By GEORGINA MICHAEL
The International Training Institute (ITI) has introduced the Artificial Intelligence program and will offer AI courses in October in collaboration with Digital Marketing Institute (DMI) of Wales, United Kingdom.
Co-founder and chairman of ITI Senthil Kumaran Sentheyval said: “Over the years ITI has forged successful collaborations with universities such as the University of Queensland and now recognizing the accelerating shift to the digital economy, we are partnering with the Digital Marketing Institute (DMI) Wales to introduce certificate Programs that prepare Papua New Guinea professionals for the Future Work.
“Digital marketing is the future with many advantages such as global audience, niche targeting, 24/7 availability. It is cost effective and enhances engagement and brand building.
“Here in PNG, we will begin by launching core DMI certificates as short-term courses. The first will be AI for Business & Marketing (5 days course) that will commence on the 15th of October.
“Following the AI for Business & Management course, we will continue to offer an additional eight course program to further expend your expertise,” Mr Sentheyval said.
He added that ITI would offer the following AI courses: AI for Business & Marketing; Social Media Strategy with AI; Advance AI for Digital Marketing; Data & Web Analytics; Social Media Marketing; Digital Marketing Essentials; Advanced Digital Strategy; and Search Engine Optimization.
Guest speaker from ICT and cloud service business unit of PNG DataCo Ltd, David Mba, shared insights on the digital era with the opportunities it had for students and how it would strengthen PNG’s digital foundation.
“The digital era is here where Global Digital Adoption is accelerating where very day life in PNG increasingly depends on Digital tools and so it comes with a risk that is if PNG is not proactive about it and it’s going to fall behind,” Mr Mba said.
“The digital era can also provide opportunities for students in PNG, students can find and build career pathways in AI, cybersecurity, social media, analytics, students can also start their business with Laptops and internet and students can use the digital platforms to do local story telling,”
“And so in order to strengthen PNG’s Digital Foundation, digital literacy across all communities is important, partnerships between ITI, government and the private sector is also important as well as offering training programs in AI such as AI Coding, cybersecurity and cloud skills,” Mr Mba said.
“The role of students in digital PNG is to be curious about it, do more experiment and be innovative, as educators to equip students with practical skills and as leaders to invest in Digital Tools and Infrastructure for the future of a digitally PNG,” Mr Mba said.