AIML collaboration with Nova Systems tackles AI skills gap

A recent study from Amazon found that 90 per cent of Australian employers believe their organisations will use AI-related solutions by 2028, and 77 per cent of Australian workers want to upskill in AI to support their career advancement. While both employers and employees are enthusiastic about embracing AI, there’s a looming AI skills gap impacting both technical and non-technical workers that must be overcome if Australia is to build an AI-ready workforce.

In fact, the same study found that hiring AI-skilled talent is a priority for two in three employers in-country, but 75 per cent are struggling to find the AI talent they need. Addressing the AI skills gap is only possible when industry and educational institutions collaborate to develop training programs that align with the reality of today’s job market to upskill and reskill workers at scale -- and fast.

Course unveils what goes on ‘behind the curtain’

The University of Adelaide's Professional and Continuing Education and Australian Institute for Machine Learning (AIML) recently collaborated to deliver a tailored introduction to AI and machine learning (ML) course for engineering services and technology solutions company, Nova Systems. 

The one-day course entitled ‘Understanding Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: A Comprehensive Introduction for Non-Experts’ was delivered for engineers involved in Nova Systems' Test and Evaluation Centre of Excellence. According to AIML Senior Lecturer, Dr Feras Dayoub, who designed and delivered the course, Jessica Cortazzo, AIML's Manager for Projects and Strategic Partnerships, played a 'crucial role' in establishing the relationship with Nova Systems and facilitating the course's development.

'The idea started with Nova Systems asking for [a] particular type of course tailored to its engineers who are specialised in what they do,' said Dr Dayoub. 'What they wanted was to understand ‘what’s behind the curtain.'

The course unveiled key AI and ML concepts, provided insights into performance metrics for evaluating model effectiveness, and used real-world examples and case studies to explain the practical applications and limitations of AI and ML.

'It’s an intensive course that exposes you to a semester's worth of information but [is] delivered in a way that’s easily digestible…we talk about the basics, how these systems are evaluated and built and what they can and can’t do.' Dr Feras Dayoub, AIML Senior Lecturer

'A lot of the focus is on revealing some of the mechanisms [and] technical details and exposing you to the terminology used in this field; not enough to make you an expert, but enough to allow you to carry a conversation with an AI expert, to tease out information relevant to how you want to interact with or use AI,' said Dr Dayoub. 

Industry aligned and outcome-focused 

Nova Systems Test and Evaluation Centre of Excellence is a national hub that brings together defence, industry, and academia to accelerate emerging technologies, such as AI and ML, to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Australian testing and evaluation workforce. 

'Knowing that we needed to upskill in artificial intelligence and machine learning to undertake and teach assurance of complex systems, we sought a partner who would work with us in developing courseware to meet industry needs,' Ben Luther, Senior Test and Evaluation Engineer at Nova Systems said. 

'It wasn’t enough [for the course] to be technically brilliant, it needed to be useable in context and AIML [was] willing lean into that, meeting us halfway and providing a true sovereign partnership.'Ben Luther, Senior Test and Evaluation Engineer at Nova Systems

Nova Systems is one of many future-focused organisations across the country taking steps to develop an AI-ready workforce. 

'Many organisations we work with are looking to build their workforce capability so they can capitalise on the opportunities that artificial intelligence and machine learning can provide for their business,' Dr Nina James, General Manager of Professional and Continuing Education said. 'There are opportunities in every sector to embrace the innovations and efficiencies that emerging technologies can deliver to address complex problems and deliver positive economic, social, and environmental outcomes for society.'

'This shift needs to start with building workforce capability,' she said

By combining AIML’s world-leading technical expertise with Professional and Continuing Education’s experience delivering tailored workforce education and training, the University of Adelaide is well-placed to build workforce capability in AI and ML. 

“A key strength of Professional and Continuing Education is our ability to partner with our own world-class academics, experts, and institutes across the University of Adelaide to deliver workforce development solutions in topics that are evidence-based and future-focused," said Dr James.

'These partnerships bring together the best of both discipline expertise and workforce development expertise, for the benefit of industry.'