Technical AI Lectures
Expert-led lectures that work through the core technical content of the curriculum, from neural networks to transformers and model acceleration.
Completed
AIMS Pilot Workshop
A dry run of the workshop, held in June 2026 in Muizenberg, Cape Town, to test and refine how the week runs.
Workshop week
15–19 June 2026
Overview
About this workshop
The AIMS Pilot Workshop was a dry run of the AI Research Foundations workshop, held over five days at AIMS South Africa in Muizenberg. It brought together lecturers, researchers, and teaching assistants so the team could test how the week ran and refine the workshop before the national cohorts.
The week blended technical lectures, hands-on labs, peer teaching with structured feedback, and social activities, all woven through the four threads: learn, teach, adapt, and connect. What the team learned from running it helped fine-tune the workshop for the cohorts that followed.
The programme
Part of something bigger
AI Research Foundations for Higher Education helps universities build lasting, in-house AI teaching capacity. Funded by Google.org and built on a curriculum from Google DeepMind, the programme trains lecturers at 30 universities across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa to deliver eight hands-on AI courses, adapted for their own students and context.
Read about the programmeThe workshop week
Four things you'll do
01
Learn
Work through the technical content yourself, from language models to transformers, in lectures and hands-on labs.
02
Teach
Practise teaching the material and get clear feedback, so you leave ready to deliver it with confidence.
03
Adapt
Make the courses fit your students, with local examples, datasets, and framing.
04
Connect
Get to know other lecturers, the team, and partners, and build relationships that last beyond the week.
During the week
Workshop activities
Pedagogical Design
Sessions on how to teach this material well: structuring a course, designing activities, and supporting students through difficult concepts.
Contextualisation for Africa
Workshops on adapting examples, datasets, and case studies so the curriculum speaks directly to African students and their contexts.
AI and Responsible Innovation Activities
Hands-on activities that build practical AI skills alongside responsible innovation: thinking through impact, fairness, and resource use.
Explain It Back
Short teaching practice where you explain a concept back to peers and receive structured feedback to sharpen your delivery.
Lecture It Back
Longer teaching practice where you deliver a full lecture segment to the group, with structured feedback from facilitators and peers.
Social and Networking
Shared meals, social activities, and networking that turn a cohort of strangers into a lasting community of practice.
Before the workshop
Pre-work starts before you arrive
Workshop requirement
To attend the in-person workshop, you must complete at least the first four AI Research Foundations courses (01 to 04) on Google Skills, and attend at least 50% of the live sessions during the pre-work period.
- Complete at least the first four courses (01 to 04) on Google Skills before the workshop.
- Pre-work opens 18 May 2026.
- Join the cohort community and the recurring Live Sessions during pre-work.
At a glance
Workshop details
Dates
15–19 June 2026
Venue
AIMS South Africa
Muizenberg, Cape Town
Muizenberg, Cape Town
Audience
PhD and Master's students, researchers, TAs, and lecturers
Your facilitators
The team supporting this workshop
Prof. Ulrich Paquet
Project Lead
AI Director @ AIMS South Africa, Research Scientist @ Google DeepMind, Co-director @ Deep Learning Indaba
ulrich@aims.ac.za
Michael Alummoottil
Project Manager & Facilitator
Project Manager & NLP AI Expert @ AIMS AI Research Foundations Team, PhD Researcher @ University College London
michaelal@aims.ac.za
Yassir Aladdin
Technical Lead & Facilitator
Technical Lead & NLP AI Expert @ AIMS AI Research Foundations Team, Google DeepMind Scholar
yassir@aims.ac.za
Ayman Saeed
Facilitator
NLP AI Expert @ AIMS AI Research Foundations Team, Google DeepMind Scholar
aymans@aims.ac.za
Maharavo Rakotonirainy
Facilitator
NLP AI Expert @ AIMS AI Research Foundations Team, Google DeepMind Scholar
maharavo@aims.ac.za
Similoluwa Okunowo
Facilitator
NLP AI Expert @ AIMS AI Research Foundations Team, Google DeepMind Scholar
similoluwa@aims.ac.za
Toky Rajaofera
Facilitator
NLP AI Expert @ AIMS AI Research Foundations Team, Google DeepMind Scholar
toky@aims.ac.zaQuestions about this workshop?
The team is here to help you before, during, and after the week.
ai-research-foundations@aims.ac.zaQuestions
Frequently asked
What are the requirements for attending the workshop?
You are expected to complete at least the first four AI Research Foundations courses on Google Skills before the workshop. You should also attend at least 50% of the live sessions during the virtual pre-work period.
What technical background do participants need?
The curriculum starts from the fundamentals, so no prior AI experience is required. However, a working knowledge of Python, linear algebra, calculus, and probability will help you get the most from the programme.
Is the workshop fully funded?
Yes. The workshop is fully funded for selected participants. Transport, flights, accommodation, meals, and workshop logistics will be arranged and covered by the programme team.
What should I bring to the workshop?
Please bring your laptop, charger, and writing materials. Any additional learning materials required during the workshop will be provided by the programme team.
What happens after the workshop?
After the workshop, you will deliver the AI Research Foundations curriculum at your university and support students as they complete practical AI projects. The programme team will continue to provide guidance, resources, and support as you begin teaching.
In partnership with
With support from
