OPIT’s New Doctorate Program

The Open Institute of Technology (OPIT) has leveled up its educational offering, adding a professional doctorate program to its curated line-up of courses. The program – Professional Doctorate in Applied Artificial Intelligence – focuses on advanced AI research and the ways in which this exciting technology can be used to shape business strategies and solve organizational problems.

Read on to learn all about it.

Quick Summary

• OPIT has launched a new program: Professional Doctorate in Applied Artificial Intelligence.
• It lasts for six terms, usually spread out over three years of study (a six-year plan is also available).
• It teaches students the skills they need to lead AI-enabled projects, strategies, and research.
• Career pathways include AI business strategy, digital transformation, and AI governance.
• Applicants should hold an MSc (ideally in STEM) and B2 level English proficiency.

Introducing the New Doctorate Program at OPIT

Since its inception, OPIT has offered a small, selective array of courses, giving students a choice of study paths without overwhelming them with too many options. It has focused primarily on bachelor’s and master’s degrees, while also offering an introductory pre-bachelor’s (foundation) program for those taking their first steps towards higher education.

Now, OPIT is offering a whole new level of study with its Professional Doctorate in Applied Artificial Intelligence. It is available to complete on a full-time or part-time basis, and is accessible entirely online. And like other OPIT courses, this program is aimed at the AI leaders, strategists, and project managers of tomorrow, equipping them with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed.

It’s the highest-level program available at OPIT today, for students seeking to achieve the highest standards of knowledge and expertise in their fields. It may not be for everyone, with some students simply settling at bachelor’s or master’s levels. But for those wanting to take that extra step towards excellence, this is the course to choose.

An Overview of OPIT’s Professional Doctorate in Applied Artificial Intelligence

Here’s a closer look at what this course involves:

• Duration: Six terms, spread out over three years (full-time) or six years (part-time).
• Content: Covers foundational and applied topics in AI and technology management. Also involves students creating their own research proposals and carrying out their own investigations, culminating in a doctoral dissertation and defense.
• Focus: Empowering students with the advanced AI research knowledge they need to conduct and even lead AI-enabled projects and strategies in their future careers.
• Format: Delivered entirely online, allowing students to study remotely and at their own pace.
• Assessment: Students will be assessed by completing a capstone research project and a doctoral dissertation, culminating in a defense of their dissertation before a panel of experts.

What the Program Covers

OPIT’s Professional Doctorate in Applied Artificial Intelligence is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to apply AI technologies strategically across numerous industries and applications. Like other OPIT programs, it combines academic rigor with real-world applications and focuses not merely on knowledge but on how to put that knowledge to use.

The program covers three main areas of research:

• Core AI Technologies: Including machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, and computer vision
• Industry Applications: Ways in which AI is and can be used in fields like finance, healthcare, smart cities, environment, and manufacturing
• Responsible and Applied AI: The ethics behind AI, the fundamentals of human-centric AI, and a specialist focus on sectors like AutoML and MLOps

During year one (of the full-time course), students will complete core modules like AI Applications in Industry. Moving into year two, they’ll focus on building their own research proposal and carrying out an initial investigation. Year three will focus exclusively on the capstone research project, dissertation, and an oral defense of said dissertation before the OPIT Examining Committee.

Who This Doctorate Is For

As a Doctorate program, this course is, naturally, not for everyone, but is instead aimed at a select group of applicants who already have a certain amount of expertise and/or experience in the field. Ideal applicants include:

• Mid-to-senior professionals or executives seeking to pursue AI-powered digital transformation of their organizations or future employers
• Domain experts who have already studied and worked with AI extensively, but want to deepen their knowledge and understanding even further
• Applied researchers and innovators seeking to bolster the fundamental research and practical skills needed for future projects
• Aspiring thought leaders and responsible professionals who are committed to discovering and deploying more responsible, ethical uses of AI
• Students who have already completed their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in technology, but still want to continue their educational journeys before moving into the working world

Benefits and Value of Studying a Professional Doctorate at OPIT

Many universities around the world are starting to offer professional doctorate programs in AI and other emerging technologies, but studying at OPIT offers unique advantages that no other school can provide:

• Online Learning: OPIT delivers all its courses, including this program, online. Students can tune into live lectures and access an array of pre-recorded learning materials on demand, allowing them to study at their own pace and from any location.
• Practical Applications: Conventional studies still focus heavily on learning statistics and memorizing information. OPIT takes a different approach, focusing much more on the practical applications of knowledge to give students real-world value.
• Strong Support: All OPIT students, at all levels of education, are part of the OPIT community. They can reach out to their tutors or fellow students at almost any time of the week for advice and assistance, as well as use the institute’s peerless array of support tools.
• Industry Leaders: Doctorate students at OPIT will enjoy learning from some of the world’s leading experts in AI, like Pierluigi Casale, AI Area Chair at OPIT, or Filip Bialy, Professor at Adam Mickiewicz University, with over 15 years of web development and AI ethics experience.
• Career Pathways: Those who succeed in this course will find numerous high-salary professional pathways open up to them. Graduates can move into jobs such as C-level executives, AI business strategists, AI consultants, policy advisors, or applied AI researchers.

Entry Requirements and Fees

Given that this is a Doctorate program, applicants will need to meet certain criteria in terms of their professional and educational background. At the same time, OPIT aims to make all of its courses as accessible as possible, so even if you don’t necessarily have a relevant master’s degree in a STEM field, there are still alternative pathways for admission into this course.

Applicants should possess:

• An MSc degree in a STEM discipline or a non-STEM MSc, but with five years of relevant work experience.
• English proficiency at level B2 or better.
• A statement of purpose outlining their intended research topic.
• A provisional supervisory agreement form.

Regarding fees, the total cost for this course is €24,000, with term fees of €4,000 per term for full-time students and €2,000 per term for part-time students. These fees are all-inclusive, with no hidden charges or optional extras to worry about. Funding opportunities are available via employer sponsorships or professional development funds.

Level Up Your Education at OPIT

So, whether you’re a seasoned tech professional looking to make better use of AI in your business, a researcher eager to uncover the next exciting applications of AI technologies, or a tech-enthusiast student who has completed their master’s and wants to take the next step, the Professional Doctorate in Applied Artificial Intelligence might be the perfect course for you. Browse the OPIT website to learn more or apply now.