The aerospace industry is actively working to tackle the increasing skills gap by connecting educational experiences with the practical demands of the workforce. Honeywell Aerospace is at the forefront of this initiative, particularly for IT students and recent graduates who possess solid theoretical knowledge in artificial intelligence but may lack hands-on experience in real-world scenarios.
Nazia Taylor, the team leader at Honeywell, has announced an upcoming four-day AI hackathon designed specifically for this purpose. This workshop aims to immerse participants in a practical project that reflects industry operations. Taylor notes, “Our hackathon is tailored to provide a specific use case, and it will help the students how to solve it. So they will walk away knowing how IT teams work together, how they collaborate, how they provide digital solutions, how they test it, how they can go to market with those solutions, and then how you present that to a wider audience.” The focus is on offering an experience that mirrors current industry practices.
The program also aims to alleviate concerns regarding artificial intelligence’s impact on employment. Honeywell highlights that AI is intended to augment human work rather than replace it, enabling individuals to make informed decisions more efficiently. This approach not only prepares graduates for the evolving job landscape but also fosters a more collaborative environment between technology and human expertise.
Honeywell’s team recognizes the potential within Fiji, identifying a wealth of untapped talent among local students. They believe that with appropriate resources, mentorship, and exposure to real-world applications, these students can thrive and compete on an international level without needing to relocate abroad. This initiative symbolizes a hopeful step towards nurturing local talent and ensuring that graduates are well-equipped for the future workforce.
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