Школа бизнеса GW и Тбилисский госуниверситет запускают совместную магистратуру по искусственному интеллекту для бизнеса

The School of Business is partnering with Georgian National University SEU to offer a dual master’s degree in artificial intelligence for business starting this fall. GWSB faculty will teach the 30-credit program on the SEU campus in Tbilisi, Georgia, which is accepting applications until Sept. 20 and starts this fall. The three-semester program is designed to help Georgia meet its “technical development objectives” as a country and train a “pipeline” of applied artificial intelligence experts who can build, deploy and govern AI-systems, according to the program’s website. The dual degree program follows GWSB’s announcement of a new master’s degree in AI for Business in June, which will begin offering classes next academic year. The MSAIB program combines the technical foundations of AI with business strategy and responsible AI governance, according to the programs website. Lia Kurtanidze, program coordinator and business and technology faculty member at SEU, said Georgian National University SEU already offers a master’s program in artificial intelligence and data science, which focuses on both theoretical and applied concepts. She said the development of the joint program between SEU and GW represents a “natural progression” of the existing program by teaching students about the application of AI inside organizations. “The dual-degree program is distinctive in its interdisciplinary approach, integrating artificial intelligence with business and management,” Kurtanidze said in an email. “It is designed for students who seek to understand not only the technological foundations of AI but also its strategic and practical applications in business, management and decision-making.“ Kurtanidze said faculty members from both universities participated in the development of the program and its curriculum and it will be delivered primarily in-person in Georgia. She said most GWSB faculty members participating in the program will travel to Georgia for designated teaching periods at the SEU campus rather than permanently relocate, and existing SEU faculty members will also teach selected courses. “This model enables students to complete the majority of their studies in Georgia while benefiting from direct academic engagement with both U.S. and Georgian faculty members,” Kurtanidze said. Kurtanidze said the program is primarily structured for students who intend to complete the majority of their degree in Georgia, since most classes will be taught in person at the SEU campus, and U.S.-based students are not currently eligible to apply. She said the program also offers the possibility of Tbilisi-based students taking in-person courses in D.C. during their third and final semester of the degree, subject to visa approvals. “The program therefore provides students based in Georgia with access to a U.S.-oriented academic experience without requiring them to relocate to the United States for the entire duration of their studies,” Kurtanidze said. Kurtanidze said the dual degree program intends to bolster graduate student’s academic and professional profiles in an increasingly international and technology-driven labor market. She said graduates will develop “interdisciplinary competencies” in AI and business while also gaining academic experience associated with both a Georgian and a U.S.-based university. “The partnership responds to the increasing demand for professionals who possess interdisciplinary competencies in both artificial intelligence and business,” Kurtanidze said. “Combining SEU’s expertise in AI and data science with GW’s strengths in business education provides a strong academic foundation for a dual-degree program in Artificial Intelligence for Business.” SEU also partners with other U.S. universities, like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where they send lecturers each year to participate in an entrepreneurial training program on the MIT campus. Other partnerships include the University of California, Berkeley, the College of the Canyons and other universities in Europe. GWSB has previously partnered with international universities like the University of Chile for its MBA Capstone program. In the first semester of the program, students will take courses in programming, statistical foundations and generative AI, according to the program website. During the second and third semester, students take courses focusing on ethics, analytics and business applications of AI, as well as a capstone course to conclude the program. A University spokesperson said a shared recognition of the growing importance of artificial intelligence and commitment to developing “internationally competitive” educational opportunities for students in Georgia led to the partnership between GW and Georgian National University SEU. “SEU sought to help meet the country’s technological development objectives by building a strong pipeline of AI talent, while GW saw an opportunity to extend its expertise in artificial intelligence for business through a partnership with a dynamic and forward-looking institution,” the spokesperson said in an email. The spokesperson said an influential factor in the partnership was the “strong complementarity” between the two universities. They said GW offers a specialized AI for Business curriculum and global faculty resources while SEU contributes “deep knowledge” of the local educational landscape and workforce priorities. “Together, the institutions are able to offer students a learning experience that is both globally informed and locally relevant,” the spokesperson said.