Uporabna umetna inteligenca

The doctoral study program Applied Artificial Intelligence (UUI) proposed by Alma Mater Europæa - European Center, Maribor (AMEU-ECM) addresses the field of applied sciences, which is a rarity in Slovenia. Therefore, the proposer should be especially praised for this step. Moreover, it also managed to include as a staff in the program some really excellent experts. The study program itself roughly consists of three parts: courses in fundamental knowledge of artificial intelligence (AI) with the methodology of research work, optional courses and the research work itself. The selection of electives is from the fields of humanities and social sciences and medicine. In spite of the fact that this is an applied science program, it would be highly advisable to increase the amount of mandatory courses in fundamentals of AI to enable greater penetration of applied research. Moreover, if we look at comparable study programs in the world, the proportion of fundamental content is higher in them: Harvard - Applied Artificial Intelligence for Health Care, Saint Luis University - Integrated and Applied Sciences, University of Massachusetts College of Engineering - Engineering and Applied Science etc. The plan for running the program seems adequate. There is a promise of tight and broad connection with a number of institutions which permits students strong involvement directly in the research projects. The involvement is predominantly through the supervisors. In this it seems that the first choice of communication between the student and professor seems to be some kind of e-communication. This is not to be praised as it is more dangerous to decrease the quality of communication and moreover it does not facilitate building the student community that is very important for graduates’ professional life. In reviewing the list of human resources, one can notice a high portion of professors that are not fully employed by the applicant. There are two immediate dangers originating from this fact. The first one is that it is highly likely that they do not do the research work at the applicant directly which results potentially in a more volatile research environment. The second danger is that it is more likely for them to leave the program than in case of full employment. Consequently, we strongly suggest NAKVIS that it regularly checks on the execution of the program and in particular whether the staff that promised to participate 21 indeed participates; and whether the quality of research in AI and AAI does at the applicant in fact improves. A similar check also be performed with respect of collaboration with the institutions enlisted in the application.