1,123 applicants from all Norway's counties, aged 18 and over, both students and people in work, flocked when University of Stavanger launched the online course AI Essentials in the autumn 2024.
Since the course is digital, there was no admission restriction.
"The high number of applicants shows that we have really met a need and that we have been successful in marketing the subject," says the office manager Thomas Wiborg Gabrielsen at Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.
All about AI
The teaching in AI Essentials DAT105 is covering everything from key concepts to ethical implications and legal constraints, such as the AI Act from the EU.
"The students learn about what artificial intelligence (AI) is, why they should use AI, and how they can use generative AI in a good way, says associate professor in artificial intelligence Alvaro Fernandez Quilez.
Generative artificial intelligence is artificial intelligence that quickly creates / generates answers to questions. The course gives students an overview of different categories of generative AI and associated tools.
"Through practical use, students gain experience with AI tools and the opportunity to develop an understanding of how these can be used in an appropriate way," explains Alvaro Fernandez Quilez.
Great societal importance
The course is for one semester only (autumn) and the exam must be delivered in December.
"However, the study is flexible, so even if it takes place within the framework of one semester, the students have great freedom to adapt the study to their own everyday life," says Thomas Wiborg Gabrielsen, who believes the study is very important:
"Artificial intelligence will affect most industries and professional areas in the future. It is therefore important that as many people as possible get knowledge that enables them to use these tools."
Due to its great societal importance, the course is also offered without a course fee, so that students only pay the normal semester fee.
Could be part of ordinary study programmes
"It also means that the subject can be baked into ordinary study programmes," Thomas Wiborg Gabrielsen points out.
In connection with recruitment for the subject, the university has had a good collaboration with Dalane Utdanningssenter, a local education institution:
"There we also participated in a start-up meeting with the students. It reinforced the impression that we have managed to reach a broad audience. At this meeting, we met students from many different age groups and with varied educational and professional backgrounds. It shows that AI is relevant for everyone," says Thomas Wiborg Gabrielsen.
Text: Elin Nyberg