previously raised the importance of increasing access to STEAM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics). He has now endorsed the investment in these scholarships, the latest stage of the Government’s support for strengthening the UK’s artificial intelligence talent pipeline. They also represent the delivery of another of the key commitments in the £1 billion AI Sector Deal. According to the National AI Strategy, estimates suggest that the digital skills gap costs the UK economy as much as £63 billion a year in potential GDP. The funding aims to address these issues by working with universities and industry to enable people to upskill or gain entirely new capabilities and expertise aimed at a career change.
Stuart Anderson MP said: “Helping people to upskill and secure employment in the UK’s cutting-edge technology sectors is critical to unlocking the UK’s economic growth and productivity. That’s why I am delighted that the University of Wolverhampton will benefit from this investment to deliver conversion course student scholarships in artificial intelligence and data science for those from significantly underrepresented groups. The funding will help to support a diverse range of people into digital roles, tackling the digital skills gap and ensuring that both industry and the public sector can access the greatest supply of talent across the country. I would encourage everyone who believes that they are eligible to apply for the amazing opportunities available here on our city’s doorstep in Wolverhampton.”
Minister for AI and Intellectual Property, Jonathan Camrose, said: “AI is increasingly being used to boost productivity and unlock growth in British industries. People from all walks of life should be able to access the exciting job opportunities this transformative technology is creating across the country. We’re investing millions to champion people underrepresented in tech so they get the skills to start a career in AI.“