All of Lakehead’s software engineering students graduate with experience and skills in AI, said Dr. Abdulsalam Yassin.
THUNDER BAY — Lakehead University is known for its work in artificial intelligence (AI).
Lakehead University took the top spot for AI research publications in the Undergraduate University Rankings.
Dr. Abdulsalam Yassin, associate professor and chair of the School of Software Engineering at Lakehead University, said: “We now have students from all over the world, so it’s very exciting.” “We are developing cutting-edge technology.”
Mr Yassin said great progress was being made in research across Lakehead.
“[Lakehead University]has risen to become probably the number one research institution in that category as a comprehensive undergraduate focus university, and we’ve done some great research,” he said.
“I work with the City of Thunder Bay, Synergy North and other companies to develop software and develop AI solutions for area analysis, predictive analytics, data integration and processing to improve renewable resources, electricity and power. We’ve been working to optimize some of the work and integration of connecting vehicles to the smart grid.
Lakehead students graduate into top jobs, Yassin said.
“I think over the last five years, the AI domain has probably taken up 60 to 70 percent of the (software engineering) job market.
“All of our students graduate with AI experience and AI skills and capabilities. They may be employed before graduation, or at most one to two months after graduation. Sometimes I do.
“This speaks to two things: the demand for this category, this technology, this research, and the quality of training we provide to our students here at Lakehead,” he said.
AI is the foundation of many new technologies, Yassin said.
“I would say this is the most important solution and technology we’ve had in the last 20 years,” he said.
Yassin said he is telling his colleagues and students: “For at least the next 15 years, there should be a focus on AI across all sectors of industry, including healthcare, energy, and transportation.
“AI will be a dominant factor and a key enabler of excellence in all of these industry sectors. It has to be at the top.”
Consulting firm Research Infosource, a division of Impact Group, released its rankings of Canadian research universities on Thursday.
In the Research University of the Year competition, Lakehead University ranked 35th overall and 4th in the undergraduate category.
Lakehead also ranked No. 1 in each of the following categories, according to a university news release:
Nonprofit research revenue (2023) International government research revenue growth (470% growth from 2022 to 2023) Artificial intelligence publications (2018 to 2022) Artificial intelligence publications as a share of total university publications (9% of Lakehead’s total publications)Growth in publications on artificial intelligence (182% from 2018 to 2018) 2022)
According to the university, researchers’ total annual income is increasing year by year. Corporate research revenue is steadily increasing in addition to nonprofit research revenue, increasing 13% from 2022 to 2023 to $27 million.
