NUST Concludes Second Advanced AI Bootcamp in Collaboration with the Ashar Aziz Foundation

NUST Concludes Second Advanced AI Bootcamp in Collaboration with the Ashar Aziz Foundation

Islamabad, Pakistan – August 30, 2024: The National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), in partnership with the Ashar Aziz Foundation, successfully concluded its second Advanced AI Bootcamp today, focusing on Large Language Models (LLMs). This initiative is part of a broader effort to address the growing challenges of unemployment and under-employment among Pakistan’s youth, particularly recent graduates.

The bootcamp series, which began in May 2023, was initiated by NUST in collaboration with Sky Electric and the Higher Education Commission (HEC). The series aims to develop high-impact skills training resources at NUST, which can then be scaled to other universities across Pakistan. This approach is designed to equip graduates with the cutting-edge skills necessary to thrive in the rapidly evolving field of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The first bootcamp, which focused on Deep Neural Networks (DNNs), was successfully completed at NUST in November 2023. Building on this success, the second bootcamp, which concluded today, provided participants with in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience in the development and application of LLMs. Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences & Technology (GIKI) also joined this initiative in 2024, conducting its own DNN-focused bootcamp.

“The successful conclusion of this bootcamp marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to empower Pakistan’s youth with the skills needed to excel in the global AI landscape,” said Dr. Osman Hasan, Pro-Rector (Academics) at NUST. “We are committed to expanding this initiative and are already developing resources for the third bootcamp in this series, which will focus on Reinforcement Learning.”

The bootcamp series not only provides theoretical knowledge but also emphasizes practical, project-based learning. Participants have the opportunity to work with advanced technologies, including access to a 10xH100 NVIDIA GPU AI supercomputer, ensuring they are well-prepared to tackle real-world challenges in AI.

As part of its ongoing efforts, NUST plans to partner with additional universities across Pakistan to further scale this initiative, ensuring that more students have access to high-quality AI training.