• 6 juni
  • Research
  • Talentgericht
  • Highlighted

Basic qualification AI and two masters in the making

Anke Bardie and Danny Jonker, research managers at the Applied AI for Society Knowledge Center.
Whether we like it or not, we are all about to deal with Artificial Intelligence (AI). In fact, we are already dealing with it. Not only Fontys employees who teach or do research, but also Fontys students, both now during their studies and later in their professions. The Applied AI for Society Knowledge Center not only prepares its own employees for a future in which AI will play an increasingly important role, but also helps SMEs on their way.

Anke Bardie and Danny Jonker both work as research managers at the Applied AI for Society Knowledge Center, created two years ago by the College Board to combine knowledge and clout in the field of AI. Anke focuses on education and the demystification of AI, Danny mainly helps SMEs apply AI.

Anke: “The knowledge center is cross-institutional and is intended to combine the strengths and expertise of Fontys, both institutes and lectorates, in order to conduct joint applied research and contribute to work field innovation and demystification of AI. One of our internal goals in that area is for all Fontys students to be able to handle AI when they graduate, regardless of the field of study they took. To achieve that, you also have to be willing to take a critical look at all curricula.'

AI is not the exclusive domain of ICT, Danny emphasizes. 'Of course AI obviously has a technical component. We at ICT know a lot about that. But AI also has legal, social, economic and ethical aspects, for example. So it is logical that all the other institutes also investigate AI in those aspects in which they have specific expertise. We then bundle that knowledge for Fontys as a whole.'

Place in curriculum
According to Anke, AI touches every domain, especially since the rise of so-called generative AI such as ChatGPT. 'Not only in education but also in the professional field. That is why AI must quickly be given a place in the curriculum of every education. We stimulate such developments so that employees are professionalized more quickly, for example by developing a basic qualification in AI. Whoever obtains this qualification will know how to use AI reliably in his field, in line with Fontys' educational vision. The contours of the qualification have now been outlined. In the fall we will test it with a number of colleagues. By the way, it will be quite a task to certify roughly all 4,500 Fontys employees. It requires enormous capacity.

Danny is an enthusiastic user of AI. 'For example, if I have to give a presentation, AI is my sparring partner. I describe the setting, the speaking time I have, and the topic, and then ask AI to give me certain teaching methods. I also used AI to apply for a funding from the province of North Brabant. I asked AI to show me the extent to which my proposal aligned with the province's policies. Those conditions to which the application had to comply was a whole body of work. That funding application was then honored.

Everyday use
Danny also uses AI for everyday use at home. 'When my little son fell on his head the other day, I took a picture and submitted it to AI with a description to determine whether I needed to go to the doctor with it. Furthermore, I write children's books using AI.'

Stimuleringsbudget
Those who want to become skilled in AI can visit the website of Fontys. Anke: “There you will find, among other things, the courses offered in the field of AI. On the website of the Knowledge Center you can read, among other things, which research in the field of AI is ongoing at the moment. We want to do a lot more research and promote the use of AI. Those who submit a good idea can receive an stimulus budget of ten thousand euros to conduct their project.' Danny has another tip. 'Join the generative AI community. We organize meetings, online but also live. The next one is about how to use AI as a research assistant.'

Over the past two years, colleagues of Anke and Danny have already given hundreds of workshops and inspiration sessions at schools, at government agencies and SMEs, as well as for colleagues. In other words: Fontys is investing heavily in the knowledge of AI in its own area of operation. Danny: 'You can be trained at Fontys ICT to become an AI specialist, at Bachelor level. A training course for professionals will start in September. And two broad non-technical masters in the field of AI are in the process of application.'

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