Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Science: new master’s programme at St Petersburg University

Master’s programme at St Petersburg University "Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Science"

Students will receive the necessary and sufficient set of competencies in the field of artificial intelligence. The courses "Fundamentals of Machine Learning", "Theory of Neural Networks", "Theory of Bayesian Networks", "Methods of Statistical Information Processing in Applications of Artificial Intelligence" and other courses focus on: developing and analysing mathematical models; combining existing methods, models and technologies in solving real-life problems; designing; and implementing and evaluating the quality and effectiveness of software.

Students can choose courses to acquire professional competencies in narrow specialisations. Among them are: intelligent computer vision; analysis and processing of texts in natural language and images; transport infrastructure management; Big Data processing of large industrial enterprises; health-saving technologies in the Far North; and software development technologies in applied tasks.

The programme is unique in that it includes the block of courses "Artificial Intelligence for the Arctic Region". The courses will provide the necessary skills in artificial intelligence and intelligent information systems to solve technological problems in the Arctic territories of the Russian Federation. Students will have an opportunity to participate in interdisciplinary projects that involve the application of acquired competencies, such as Big Data analysis, artificial intelligence, and machine learning in science, education, industry, public sector, business, state and municipal activities.

The programme is full-time. The duration is two years. It has government-funded places and places on a fee-paying basis.

The programme involves practical training and internships in large companies and organisations that are interested in implementing or using decision support systems; expert and advising systems for servicing equipment and life support systems; and research and medical decision support systems. Additionally, students will implement partnership projects together with the Federal Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Engineering Company "Neotech Marine".

The lecturers of the programme are leading scientists of St Petersburg University, industry professionals, experts, and consultants. Among them are: Alexander Tulupyev, Professor, one of the creators of the theory of Algebraic Bayesian networks; Maksim Abramov, Associate Professor, participant in projects on sociocomputing and protection against social engineering attacks; Tatiana Tulupyeva, Associate Professor, Senior Research Associate in the Laboratory of Theoretical and Interdisciplinary Problems of Informatics of the St Petersburg Federal Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Sergei Salishchev, consultant in the field of software development, computer vision and digital signal processing; and Nikita Loviagin, Assistant Professor.

Graduates can enter professions such as analytics, architecture and development of special systems for the global transport industry and mobile telemedicine in hard-to-reach settlements in the Arctic; implementation of digital solutions in metallurgy, oil, gas and chemical industries; creation of control systems for electric grid and generating infrastructure; formation of the basis for smart houses and smart cities in the field of construction and housing and communal services; and automated processing of information coming from satellite sensing and technological video surveillance.