Burkina: Focus on a Center of Excellence which intends to train the next generation of highly qualified talents in the field of Artificial Intelligence | AIB

2023-12-05 17:40:40

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Burkina: Focus on a Center of Excellence which intends to train the next generation of highly qualified talents in the field of Artificial Intelligence

Ouagadougou, December 5 2023 (AIB)-Burkina Faso is resolutely committed to research, education, and innovation in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) through the establishment in October 2021 of the Interdisciplinary Center of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence for Development (CITADEL). AIB’s foray into the Center affiliated with the Virtual University of Burkina Faso and which intends to train the next generation of highly qualified talents in the field of Artificial Intelligence.

CITADEL serves as a catalyst for cutting-edge research, providing the Virtual University of Burkina Faso with recognition both nationally and internationally in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI). It enables the university to become a key player in the development of smart technology solutions that can be applied to a range of social and economic challenges.

According to the president of the Virtual University of Burkina Faso, Professor Jean Marie Dipama, the research activities of the Center of Interdisciplinary Excellence in Artificial Intelligence for Development (CITADEL) mainly focus on six axes which are Security and Fintech, Health and Well-being, Agriculture and Pastoralism, Energy and Climate Change, Privacy and Explainability and finally Languages ​​and Heritage.

Among his various activities, he noted the contribution of CITADEL for the operationalization of the Master in Data Mining and Artificial Intelligence (FD-IA) of the Virtual University of Burkina Faso.

According to the president of the Virtual University of Burkina Faso, Professor Jean Marie Dipama, CITADEL’s research activities mainly focus on six axes

Mr. Dipama explained that this multidisciplinary program ensures that students are trained in the latest advances in AI, machine learning and data science, integrating them with related disciplines for a more holistic understanding of contemporary challenges.

Abdoul Fataoh Kaboré is a master’s degree student at the Virtual University of Burkina Faso, part of the first class to benefit from training in artificial intelligence. He is registered in the Data Mining and Artificial Intelligence sector.

According to him, the training allowed him to dive into the heart of emerging technologies and advanced data analysis methods. “Training plays a crucial role in the development and application of artificial intelligence to solve real-world problems and improve our daily lives.”

The Master in Data Mining is the first master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence in Burkina Faso

Launched in 2021, the Master FD-IA is experiencing its second cohort this year, and is also the very first master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence in Burkina Faso. “This was made possible thanks to the contribution of the diaspora, a resource of expertise which remains under-exploited by our institutions,” says Professor Jean Marie Dipama.

The student at the end of his master’s cycle Abdoul Fataoh Kaboré participated in September 2022 in the Summer School in Artificial Intelligence which was organized by CITADEL. “I learned the basics of artificial intelligence, from machine learning algorithms to real-world applications of AI. I particularly enjoyed the practical sessions, which allowed us to put into practice the theoretical concepts learned in class.”

Master’s degree student from the Virtual University of Burkina, Abdoul Fataoh Kaboré is part of the first class to benefit from training in artificial intelligence

The CITADEL Summer School program was very comprehensive and covered a wide range of topics, including fundamental concepts of AI, such as machine learning, natural language processing and computer vision.

In the opinion of the president of the Virtual University of Burkina Faso, Professor Jean Marie Dipama, the summer school made it possible to learn the different types of machine learning algorithms, such as regression, classification and anomaly detection and real-world applications of AI, such as healthcare, education, finance and security.

The participants worked on an AI Hackathon focused mainly on the security challenges facing Burkina Faso entitled “Security challenges and the contribution of AI: analysis of the security situation in Burkina Faso based on heterogeneous data sources”.

The project brought together 6 groups of 32 students (8 girls and 24 boys) at Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate level and also professionals from the public service and the private sector from different public and private universities in Burkina Faso.

Abdoul Fataoh Kaboré and his group were crowned first thanks to their work which focused on “an analysis of sentiments and the detection of hate speech on Internet users’ comments on the security situation in Burkina”. The group’s efforts led to the writing of a scientific article, thus contributing to the popularization of the results obtained during this event.

Abdoul Fataoh Kaboré explained the work of his group. “Our approach focused on using machine learning, natural language processing (NLP) and data analytics techniques to assess the opinions and emotions people express in their online comments related to with the security situation, more precisely terrorism in Burkina.”

Alongside formal training, CITADEL offers opportunities for doctoral scholarships and master’s internships and academic visits. CITADEL to its credit has a total of 07 doctoral students who are currently carrying out their cutting-edge research work, 19 master/engineer level interns currently in training and 17 others have already completed their internship. Among those who have already completed their internship, 2 have already passed interviews and are admitted to continue their doctoral studies internationally.

These programs allow students to apply their skills in real-world situations, while making valuable connections with experts in the field, whether in industry or academia.

Burkina Faso Information Agency

Wurotèda Ibrahima SANOU

[email protected]