Abstract:

Digital technologies, robots and artificial intelligence (AI) are increasingly reshaping the labour market.

On 3 May 2019, the European Commission's study "The future of work? Work of the future!" shows that 90% of jobs require digital and information technology skills, and that more than 2 million entirely next-generation jobs have been created in the last decade. While predictions for the future vary, one thing is clear: in the short term, the labour market will change and require the transformation of many professions. AI is increasingly used in a wide range of industries, and as a result, there is a growing demand for workers with digital skills in mathematics, computer science and engineering who can harness the transformative potential of AI. Higher education institutions can pursue the goal of producing digitally skilled professionals in two ways:
a) develop study programmes related to competences in applied mathematics or computer science. Their graduates will be computer science or applied mathematics specialists in the enterprise and will be able to start solving problems. In this case, there is a disconnect - the specialist has excellent digital competences but not yet application expertise.
b) Providing non-formal education programmes that allow company employees to acquire additional digital competences.

In this case, we have the reverse situation: the employee is proficient in the application area, but the digital competences acquired are not sufficiently relevant to the tasks at work.

Researchers at Kaunas University of Technology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, propose to try to resolve these gaps with the postgraduate study programme "Applications of Artificial Intelligence". The aim of this study programme is to develop students' digital skills and competences to apply modern mathematics, machine learning, data processing and analysis methods to solve complex problems of artificial intelligence application and improvement. The programme is unique in that, during their studies, professionals from different disciplines have the opportunity to acquire new digital competences related to the understanding of AI systems and the ability to apply them specifically in their chosen fields. The content of the programme is designed in such a way that students not only acquire mathematical skills, but also have the opportunity to deepen their knowledge in an area related to their previous undergraduate studies and/or work. In the first and second semesters, students progressively study mathematical methods, analysis and processing of data sets, understanding and application of machine learning, control and design, identification and solution of applied problems. In the third semester, students deepen their knowledge of their previous studies or work activities, developing their competences to identify and evaluate the application of artificial intelligence systems. The fourth semester is devoted to the preparation and defence of the Master's thesis project, which is designed to demonstrate the mathematical competences acquired in solving complex scientific problems related to the application of AI.

Keywords:

Interdisciplinarity, study programme, artificial intelligence, content.