Within the new project, experts of the Research Center “Strong AI in Industry” will develop a clear and applicable model of an AI specialist’s competencies for the professional community – and teach lecturers and heads of educational programs to work with it. With additional tools, the model can be updated to reflect changes in science, economics, and society. This isn’t just methodological documentation; rather, it’s a flexible and adaptive system that is capable of transforming the approach to training AI professionals nationwide.
The new system will include 13 role-based competency models: a single universally-applicable one and 12 specialized for various economy sectors. Each model will be built on a set of professional competencies, knowledge, and skills, complete with indicators for objective evaluation of an AI specialist’s competencies. This approach isn’t limited by just one role but takes into account a variety of tasks that could be assigned to an AI developer: from analytics to solution architecture and project management. Thus, the system will reflect the reality of working in an interdisciplinary team and offer education that’s closest to industry demands.
“A good AI specialist today is often a motivated, self-taught professional who combines their foundational university training with practical skills. We aim to ensure the transition from this “dispersed” model to a more universal one. An influx of AI developers on the job market will kindle AI implementation in every sector of the economy and thus, bring about the digital transformation of the country,” says Alexander Boukhanovsky, the head of research at the Research Center “Strong AI in Industry.”
Moreover, ITMO will develop and implement a set of professional training programs for two strategically important groups of specialists: heads of educational programs and faculty. Within these programs, special focus will be laid on the development and modification of AI courses that account for the new competency models; efficient interaction with industrial partners; informed use of digital infrastructure and resources; as well as the implementation of advanced pedagogical technologies characteristic of AI courses. The program’s first cohort will include 200 participants from all over the country and start in July 2025.
The government’s Analytics Center will act as the operator of the project, with experts from Sberbank, Yandex, Gazpromneft, and other companies involved as lecturers.
The Research Center “Strong AI in Industry” operates at ITMO University. Its main objective is to create domestic solutions in AI and train specialists for high-tech companies. In October 2021, the center became one of the six winners of the federal grant project Artificial Intelligence.
