Future Ready: Shaping AI Education Through Collaboration
Academic Head of Centre, Dr Aisha Abuelmatti leads the Queen Mary Future Ready project, integrating cross-disciplinary AI and entrepreneurial skills for tomorrow’s job market.
How can AI and entrepreneurial skills prepare students for the future job market? Academic Head of the Centre for Excellence in AI in Education at Queen Mary University of London, Dr Aisha Abuelmaatti, is leading a funded initiative to answer that question. The Future Ready project, funded by Queen Mary's President and Principal’s Fund for Educational Excellence, brings together AI, cross-sector expertise, and pedagogic innovation to equip students with the skills they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving job market. Future Ready is an interdisciplinary collaboration designed to integrate AI, entrepreneurial skills, and cross-sectoral expertise into the student learning experience. This ambitious project is spearheaded by leading academics from multiple disciplines, including Aisha Abuelmaatti (School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science - S&E), Jo Elliott (Medicine and Dentistry - FMD), Karen Watton (School of Law - HSS), Leon Vinokur (School of Economics and Finance - HSS), Paraskevi Argriou (School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences - S&E), Pedro Elston (Institute of Health Sciences Education - FMD), Veronica Veleanu (School of Economics and Finance - HSS), Weronika Fernando (School of Languages, Linguistics and Film - HSS), and Xue Zhou (School of Business and Management - HSS).
The project is designed to bridge the gap between academia and industry by fostering AI literacy, innovation, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. By integrating AI-driven solutions with entrepreneurial and interdisciplinary practices, students will gain critical employability skills that align with evolving industry demands. This initiative builds on Queen Mary’s collaborations with industry leaders such as Google DeepMind, showcasing the university’s commitment to inclusivity and innovation in AI education. Students have benefited from hands-on experiences and mentorship opportunities, reinforcing their ability to contribute meaningfully to AI-driven fields.
As part of this initiative, the team conducted a World Café event, bringing together industry partners, students, and staff to co-create solutions and insights for AI-driven education and employability. This interactive session facilitated dynamic discussions and knowledge exchange, ensuring that diverse voices shaped the future direction of AI education. Through these co-creation efforts, the Future Ready project emphasises collaboration as a key driver for innovation and impact.
Lord Tim Clement-Jones, Chair of Queen Mary’s Council, has emphasised the urgency of AI literacy and ethical innovation in education. His insights reinforce the necessity of preparing students not only with technical skills but also with the ability to engage in critical discussions on AI’s societal impact. Through interdisciplinary roundtables and expert-led discussions, the project fosters collaboration between students and industry leaders. The initiative envisions AI education that surpasses traditional boundaries, incorporating real-world applications and entrepreneurial strategies.
The Future Ready project is more than just an educational initiative; it is a transformative platform for shaping the next generation of AI leaders. By prioritising inclusivity, interdisciplinary learning, and industry engagement, the Centre for Excellence in AI in Education at Queen Mary University solidifies its role as a pioneer in future-focused AI education.
To find out more from the students working on this project, visit:
Dr Aisha Abuelmaatti is Academic Head of the Centre for Excellence in Artificial Intelligence in Education.