Fujitsu and Macquarie University partner for AI micro-credentials course

Fujitsu has partnered with Macquarie University for a new micro-credentials course that will give students access to its proprietary automated machine learning (AutoML) technology.

The aim of the four-week online course is address Australia's critical shortage of machine learning engineers 

Mahesh Krishnan, chief technology officer for Oceania at Fujitsu, said the partnership aims to bridge the significant skills gap in the Australian technology sector.

"Fewer than 8.5 per cent of Australian graduates hold an engineering qualification, ranking Australia sixth lowest among OECD countries," Krishnan said.

"This impacts the ability for Australian organisations to effectively implement artificial intelligence solutions, to innovate, and stay competitive."

The course will teach basic theory with practical exercises on automated machine learning, models and algorithms using Fujitsu's AutoML tool, which speeds up analysis by evaluating the most promising machine learning pipelines rather than all possible outcomes.

Professor Amin Beheshti, director of the Centre for Applied AI at Macquarie University, said the partnership held broader implications.

"This collaboration with Fujitsu is not just about addressing the immediate need for skilled machine learning engineers," Beheshti said.

"It's about paving the way for future innovations. We're also contributing to the research exploring how Generative AI can transform the field of automated machine learning."

The initiative builds on the existing relationship between the two organisations, which includes the Fujitsu Macquarie AI Research Lab, the first Fujitsu Small Research Lab in the Southern Hemisphere.

Fujitsu AutoML is part of the company's cloud-based AI Platform, Fujitsu Kozuchi, which enables rapid development, testing, and implementation of AI across seven areas including Generative AI, predictive analytics, text, vision, and explainable AI.

Named 'Fujitsu AutoML: Mastering Automated Machine Learning', the course is now open for registrations and will be available via Macquarie University's online learning platforms as well as LinkedIn Learning and Udemy.