UAE: 52 students become first graduates of Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (2023)

Abu Dhabi: The Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) today honored its first graduate class at a graduation ceremony in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi.

The 52 graduates of the Class of 2022 had earned a two-year master's degree from the university in one of two specialization areas: computer vision or machine learning. The graduates received their degrees from Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a member of the Executive Council of Abu Dhabi and President of the Crown Prince's Court.

The event was also attended by Bruno Le Maire, Minister of Economy and Finance of France; Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications; and Sarah bint Yousif Al Amiri, UAE Minister of State for Public Education and Future Technology and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Emirates School Establishment.

dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, President of COP28 and Chairman of MBZUAI, addressed the graduates and urged them to join the UAE's quest for transformative progress.

UAE: 52 students become first graduates of Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (1)

logical step to progress

dr Al Jaber said: “The pursuit of progress is at the heart of the UAE's principles and identity. In just 50 years we have managed to make revolutionary advances while integrating sustainable development into our own economy. By embracing the promise of artificial intelligence [AI], we are taking the next logical step in our national development strategy. AI will transform all aspects of our lives. We are on the brink of a technological revolution unlike any we've seen before, and MBZUAI is at the forefront of what's next.”

UAE: 52 students become first graduates of Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (2)

He also stressed why this year is a special time for a degree, on the cusp of COP28 in the UAE at a time when the stakes "couldn't be higher".

(Video) MBZUAI Inaugural Class Arrives

“The UAE takes on this role with humility, great responsibility and a great sense of urgency. We must all support [efforts to limit] global temperature rise to 1.5°C without slowing down economic growth. In fact, we must find all possible ways to accelerate and speed up sustainable economic development.”

He added: “We must drive an inclusive energy transition that leaves no one behind, especially in the Global South. We must make our planet richer and healthier at the same time. I have no doubt that you, the first class of MBZUAI graduates, hold some of the keys to the transformative breakthroughs we all need in today's world."

First AI research university

The UAE emphasizes AI and future technology as tools that will guide its next 50 years of growth and progress. MBZUAI, which opened its doors in 2019, is the world's first research-based university dedicated to AI development. dr Al Jaber said that AI technology will improve healthcare and industrial processes while making energy cleaner and more efficient.

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Focus on broader meanings

according to dr Eric Xing, President and University Professor of MBZUAI, already ranks the university's degrees in the top 25 programs in the world in their specialties, which include AI, computer vision, machine learning and natural language processing.

“I challenge faculty and students to consider the broader meaning of their work and their mission. We live in an era of unprecedented social transformation of technology. The world is being rocked by AI, from advancing agriculture to reusable rockets, predicting protein structures in drug design, and predicting virus spread in pandemic containments, AI is changing the world, a game that offers the advantage," said Dr .

“But we have learned from history how the application of technology without social welfare and sensitivity can have harmful effects. In the 1950s, chemists created pesticides and related materials that still affect the health of communities and linger in our environment today. It will be no different with AI. Its power will enable scientific discoveries and solutions, but it can also be used for notorious purposes in the wrong hands."

(Video) A day in the life of an MBZUAI Student

Therefore, he urged graduates to hold onto their values, morals, and spiritual learning as a guide to decision-making and as protection from "distractions and illusions".

power for good

“The leadership of the UAE envisioned a remarkable future in which the UAE will be a force for good, driving the industrial revolution and enhancing human well-being. This nation has shown the will and ability to adopt technology early on. MBZUAI must be willing to take on the responsibility of providing a well-trained workforce and cutting-edge technology for this mission,” said Dr. Xing.

The inaugural class included students from 24 nationalities, including eight Emiratis. A third of the graduates were women, and several of them plan to stay in the UAE and advance the country's AI vision.

UAE: 52 students become first graduates of Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (3)

Graduate dreams

Mohamed Al Zaabi, 26, is one of the Emirati graduates who will return to the labor market. The reservoir engineer and determined individual graduated in his wheelchair and told Gulf News he wants to help his country achieve even more.

UAE: 52 students become first graduates of Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (4)

Mohamed Al Zaabi

(Video) #MBZUAI Women in AI Club

“For my thesis, I chose to study deep neural networks, although this is a field of study far removed from his career. I like challenges and they helped me learn more about data visualization. I look forward to applying what I have learned in my professional role and am very proud to be an Emirati who graduated from the first class of MBZUAI,” said Al Zaabi.

Great responsibility

Shahad Al Shamsi, 26, was another Class of 2022 graduate. Selected top of her class, she challenged her graduates to focus on turning what they learn into outcomes that benefit their communities and the world.

UAE: 52 students become first graduates of Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (5)

Shahid Al-Shamsi

(Video) Creating opportunities for AI graduates

"I take it as a huge responsibility to be an Emirati in this inaugural series and I look forward to what's next," he said. The machine learning graduate wants to take on a role that will help her drive the UAE's AI strategy and also allow her to give back to society.

Several international students were among the graduates of the Class of 2022.

UAE: 52 students become first graduates of Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (6)

Toluwani Aremu

“When I first came across the MBZUAI program two years ago, it felt like a dream come true. As a cybersecurity computer engineer, I wanted to expand my skillset with insights into AI and future technologies as AI already automates many of our processes. I think it will also help solve many of our problems," Toluwani Aremu said.

The entrepreneurial graduate now plans to stay in the UAE and drive innovation in smart cities and smart healthcare.

(Video) MBZUAI Chairman and President feature at Majlis Mohamed bin Zayed

KI-Symposium

The opening ceremony was followed by a symposium on the first AI for Sustainability Symposium, which included Dr. Xing, Daniela Rus, director of the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL); Phil Blunsom, Cohere.AI chief scientist, Oxford professor, former NLP leader at Google DeepMind; and Tim Baldwin, MBZUAI interim chancellor and professor of natural language processing.

“The prevalence of women in the first class of MBZUAI graduates speaks to the critical nature of gender diversity in our field and contributes to a less biased, more balanced and more mature sector as a whole. From research to the application of AI in industry, women, including these first MBZUAI graduates, play a crucial role in the UAE and beyond,” said Rus.

FAQs

Is Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence good? ›

Eric Xing, formerly of Carnegie Mellon, MBZUAI is ranked Top 25 globally for AI and its sub-specialisms on CSRankings, the leading specialist rankings for Computer Science. The university has a growing international faculty with world-class research profiles and global collaborations.

What is the world ranking of Mohammed bin Zayed university of Artificial Intelligence? ›

As of June 2022, MBZUAI ranks 127th globally among institutions that conduct research in computer science according to CSRankings.

How hard is it to get into MBZUAI? ›

Our current acceptance rate is 4.8%; making us an elite institution dedicated to advancing AI as a global force for humanity. Student testimonials - What I love about MBZUAI?

How many students does MBZUAI have? ›

We have a high student-faculty ratio of 1:4, with 133 students and 31 faculty.” Fakhri explained that the university offers six graduate programs, including three master's programs and three Ph.

Which country is number 1 in AI? ›

Singapore

Which country has the best AI in the world? ›

Singapore comes first for AI readiness, with the rest of the top 20 dominated by Western European governments, as well as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and four further Asian economies. There are no Latin American or African countries in the top 20.
...
CountryRankScore
Singapore19.186
United Kingdom29.069

Which is No 1 university in world? ›

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

What is the number 1 university in the Arab world? ›

King Abdulaziz University

Which country is best for AI education? ›

Best countries to study artificial intelligence
  • Artificial Intelligence in UK.
  • Artificial Intelligence in Canada.
  • Artificial Intelligence in USA.
  • Artificial Intelligence in Germany.
  • Artificial Intelligence in Ireland.
  • Artificial Intelligence in Belgium.
  • Artificial Intelligence in France.
  • Artificial Intelligence in Sweden.

How long does it take to get a PhD in artificial intelligence? ›

Like most PhDs, a doctoral programme in Artificial Intelligence typically takes 3-4 years full-time, or 6 years part-time. Aside from the traditional PhD, there is also the CDT PhD. Many Universities have Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) which are often funded by the UKRI centre.

How long does it take to get a degree in artificial intelligence? ›

The majority of online master's degree programs in artificial intelligence take between two and three years to complete. Students often balance their coursework with a busy career and family life, so both a flexible schedule and short commitment are key.

Are AI courses hard? ›

Learning AI is not an easy task, especially if you're not a programmer, but it's imperative to learn at least some AI. It can be done by all. Courses range from basic understanding to full-blown master's degrees in it. And all agree it can't be avoided.

Which country is best for artificial intelligence study? ›

Best countries to study artificial intelligence
  • Artificial Intelligence in Canada.
  • Artificial Intelligence in USA.
  • Artificial Intelligence in Germany.
  • Artificial Intelligence in Ireland.
  • Artificial Intelligence in Belgium.
  • Artificial Intelligence in France.
  • Artificial Intelligence in Sweden.
  • Artificial Intelligence in Spain.

What is the highest ranked university in UAE? ›

Rankings of universities in United Arab Emirates 2023
  • #1. Khalifa University. Student satisfaction: 4.5 / 5.0 (349 reviews) ...
  • #2. United Arab Emirates University. ...
  • #3. American University of Sharjah. ...
  • #4. University of Sharjah. ...
  • #5. Zayed University. ...
  • #6. Al Ain University. ...
  • #7. Abu Dhabi University. ...
  • #8. Ajman University.

Videos

1. IIE MBZUAI Q&A Session with Graduate Student Council - November 15, 2022
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2. MBZUAI - Attracting top global talent to advance AI to the benefit of science and humanity
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3. UAE Scholarships - Fully Funded Muhammad Bin Zayed University Scholarships in UAE 2023-2024
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4. How To Apply MBZUAI Abu Dhabi | Artificial Intelligence Scholarships | For MS & PhD | Fully Funded
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5. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Scholars Program at NYU Abu Dhabi
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6. MBZUAI - Empowering brilliant minds in AI
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