Technical AI Lectures
Expert-led lectures that work through the core technical content of the curriculum, from neural networks to transformers and model acceleration.
Upcoming
South Africa Workshop 1 (Pretoria)
A South African workshop hosted at the University of Pretoria, during the Semester 2 recess.
Workshop week
14–18 September 2026
Overview
About this workshop
The Pretoria Lecturer Workshop brings together lecturers and teaching assistants from the University of Pretoria, the University of Venda, and the University of Mpumalanga for an intensive, fully funded week, hosted at the University of Pretoria during the Semester 2 recess.
By the end of the week, participants are ready to deliver the AI Research Foundations curriculum to their own students, adapted for their context.
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 programmeYour journey
The programme timeline
The programme begins with the virtual pre-work period, preparing you for the intensive workshop. It culminates in delivering the curriculum and supporting student projects at your university.
- Virtual pre-workYou are hereTo be confirmed
Complete courses 01 to 04 on Google Skills, join Discord, attend the live sessions, and prepare for the workshop week.
- Workshop week14–18 September 2026
Learn, practise teaching, adapt teaching resources, collaborate, and connect with your cohort during the intensive workshop week.
- Deliver the curriculumLate 2026
Teach the AI Research Foundations curriculum at your university, adapting the UCL lecturer toolkit for your local context.
- Supervise student capstone projects2026 to 2027
Supervise and guide students through the implementation of their capstone projects.
- Share your impactOngoing
Share feedback, outcomes, and lessons learned to strengthen the programme.
The 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 dates will be confirmed soon.
- Join the cohort community and the recurring Live Sessions during pre-work.
At a glance
Workshop details
Dates
14–18 September 2026
Venue
University of Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria
Audience
Lecturers and teaching assistants
Participating universities
University of Pretoria, University of Venda, University of Mpumalanga
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
