Climate tech company Partanna Global has partnered with Saudi Arabia-based King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Prime Minister of The Bahamas Philip Davis, and The University of The Bahamas (UB) to launch a cutting-edge AI training program aimed at nurturing the next wave of AI specialists. The initiative is designed to bridge the gap between academic excellence and practical climate resilience solutions.
The program will kick off in Spring 2024 with a 10-day course at the UB for 50 students, orchestrated by KAUST’s top faculty. The top five performing students from the course will be selected for an 8-week summer school at KAUST. This comprehensive training will be complemented by preparatory online courses via Coursera, ensuring participants are primed for success. Aimed at empowering the selected students, this initiative underscores a shared commitment to education, innovation, and sustainability between the three organizations.
The initiative is being partially funded by Partanna, which is investing in the coverage of all program travel costs. Meanwhile, KAUST is responsible for covering accommodations. The contribution is a testament to Partanna’s own internal commitment to leverage technologies like AI to advance materials for an advanced society – expanding beyond its legacy of pioneering carbon-negative concrete solutions.
Co-Founder and CEO of Partanna, Rick Fox, remarks:
“By combining the energy of our youth with our academic institutions, and pairing them with the latest technologies, we underscore our collective commitment to leading and providing solutions for society’s urgent problems. Partanna’s collaboration with The University of The Bahamas and KAUST to introduce Artificial Intelligence education is a testament to our combined dedication to empowering our youth, equipping them with the skills to foresee and rapidly innovate solutions that address the pressing needs of our time.
“This program is about more than just tech education. It’s about arming the next generation with the tools they need to come up with new solutions, adapt to changes, and lead the charge in solving some of the toughest problems facing the world today. By promoting a culture of innovation that reaches beyond our shores to the world, we’re aiming to show that local solutions can have a global impact. This effort is not just a gateway to new discoveries – it’s a partnership that connects the brightest young minds in The Bahamas with the leading thinkers from the kingdom to show what’s possible.”
The Honourable Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, Philip Edward Davis, comments:
“Artificial Intelligence is already rapidly changing our world – and I want young Bahamians to participate in and contribute to the leading-edge innovations that will have a major impact in the years to come. This international collaboration is an opportunity for our talented young people to invest in their own careers and to master powerful new technological tools that can help us grow our economy and build new policy solutions.”
Director of KAUST Academy, Sultan Albarakati, comments:
“In line with the KAUST Academy’s mission to be a regional and global continual learning leader, we are partnering with Partanna to train the gifted Bahamian students to tackle the challenges of the future. These students will participate in the KAUST Academy summer schools along with the gifted Saudi students at KAUST. This partnership will pave the way for growing educational and cultural exchange between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and The Bahamas.”
President Janyne Hodder, University of The Bahamas, adds:
“In keeping with UB’s mission to advance and expand access to higher education and drive national development, we are delighted to partner with the Prime Minister’s Office, Partanna, and KAUST to offer this transformative artificial intelligence opportunity to our UB students. As The Bahamas continues to address challenges such as climate change, which threatens our unique archipelagic structure, we embrace this exchange of knowledge between KAUST and UB, which is pivotal to mitigating external threats while driving national development within our small island developing state.”
