Fudan University to introduce at least 100 artificial intelligence courses in coming academic year

In a pioneering move, Fudan University will introduce at least 100 artificial intelligence courses in the 2024-25 academic year, aiming to make the school a leading force in science intelligence education and talent cultivation, the school said on Wednesday.

With general courses to broaden the reach of AI education and specific courses to facilitate the integration of AI across all disciplines and levels of study, the project was also intended to accelerate AI innovation across various sectors.

This initiative is not just about adding an AI school but mobilizing the entire university around scientific intelligence innovation. Each degree program from 2024 academic year onward will emphasize AI literacy and capabilities.

The strategic goals include transforming Fudan into a world-class innovative institution, exploring new models for interdisciplinary AI talent cultivation tailored to Shanghai's emerging AI sectors, and revolutionizing teaching methods by bridging undergraduate and postgraduate curricula, the school said.

Comprising of AI-Basic Courses, AI-Essential Courses, AI-Subject Courses and AI-Thematic Courses, Fudan's AI course system caters for all disciplines from humanities to engineering with its laddering construction in specific pedagogical contexts and practical scenarios based on students basic literacy and application ability.

The university has secured substantial resources for this endeavor. Sixty-four professors specializing in information technology, big data and AI from within the school have been recruited for AI courses, and a supercomputer platform, developed in collaboration with Alibaba Cloud and China Telecom, provides ample computational power.

Moreover, Fudan's AI courses focus on fostering independent innovation rather than solely employment prospects. Students will be equipped to tackle real-world problems as courses collaborate with industries like pharmaceuticals, where AI drug design will become part of the coursework.

By integrating classical discipline theory and cutting-edge progress in AI, Fudan University aims to cultivate a new generation of talent capable of driving innovation and addressing complex challenges across multiple domains.

According to a report for 2022 by consultancy McKinsey & Company, AI usage rate in leading countries reached around 60 percent, while the figure for China was 41 percent. More importantly, only 9 percent of Chinese enterprises could achieve more than 10 percent revenue growth with the help of AI, compared with 19 percent of the counterparts in leading countries.

Fudan University said that it remains hard to predict how many industries will be AI-related in the future, but it is committed to empowering students toward the future.

Wang Biye contributed to this story.