Overview

The development of large language models (LLMs) has opened many new possibilities for use of AI in analysing data, though there are many open questions, including accuracy and error, privacy and skills. However, despite these concerns, this is a technology that is probably under-explored in DS-I Africa and which many groups would benefit from its use.

The use of public LLMs such as ChatGPT, Claude and DeepSeek are of course very important. However, these are not always possible to use in our projects because the sensitivity of the data means that providing the data to public LLMs is too risky or too complex to get regulatory approval. The alternative - to run these models either in the cloud or locally - is very attractive.

Programme Structure:

The training programme will run in two phases. Phase A of the programme will start with virtual sessions beginning 10 February to 07 April 2026 with weekly sessions on Tuesdays at 15h00 - 16h30 CAT, including two Thursday sessions on 12 February and 26 March. 

Phase B will be a hackathon week hosted from 13 to 17 April 2026, 08h30  - 16h30 CAT in Johannesburg, South Africa.

It is important to note that:

(a) attending the virtual sessions is a prerequisite for attending the hackathon

(b) however, participants are not required to participate in the hackathon to complete the training.

 

Application Process:

We invite applications from data scientists and trainees in the DS-I Africa Consortium and partners. (Participants must be competent programmers.)

Application opening date: 10 December 2025

Application closing date: 19 January 2026 at 23:59:59 CAT

Notification date for successful applicants: 26 January 2026

For general questions or queries, please contact Kerry Glover - kerry.glover@wits.ac.za and for technical queries, please contact Scott Hazelhurst - scott.hazelhurst@wits.ac.za

Loading... Loading...
You have selected an option that triggers this survey to end right now.
To save your responses and end the survey, click the 'End Survey' button below. If you have selected the wrong option by accident and/or wish to return to the survey, click the 'Return and Edit Response' button.