The proliferation of artificial intelligence applications, especially in recent years, is driving unprecedented advances across industries, including healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and more, as organizations leverage the power of AI and machine learning to streamline processes and drive innovation. Contributing. With the dynamic expansion of AI, data science, and cybersecurity, the demand for skilled professionals has reached unprecedented heights.
According to Cybersecurity Ventures, there are approximately 3.5 million job openings in the cybersecurity and data science field worldwide, where expertise in protecting digital assets and extracting meaningful insights from massive datasets is highly sought after. It is clear that this is necessary. According to Cyber seek reports, there are over 46,000 job opportunities in these fields in Texas alone.
Computerworld analysis predicts significant increase in job creation, with an estimated 5 million roles spanning data science, AI/machine learning, cloud computing, cybersecurity, product management, and digital social media in 2022 It has been. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 36% increase in data scientist jobs and a 35% increase in cybersecurity jobs nationwide over the next 10 years.
Texas’ growth trajectory is impressive, with AI and data science jobs projected to increase by 26.5%, highlighting the state’s pivotal role in shaping the future workforce in these transformational fields.
In an email to UTSA faculty and staff, the interim provost and senior vice president for academic affairs said: Heather Shipley Announced the creation of an AI, Cyber, Computing, and Data Science Planning Advisory Task Force to lead planning efforts for the creation of the new college. The task force is tasked with examining student interests, regional workforce needs, and partnership opportunities. Explore interdisciplinary research opportunities. and recommend university organizational structures that coordinate these programs to enhance student success, career readiness, and interdisciplinary research.
Jonathan Halbeslebendean of the Carlos Alvarez College of Business, and Niu Jianwei, the interim dean of University College, will chair the task force.Founding Director of the Faculty of Data Science David Mongeau Lead external benchmarking and outreach through community chalets with San Antonio stakeholders and research for best practices at peer and aspiring institutions.
Shipley noted that similar efforts led to the creation of the College of Health, Community and Policy in 2019 and the Margie and Bill Kresse College of Engineering and Integrative Design in 2021.
“Our most important responsibility is to ensure that UTSA students are well prepared for their chosen careers in a dynamic, interdisciplinary workforce,” Shipley said. . “This initiative is driven by our commitment to foster innovation, advance research, and provide excellent education across related fields. More specifically, we seek to foster synergies between academic and research disciplines. We aim to scale impact and foster the interdisciplinary collaborations essential to developing students’ abilities to tackle complex and multifaceted challenges as future leaders in these fields.”
UTSA is a pioneer in the fields of AI, cyber, computing, and data science.of Faculty of Data Sciencewas founded in 2018 and is the only school of its kind within the Carnegie R1 U.S. Hispanic Serving Institutions. Significant achievements include winning $1.2 million in grants for student training and research programs, hosting the 2023 National Academic Data Science Alliance Annual Meeting, and designing a new certification program in data engineering starting this summer. achieved a milestone. Home to the School of Data Science in downtown San Antonio, San Pedro I is currently home to more than 1,000 students and researchers.
veronica salazarUTSA’s chief corporate development officer and senior vice president of business emphasized the strategic alignment of this initiative with UTSA’s investments in downtown San Antonio and the city’s technology corridor.
“Through this initiative, we are not only investing in the intellectual capital of our students, but also contributing to the growth and vibrancy of downtown San Antonio,” Salazar said. “This initiative is a testament to UTSA’s dedication to providing a dynamic hub of education, research, and activity in the heart of the city of San Antonio, and further strengthens our role as a key player in the city’s development. To do.”