PIA unveils 14 projects selected to adapt upper level curricula to the needs of artificial intelligence

Montréal, 26 February 2020 – The Montréal Centre for Higher Learning in Artificial Intelligence (PIA), which groups together the 12 colleges and 7 universities of the Greater Montréal area, has retained 14 of the 25 projects submitted in response to a call for concerted college/university projects aimed at developing training programs, identifying the competencies required by artificial intelligence (AI) and implementing AI-related technologies. Together, these projects will receive aggregate funding of $1.4 million.

“The 14 projects would never have seen the light of day without support from the Ministry of Education and Higher Education under a program providing for the creation of regional centres of higher learning. Contributions by the latter make it possible to catalyse reflection and achievements with a view to enhancing and developing training in artificial intelligence,” underscores Mylène Boisclair, co-president of PIA and director general of Cégep du Vieux Montréal.

“The number of proposals received, but more especially the quality and diversity of proposal content, provide proof positive of the keen interest in artificial intelligence by the higher learning community and willingness by colleges and universities to cooperate in this regard,” adds Sylvie Normandeau, co-president of PIA and assistant vice-rector of Undergraduate Studies and Continuing Education at Université de Montréal.

With the launch of these calls for projects, PIA sought to spur innovative initiatives and foster inter-level collaboration by colleges and universities. Hence each project must be jointly presented by at least one college and one university, may include external partners as required, and be carried out over the coming two years.

“These projects will enable us to enrich the pool of AI knowledge, develop and validate new practices, and raise student awareness of this field of the future. In the longer term, these projects will help us enhance the relevance of training programs and better prepare students for the challenges posed by the development and incorporation of artificial intelligence into all sectors of society,” points up Benoit Pagé, director of PIA.