Rabat – As technology continues to be central in the world’s vision for the future, the development of artificial intelligence (AI), the simulation of human intelligence by computers and machines, has become an increasingly important field in science.
Meanwhile, Morocco, along with the rest of Africa, has largely failed to capitalize on this demand for AI research and development. However, all of this will change in the future, with the opening of a new school dedicated towards AI in Fez.
In September, the Euromed University of Fez (UEMF) will open its doors to the Euromed School of Digital Engineering and Artificial Intelligence (EIDIA), a brand new center dedicated towards AI research, development, and education.
The facility will be a first for both Morocco and the rest of Africa, and will help to establish Morocco as a prospective leader in AI technology.
Out of over 1,500 candidates who have applied to study at the center, only 100 science graduates will be given the opportunity to pursue the training program. A contest on July 25 will determine which students are selected for the specialized training.
Complete with training programs at the Bachelor, Master, and Doctorate levels, the EIDIA will offer education in a myriad of fields, ranging from robotics and artificial intelligence to cyber security and web technologies.
The university will also be supported by the French university Ecole Polytechnique (l’X), which is renowned for its engineering and polytechnic education programs.
Following an agreement signed on July 12, l’X gave its full support for the EIDIA, promising that it would contribute to the Moroccan school by “associating the entire ecosystem of the X to this project.”
With AI expected to generate over 2.3 million jobs by 2020, Morocco’s focus on expanding and improving its education in this field has the potential to turn the country into a regional and global leader in an increasingly important industry.
