������ý�ٷ���վ

Four new courses will be launched at a pioneering Computing and Centre for AI at ������ý�ٷ���վ thanks to a £2m donation.

The University has been awarded £2m by ������ý�ٷ���վshire Thames Valley Local Enterprise Partnership (BTVLEP), which will enable it to build a new School of Computing and Centre for Artificial Intelligence.

The new School of Computing and Centre for AI will offer four new undergraduate and Masters programmes in AI, Cyber Security, Immersive Technologies and Data Science.

Located on campus, it will also house specialised labs for augmented and virtual reality and an Innovation Hub for students and businesses.

The Innovation Hub will house state of the art technology and will be open for students and businesses to use with the aim of encouraging exploration and research.

For up to one year after completing their course, graduates from the School of Computing will be able to use the Innovation Hub to start up their own tech company.

The donation from BTVLEP is the first step in financing the £6 million building development. The aim is to open in spring 2021 ready for students to begin academic programmes in September.

Space in the building will mean student numbers could increase from 100 to 300. It will nurture the next generation of spin-off companies; commercialising research and innovation and contributing to local and regional economic growth.

Over the past five years, the School of Computing has successfully won four Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) awards (part funded by Innovate UK) and overseas industry funding worth £1.7 million to conduct industry linked research and developments in AI, Agritech, Biometrics, Internet of Things and Medical Image Analysis.

A recent survey by Deloitte found only 20% of businesses believe there are enough school leavers and graduates entering work with the appropriate digital and analytical skills and experience so there is likely to be big demand for the services and courses at the centre.

Interim Dean of Computing Harin Sellahewa said: “The demand is extremely high and it’s outweighing supply. The new Centre could help to plug a skills gap and triple our computing student numbers.

“The Centre will train a generation of specialists and doctoral students in artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, computer vision, data science, internet of things, machine learning and mathematics; embedding cultural awareness, ethics, enterprise and leadership skills in all its graduates as core competencies necessary to work in industries of the futures.”

Vice-Chancellor of ������ý�ٷ���վ and author of the Fourth Education Revolution, Anthony Seldon said: “We are enormously grateful to ������ý�ٷ���վshire Thames Valley Local Enterprise Partnership for this extremely generous grant for the Centre for AI.

“The university is committed to taking a leading role in training the next generation of leaders in these sciences, supporting the UK to realise its industrial ambitions.”

The project could create around 10 new teaching a research jobs at the university, indirectly create up to 100 new high value jobs and train 75 AI Data Science specialists a year.

The new campus development will have a game-changing impact on ������ý�ٷ���վ and the surrounding area.  It will enhance ������ý�ٷ���վshire’s position in the Cambridge-MK-Oxford Growth Corridor and help to attract inward investment and create a step change in local economic growth.

BTVLEP provided additional funding to the National Centre for Immersive Storytelling and Bucks Creates @ Pinewood along with the School of Computing Centre for AI to support growth of the Bucks creative sector.

Andrew M. Smith, Chair, ������ý�ٷ���վshire Thames Valley Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “������ý�ٷ���վshire’s creative sector is world-renowned and we want to do everything we can to support and continue its growth. Funding these three major projects will help to unlock long term impact for the local economy and support the delivery of the Government’s Industrial Strategy.”

Andrew added: “We are delighted to start work with our partners on these exciting new projects.”

Digital and Creative Industries Minister, Margot James, said: “������ý�ٷ���վshire is a hotbed for the creative industries and it’s fantastic to see even more investment being made in the area to grow and nurture new talent. Through our modern Industrial Strategy we are making sure that the UK is a world leader for the creative sector and an industry that will continue to go from strength to strength.”

Find out more about the School of Computing