Education system of engineers and scientific personnel in the sphere of quantum information technologies, quantum robust artificial intelligence and quantum resilience
Скиба Владимир Юрьевич, Sergei Petrenko, Evgeny Abakumov
Currently, quantum technologies are the driving force behind technological progress (Industry 4.0/5.0/6.0 or Society 6.0). The development of quantum information technologies gives rise to new quantum threats to information security. The requirements of the federal project “Personnel for the Digital Economy or the Data Economy” for the key information technology – “Quantum Technologies” (Priority 1) – can be fulfilled only by developing an appropriate training system for engineering and scientific personnel in the fields of quantum information technologies, quantum robust artificial intelligence and quantum resilience. The creation of a vertically integrated education system, which includes not only basic higher education, but also the training of scientific personnel and upskilling for already employed professionals, will contribute to the development of innovative technologies in general. The paper presents the results of joint efforts of the Sirius University of Science and Technology together with the Quantum Consortium of Business and Universities to train personnel in the sphere of quantum information technologies for the development of such an education system.
Currently, quantum technologies are the driving force behind technological progress (Industry 4.0/5.0/6.0 or Society 6.0). The development of quantum information technologies gives rise to new quantum threats to information security. The requirements of the federal project “Personnel for the Digital Economy or the Data Economy” for the key information technology – “Quantum Technologies” (Priority 1) – can be fulfilled only by developing an appropriate training system for engineering and scientific personnel in the fields of quantum information technologies, quantum robust artificial intelligence and quantum resilience. The creation of a vertically integrated education system, which includes not only basic higher education, but also the training of scientific personnel and upskilling for already employed professionals, will contribute to the development of innovative technologies in general. The paper presents the results of joint efforts of the Sirius University of Science and Technology together with the Quantum Consortium of Business and Universities to train personnel in the sphere of quantum information technologies for the development of such an education system.
Today quantum communications is considered as a promising and rapidly developing technology. As this field advances, there is a growing demand for highly qualified specialists capable of solving complex challenges concerning computer science, mathematics, physics and cryptography. In response, universities and research centers worldwide are now designing and implementing new educational programs aimed at training specialists in this field. In the near future, such specialists will play a pivotal role in building communication systems that will form the backbone of the future digital economy. This article examines key points of professional training in quantum communications. This determine special knowledge and skills required for such specialists and explore the implementation specifics of the educational course «Quantum Technologies in Info communications» within the degree program 11.03.02 «Info communication Technologies and Communication Systems» at the Federal State-Funded Educational Institution of Higher Education «Povolzhskiy State University of Telecommunications and Informatics».
The second (quantum computing algorithms and HW-computers) and third quantum (quantum programming and SW-engineering and quantum “powerful” computing AI) revolutions have led to the necessity in developing of intelligent SW/HW platform (strong quantum computational AI) of industrial quantum technologies for mega - science projects “Industry 5.0 / 6.0”. This fact, in turn, has raised the big challenge of training a new generation of quantum engineering staff in the fields of quantum end-to-end IT, quantum software engineering and quantum intelligent control. The creation of an appropriate software-algorithmic platform and hardware support in view of a quantum computer for industrial development required a radical revision of the foundations of educational processes for quantum engineering, the creation of a new technological structure and mathematical / physical / technical background in dynamically developing areas of application of quantum end-to-end IT. The lack of teaching staff and objective assessments of the necessity of industry and science for quantum engineering personnel only increased the difficulties in the development of quantum engineering. There is a certain mathematical maturity required to understand the quantum mechanics of finite dimensional systems. We review only the basics here and this is mostly to familiarize the reader with the notation used for the remainder of this Introduction.
Quantum-based technologies have been instrumental in the development of a whole range of devices that are used these days (such as lasers, transistors, LiDAR, GPS, MRI, and many more). These technologies that emanated from the Quantum 1.0 Revolution have become ubiquitous in modern civilization over the past 50 years. The product commercialization and mass production were enabled by scientists, researchers, engineers, and most importantly, by the skilled technological workforce. This workforce played a critical support role in transforming inventions into high-volume, marketable products. We are currently at the heart of the Second Quantum Revolution, which is fueled by the research in quantum computing, quantum communication, quantum cryptography, and quantum sensing. The scientific progress that is currently taking place in these areas is going to fundamentally change the way we sense the world around us, approach our security, and process critical information. Governments and private entities across the world have recognized the strategic importance of quantum research-enabled technologies and have invested a significant amount of money to support graduate programs and research institutions where scientists, engineers, and other professionals are earning advanced degrees and immediately being engaged in active Quantum 2.0 research. To the best of our knowledge, and despite considerable investment in quantum research, no active efforts or programs exist that would train a quantum technological workforce at the technician level to support Quantum 2.0. The quantum industry, on the other side, has clearly identified the need for highly skilled quantum technicians that are able to support the commercialization of the new products and inventions. The lack of a trained quantum technician workforce is a major shortcoming that may have a profound negative impact on the long-term prospects and sustainability of the emerging quantum industry. The EdQuantum project, funded through the National Science Foundation (NSF) Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program, is an effort to close this shortcoming and propose a well-defined curriculum through which the incumbent photonic and laser technicians in the United States will be upskilled with the new skills and competencies from quantum research-enabled technologies. This paper presents the results of the first phase of the EdQuantum project—the quantum industry survey. Over the last few months, we sought input from the quantum industry as to what skills and competencies should a future quantum technician possess to support its emerging needs. The results collected during the survey are presented in this paper along with their impact on the proposed educational curriculum. This paper also elaborates on the alignment of the proposed curriculum with a few ongoing initiatives in the skilled technical workforce education (such as NSB Vision 2030, Convergence Accelerators Initiative, and Skilled Technical Workforce Initiative).
Quantum Education (QE) has gained worldwide importance due to the fast development of Quantum Information Science and Engineering (QISE). As per the strategy, quantum technology may spur innovation across industries and boost economic growth. Quantum computing research output and investment differ between developing and industrialized countries, highlighting the need for targeted efforts to close the gap. Consequently, while developed nations have advanced much in quantum research and development, underdeveloped countries still confront resource restrictions, limited infrastructure, and knowledge gaps hindering QE. This paper systematically reviews the environment, difficulties, and solutions for QE in developing countries. QE projects in numerous countries are examined, emphasizing tertiary education and institutes that provide quantum-related courses. A roadmap includes identifying learning goals, building thorough courses, encouraging collaboration, using online platforms, and evaluating and giving feedback. Transdisciplinary learning, hands-on experience, and ongoing learning are emphasized in training quantum workers. International cooperation and partnerships encourage knowledge exchange and resource allocation. The research suggests that underdeveloped nations must work together to overcome obstacles and realize quantum education’s revolutionary potential. Policymakers, educators, and stakeholders can enable these countries to engage in the quantum revolution by executing the equitable quantum technology access roadmap. The general objective of this systematic review is to analyze the current state of quantum education in developing countries, identifying challenges, gaps, and strategies to promote its implementation. The specific objectives are to: (1) identify and classify academic initiatives and research centers in quantum education across emerging economies; (2) examine the infrastructural, financial, and policy barriers hindering quantum workforce development, including digital connectivity and teacher preparedness; (3) compare quantum readiness across countries and regions using educational, scientific, and technological indicators; and (4) propose strategic guidelines for equitable global quantum advancement through curriculum reform, international collaboration, and workforce policy.
Background: Quantum information science and technology (QIST) has progressed significantly in the last decade, such that it is no longer solely in the domain of research labs, but is now beginning to be developed for, and applied in, industrial applications and products. With the emergence of this new quantum industry, a new workforce trained in QIST skills and knowledge is needed. Research Questions: To help support the education and training of this workforce, universities and colleges require knowledge of the type of jobs available for their students and what skills and degrees are most relevant for those new jobs. What are these jobs, skills, and degrees? Methodology: We report on the results from a survey of 57 companies in the quantum industry, with the goal of elucidating the jobs, skills, and degrees that are relevant for this new workforce. Findings: We find a range of job opportunities from highly specific jobs, such as quantum algorithm developer and error correction scientist, to broader jobs categories within the business, software, and hardware sectors. These broader jobs require a range of skills, most of which are not quantum related. Furthermore, except for the highly specific jobs, companies that responded to the survey are looking for a range of degree levels to fill these new positions, from bachelors to masters to Ph.D.s. Contribution: With this knowledge, students, instructors, and university administrators can make informed decisions about how to address the challenge of increasing the future quantum workforce.
In response to numerous programs seeking to advance quantum education and workforce development in the United States, experts from academia, industry, government, and professional societies convened for a National Science Foundation-sponsored workshop in February 2024 to explore the benefits and challenges of establishing a national center for quantum education. Broadly, such a center would foster collaboration and build the infrastructure required to develop a diverse and quantum-ready workforce. The workshop discussions focused on how a center could uniquely address gaps in public, K-12, and undergraduate quantum information science and engineering (QISE) education. Specifically, the community identified activities that, through a center, could lead to an increase in student awareness of quantum careers, boost the number of educators trained in quantum-related subjects, strengthen pathways into quantum careers, enhance the understanding of the US quantum workforce, and elevate public engagement with QISE. Core proposed activities for the center include professional development for educators, coordinated curriculum development and curation, expanded access to educational laboratory equipment, robust evaluation and assessment practices, network building, and enhanced public engagement with quantum science.