Students at University of Bahamas Making New Strides in AI Technology

The Prime Minister of The Bahamas and the University of The Bahamas (UB) are nurturing the next wave of AI specialists in the Caribbean by partnering with climate tech company Partanna Global and Saudi Arabia-based King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), to launch a new training program aimed at bridging the gap between academic excellence and empowering students to develop practical solutions to climate change challenges. The program, which commences Spring 2024, features a multi-step process that begins with a 10-day course at The University of The Bahamas, where 50 selected students will receive training from KAUST’s top faculty members. Upon completion of this phase, the top five performing students will travel to KAUST’s campus in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia and spend 8 weeks this summer receiving comprehensive hands-on training as well as preparatory online courses through Coursera, an online learning platform.

This initiative, which is partially funded by Partanna Global who will cover all travel costs for the participants, represents a shared commitment to education, innovation, and sustainability between the three organizations as well as the tech company’s own internal commitment to leverage technologies like AI to advance materials for an advanced society – expanding beyond its legacy of pioneering carbon-negative concrete solutions. Co-founder and CEO of Partanna, Rick Fox believes that through connecting with some of the most capable young minds that The Bahamas has to offer, it can create far reaching solutions to problems impacting the world today:

“By combining the energy of our youth with our academic institutions, and pairing them with the latest technologies, we underscore our collective commitment to leading and providing solutions for society’s urgent problems. Partanna’s collaboration with The University of The Bahamas and KAUST to introduce Artificial Intelligence education is a testament to our combined dedication to empowering our youth, equipping them with the skills to foresee and rapidly innovate solutions that address the pressing needs of our time.

“This program is about more than just tech education. It's about arming the next generation with the tools they need to come up with new solutions, adapt to changes, and lead the charge in solving some of the toughest problems facing the world today. By promoting a culture of innovation that reaches beyond our shores to the world, we're aiming to show that local solutions can have a global impact. This effort is not just a gateway to new discoveries – it's a partnership that connects the brightest young minds in The Bahamas with the leading thinkers from the kingdom to show what’s possible."

Sultan Albarakati, the Director of KAUST Academy, an academic institution that focuses on AI research, education, and entrepreneurship, echoed the same sentiment:

“In line with the KAUST Academy’s mission to be a regional and global continual learning leader, we are partnering with Partanna to train the gifted Bahamian students to tackle the challenges of the future. These students will participate in the KAUST Academy summer schools along with the gifted Saudi students at KAUST. This partnership will pave the way for growing educational and cultural exchange between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and The Bahamas."

This pioneering program has the potential to usher The Bahamas as well as the entire Caribbean into a safer, more climate aware future with practical applications such as AI-powered environmental monitoring systems that can preserve ecosystems and promote eco-friendly tourism. AI can also help track changes in the oceans, predict weather patterns, and respond to climate challenges. The excitement for what the future can hold for AI in the Caribbean was emphatically expressed by the Honourable Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, Philip Edward Davis, who commented:

“Artificial Intelligence is already rapidly changing our world – and I want young Bahamians to participate in and contribute to the leading-edge innovations that will have a major impact in the years to come. This international collaboration is an opportunity for our talented young people to invest in their own careers and to master powerful new technological tools that can help us grow our economy and build new policy solutions.”

Considering the weight of the prime minister’s words regarding the impact that participating in this program can have, the president of UB, Janyne Hodder, believes that the Bahamian students are more than up to the challenge, commenting:

“In keeping with UB’s mission to advance and expand access to higher education and drive national development, we are delighted to partner with the Prime Minister’s Office, Partanna, and KAUST to offer this transformative artificial intelligence opportunity to our UB students. As The Bahamas continues to address challenges such as climate change, which threatens our unique archipelagic structure, we embrace this exchange of knowledge between KAUST and UB, which is pivotal to mitigating external threats while driving national development within our small island developing state.”