Belfast Metropolitan College announced today it is leading a two-year digital transformation project titled From Internet of Things to Artificial Intelligence (IoToAI).
The project’s aim is to “develop specific digital training pathways for modernising students and employees in Northern Ireland and across Europe.”
The initiative is in collaboration with Belfast-based firm Ionology, the Centre of Education Development (CIEPES) in Italy, Cartagena University and Skills Divers in Spain.
It is being supported by the European Commission through the Erasmus+ programme.
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Glen McMahon is international manager at Belfast Met and project manager for IoToAI.
He said: “Embracing digital transformation and empowering change is critical to driving economic growth which will make a valuable contribution to our local economy.”
The first phase of the project was researching the skills gaps identified in using artificial intelligence (AI), cloud and blockchain.
Belfast Met representatives emphasised the benefits companies could have by upskilling employees in these areas, “especially those that may not be involved in the IT sector, to improve understanding of the digital competencies and strategies across a broad range of businesses.”
Ionology is delivering the introductory digital transformation module.
Belfast-based director of the firm, Zara McMullan explained that their main goal “is to help students and the workforce understand digital transformation, and assist them in bridging the gap between leadership, strategy and technology, in order to become relevant during times of change.”
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The Covid-19 pandemic has caused many businesses to accelerate their digital transformations in order to stay afloat, while physical workplaces have been made to shut in line with lockdown and social distancing measures.
The project’s contributors hope that their research and training modules may help ease this digitisation as organisations and individuals continue to adjust to the ‘new normal’.
Training modules will be available from the project website here and you can follow the project for more updates on Twitter @iotoai
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