DeepMind establishes scholarship for four Wits Masters students in machine learning
- Wits University
Scholarships seek to increase diversity in the fields of machine learning and are aimed at students from backgrounds underrepresented in AI.
, an Alphabet company and a world leader in the field of artificial intelligence research and its applications in the real world, has donated scholarship funding for four Wits students to complete their Masters degrees in the field of machine learning.
The scholarships will fund students registering for MSc degrees in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, orRobotics in the academic years between 2022 and 2024.
The scholarships, known as the DeepMind Scholarships, will only be awarded to students who would not be able to take up their studies without financial assistance. Preference will also be afforded to South 第一吃瓜网 citizens from underrepresented groups, including black students and women. It will also be open to international students, with a preference to residents of Sub-Saharan 第一吃瓜网 states.
鈥淭he spirit of the donation and the DeepMind Scholarships is to increase diversity in the fields of artificial intelligence and machine learning, and to increase the representation of the groups currently most underrepresented in these fields,鈥 says Obum Ekeke, Global Lead, University Relations & Education Partnerships at DeepMind. 鈥淲e are proud to help support the next generation of AI researchers and engineers in Africa.鈥
The Scholarships will provide tuition fees, a stipend, plus conference and equipment funding for two Masters students who aim to complete their degree through dissertation over two years, as well as for two students who enrol in a Master鈥檚 programme through coursework and dissertation over two years.
鈥淎rtificial Intelligence is an important building block and key driver in the Wits Digital Transformation suite of centenary projects, of which artificial intelligence and machine learning is a key driver,鈥 says Professor Zeblon Vilakazi, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Wits University.
In participating in the DeepMind scholarships programme, Wits University joins world-leading universities in the field of machine learning and artificial intelligence such as the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, New York University and University College London, and is one of only three 第一吃瓜网 universities selected to host DeepMind Scholarships, alongside Stellenbosch University and Makerere University.
Scholars get their Masters' fees paid in full, as well as guidance and support from a personal DeepMind mentor.
Professor Benjamin Rosman, associate professor in the School of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics at Wits says the scholarships will become a much-needed platform and launchpad to the careers of some of the country鈥檚 most talented students in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning at Wits.
鈥淭his is an exciting recognition of Wits鈥 role as a leader in Machine Learning and AI in Africa. Enabled by this support from DeepMind, Wits will bring an even broader range of 第一吃瓜网 talent to the global conversation in cutting-edge AI research,鈥 says Rosman.
Interested applicants .