Students develop AI solutions to address immigration challenges
The inaugural Build a Bridge Program and Competition, presented by the Bridging Divides research program and the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integration (CERC Migration) at Toronto Metropolitan University, recently concluded with six teams showcasing their innovative AI-driven digital tools. Over six weeks, students developed creative solutions to address key challenges in migrant integration, strengthening their technical and entrepreneurial skills with the support of expert mentors and workshops.
The competition’s primary goal was to help students understand the issues migrants face when integrating into new communities. Teams focused on creating technologies to solve real-world problems such as access to resources, social inclusion, and navigating cultural differences. By exploring the intersection of AI and migration, the program aimed to raise awareness and create practical tools with a lasting impact on immigrant communities.
More than 35 students signed up for the initiative, with 25 completing the full program and earning certificates. Participants received mentorship and resources throughout the program. Teams had the opportunity to meet with industry experts who provided guidance on refining their solutions and ensuring their AI tools could be developed into effective products. Workshops in AI engineering, immigration studies, and business development helped the students build the skills needed to succeed.
The competition culminated in the awarding of the $6,000 CAD prize for the best Minimum Viable Product, sponsored by the Responsible Artificial Intelligence (RAI) initiative. The winning project, KASA AI, is a community-centered platform designed to assist immigrants with settlement by delivering personalized resources and connecting them with relevant services. The team—comprising TMU students Ammar J. Mahmood, Ali Khalil, Saad Khan and Kamyar Saeedabadi—was commended for their innovative use of AI to generate personalized pathways to information, making it easier for immigrants to integrate into their new communities.
Build a Bridge not only allowed students to explore the challenges of migration but also provided them with the support to create tangible solutions. In addition to KASA AI, other noteworthy proposals included Third Space, a platform offering personalized cultural integration coaching for immigrants, which showed great promise in helping individuals adapt while maintaining their cultural identities. Kiana Jenabidehkordi, the Innovation Lead at CERC Migration and Bridging Divides, expressed her pride in the students’ efforts, noting, “It is inspiring to see this new generation of engineers and entrepreneurs show such strong empathy and dedication to addressing social challenges. I am proud of our students for their hard work and the values they demonstrate through their team efforts.”
The success of this year’s Build a Bridge Program and Competition underscores the potential of students to develop cutting-edge solutions to real-world problems, which they often have unique understandings of. As the program concludes, the students’ work stands as a testament to the role technology and innovation can play in promoting social change and improving the lives of immigrants worldwide.
Additional links:
Build a Bridge Program and Competition
Bridging Divides
CERC Migration
Responsible Artificial Intelligence