TORONTO, May 3, 2023 – Today, the Vector Institute announced the 106 winners of the 2023-24 Vector Scholarship in Artificial Intelligence (VSAI). Valued at $17,500, these merit-based scholarships recognize top candidates pursuing studies in either Vector-recognized master’s programs, which provide students with the AI skills and competencies sought by employers, or individual AI study paths in Ontario.
“The Vector Institute is thrilled by the caliber and diversity of this year’s cohort of talented students. The growth in the number and breadth of AI programs also speaks to AI’s increasingly central place in our university curriculum. Programs like the Vector Scholarship in Artificial Intelligence are ensuring that Ontario is attracting top talent to enable AI adoption to fuel the province’s economy.”
Melissa Judd
Vector’s Vice President, Research Operations and Academic Partnerships
This year’s recipients are pursuing master’s degrees in a range of programs from engineering to computer science, health informatics, business analytics, and more. The cohort received almost $2 million in total scholarship funding. After graduation, they will join Ontario’s growing pool of workforce-ready AI talent.
The Vector Scholarship in AI attracts top talent to AI master’s programs across Ontario and is part of a suite of programs run by Vector that connects highly skilled talent with companies adopting AI. Since 2018, Ontario companies and organizations have hired more than 850 Vector-affiliated students from AI master’s programs, including VSAI recipients.
“I was ecstatic when I received the email notifying me that I had been selected as a Vector Scholarship in Artificial Intelligence Recipient. This scholarship is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that is going to open new doors for me and many other recipients.”
Pooja Sharma
Master of Health Informatics (MHI) at the University of Toronto
This sixth round of VSAI recipients will attend 14 universities across Ontario. There have been 567 scholarships awarded since the program launched in 2018, with many scholarship recipients joining newly created AI master’s programs. The goal to graduate 1,000 AI master’s students annually by 2023 has been achieved, with over 1,000 students graduating from Ontario AI master’s programs for the second year in a row.
“This scholarship will not only help me financially but also help me to accelerate and aid my learning as a student. I am sure that this scholarship is going to be a turning point in my career. Moreover, I look forward to joining the Vector community, connecting with fellow AI enthusiasts, and working together to provide AI solutions for real-world problems.”
Mehakdeep Dhothar
Master of Engineering in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Ottawa
Scholarship recipients and students enrolled in master’s programs recognized by the Vector Institute attend events and talks that put them face-to-face with top AI researchers, and teams from top Canadian employers, providing unique access to career opportunities. The master’s students are also provided with access to Vector’s Digital Talent Hub, career development and networking events, and AI-specific professional development programming to ensure they are ready to join the workforce.
2024-25 scholarship competition dates will be announced in Fall 2023. Learn more about the Vector Scholarship in AI.
