Date Posted: 08/09/2024
Req ID: 38852
Faculty/Division: Faculty of Arts & Science
Department: Munk Sch Global Affairs & Public Policy
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)

Description:

Course number and title: GLA2043HS Real-Time Data for AI and Global Intelligence 

Course description: 

This graduate seminar explores the potential of new digital datasets and advances in artificial intelligence for understanding critical global challenges. 

Traditional data lag reality, are scarce, or don’t capture complex modern economies and societies. By contrast, each day, scanners, smartphones, and online platforms capture text, location, payments, searches, and other real-time, detailed data. This data explosion, combined with increased computing power, is fueling major advances in AI. 

This course explores how leaders can use real-time datasets and new AI tools to spot and respond to problems as they emerge. For example, more readily available satellite images can enable leaders to monitor poverty, climate change, or war in near real-time. New AI tools trained on massive datasets can locate previously unknown critical minerals or better identify economic or disease risks at scale globally. General-purpose AI tools can speed up issues analysis or identify missing angles. 

The course is not highly technical; the goal is to expose students to these developments and the opportunities and risks they raise. Through guest speakers, discussions, and assignments, students will learn about and experiment with using non-traditional data and AI tools to better understand world events or challenges. These activities will also require students to confront the challenges and risks of using these tools for real world analysis. Since this topic is dynamic, there may also be opportunity to explore emerging AI developments and what they mean for global affairs intelligence and for global affairs more generally. 

Estimated course enrolment: 25

Estimated TA support: N/A

Class schedule: Thursday 10am-Noon

*The delivery method for this course is currently in-person. Please note that, in keeping with current circumstances, the course delivery method may change as determined by the Faculty or the Department. 

Sessional dates of appointment: January 1, 2025 - April 30, 2025

Salary:

Sessional Lecturer I: $9,457.90

Sessional Lecturer I Long Term: $9,930.80

Sessional Lecturer II $10,121.77

Sessional Lecturer II Long Term: $10,326.62

Sessional Lecturer III: $10,362.76

Sessional Lecturer III Long Term: $10,570.02

Please note that should rates stipulated in the collective agreement vary from rates stated in this posting, the rates stated in the collective agreement shall prevail.

Minimum Qualifications: Gradudate degree in International Relations.

Preferred Qualifications: Previous experience teaching in the area is preferred. 

Description of duties: Developing the syllabus, teaching one 2-hour lecture per week at the graduate level, providing weekly office hours for academic counseling of students, preparing and delivering course material; preparing and delivering assignments and tests; marking student work and submitting grades.

Application Procedure: All individuals interested in this position must submit an updated Curriculum Vitae and the CUPE 3902 Unit 3 application form to mga@utoronto.ca. 

Closing Date: 09/03/2024, 11:59PM EDT
**

This job is posted in accordance with the CUPE 3902 Unit 3 Collective Agreement. 

It is understood that some announcements of vacancies are tentative, pending final course determinations and enrolment. Should rates stipulated in the collective agreement vary from rates stated in this posting, the rates stated in the collective agreement shall prevail.  

Preference in hiring is given to qualified individuals advanced to the rank of Sessional Lecturer II or Sessional Lecturer III in accordance with Article 14:12 of the CUPE 3902 Unit 3 collective agreement.

Please note: Undergraduate or graduate students and postdoctoral fellows of the University of Toronto are covered by the CUPE 3902 Unit 1 collective agreement rather than the Unit 3 collective agreement, and should not apply for positions posted under the Unit 3 collective agreement.