İTÜ Deepens Relationship With Leading AI Company Deepmind Through Scholarship Programme

İTÜ will collaborate with DeepMind, a world leader in artificial intelligence research and its application to real life, to provide scholarships to female students who are enrolled in ITU Computer Engineering M.Sc. and Ph.D. programs. These scholarships aim to attract talented Turkish students from groups that are currently underrepresented in AI, specifically those who identify as female. ITU Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Koyuncu, quoted, “As this cooperation supports our students' understanding of AI, the artificial intelligence research ecosystem will also be greatly improved. "

The DeepMind scholarships aim to change the lives of students who would not be able to take up the offer of admission without financial assistance and improve the diversity of the field. In addition to financial support, scholarship recipients will have the opportunity to attend industry events organized by DeepMind, receive a travel grant to attend an international research conference, and will be matched with a DeepMind mentor.

Scholarships will be granted by DeepMind to female students, a group currently underrepresented in AI and computer science, at master’s and doctoral levels who are doing research in the department of Computer Engineering at ITU. ITU Rector Prof. Dr. Koyuncu, quoted, “ITU, being the pioneer in Turkey in the applicability of artificial intelligence, is well placed to collaborate with DeepMind, one of the world’s leading artificial intelligence companies.”

MENTORSHIP TO STUDENTS FROM DEEPMIND

Stating that in addition to financial support, each student will be matched to a DeepMind researcher and will receive mentoring support, ITU Rector Prof. Dr. Koyuncu said that “as this collaboration supports our students’ understanding of AI, the artificial intelligence research ecosystem will also be greatly improved. As ITU, our efforts to increase the visibility of women in the scientific world will continue.”

Obum Ekeke, education and university partnerships lead at DeepMind said “We’re delighted to strengthen our relationship with ITU through the DeepMind scholarship program. Future generations of AI researchers must bring different perspectives to the development of AI, as such they must be representative of the world around us. By removing some of the financial barriers that prevent people applying to postgraduate study and providing mentoring and pastoral support, we hope to encourage all Turkish students, women especially, to consider postgraduate study in AI.”