RMIT launches world-first short courses in VR and AI using Amazon Sumerian

RMIT launches world-first short courses in VR and AI using Amazon Sumerian

RMIT and Amazon Web Services (AWS) have announced a new collaboration that is set to enhance the student experience and transform the education sector.

In a world-first, RMIT and Amazon have joined forces to create the concept for an Artificial Intelligence Digital Assistant (AIDA) that allows students to get the help and support they need in navigating University life - removing the need to wait in queues and fill out enquiry forms.

AIDA leverages the Amazon Web Services (AWS) latest Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovation, Sumerian, along with Amazon Translate and Amazon Lex and is designed to provide hyper-personalised, dynamic and accurate information to students 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Driven by a need to address technology-driven changes in both the workplace and the classroom, three new digital short courses will also be launched as part of the partnership - Developing AI Strategy, Developing AR and VR Strategy, and Developing AR and VR Applications.

With this launch, RMIT has become the world’s first University to offer a short course in Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR).

RMIT Vice-Chancellor and President Martin Bean CBE said the AWS collaboration was another demonstration of RMIT’s commitment to providing the best possible student experience and creating work-ready graduates.

“Industry and enterprise are embedded in everything we do and we continue to embrace new technology - collaborating with Amazon Web Services is a great example of our continued leadership in this space,” he said.

“By co-designing courses with leading industry players and actually using the technology that we are teaching, we’re creating a uniquely rewarding experience for both our staff and our students."

Student using VR headset.

Amazon Web Services APAC Regional Head for Education, Research and Not For Profit - Worldwide Public Sector, Vincent Quah, said RMIT was an early adopter in offering the innovative learning environment that 21st century students expected.

"With the launch of the RMIT courses in VR and AR using Amazon Sumerian, RMIT continues to help students become future-ready in a rapidly changing economic environment,” he said.

With global AR and VR revenue expected to hit US$150 billion by 2020, these technologies are expected to transform how we learn and how businesses operate, including serving customers, training employees, creating products and managing value chains.

The co-created and industry-endorsed courses were designed to help fill skills gaps among executives, professionals and developers looking to future-proof their careers.

CEO of RMIT Online Helen Souness said the collaboration represented RMIT's commitment to "keeping a pulse on technological innovation and working with disruptive industry leaders, like AWS, to continue to cater to the community of lifelong learners through the Future Skills portfolio".

 

Story: Karen Phelan

 
12 September 2018

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12 September 2018

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