Fijian students are poised to enhance their skills in artificial intelligence as Honeywell Aerospace organizes a four-day AI Hackathon at the University of the South Pacific next week. This event aims to provide participants with hands-on experience and insights into the construction and application of AI solutions in real-world industrial contexts.
Nazia Taylor, Senior Director of Digital Transformation and Innovation, emphasized that the program is crafted to create a safe environment for students to experiment, learn from their mistakes, and gain expertise not typically included in standard classroom education. The hackathon is accessible to a broad audience, including high school and university students, graduates, and IT professionals.
Participants will collaborate with representatives from Honeywell Aerospace, Tata Consultancy Services, and Pacific Technologies to tackle a specific AI use case. This will involve learning critical skills such as teamwork, testing, deployment, and how to effectively present their solutions to industry stakeholders. Taylor noted, “This will give students an insight into how AI solutions are built. While many people use AI tools like ChatGPT and learn programming languages like Python, the hackathon provides a focused use case for practical application.”
Taylor also pointed out that AI is becoming increasingly vital in the global aviation sector, especially concerning predictive maintenance and enhancing aircraft safety, and highlighted the potential for Fijian talent to contribute to this expanding field. The event not only serves as a platform for students to engage with AI practically but also enables industry partners to discover potential talents while assisting universities in identifying gaps in digital and AI readiness.
Honeywell’s initiative is a significant step towards bringing global aerospace expertise to Fiji, opening up new avenues for students pursuing careers in aviation, information technology, and artificial intelligence. This hackathon represents a fantastic opportunity for students to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application in an exciting and emerging field.
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