The 2025 MenaML Winter School, co-hosted by HBKU’s QCRI and MenaML, gathered 141 students and industry professionals to acquire AI skills through lectures and practical sessions. It addressed AI’s applicability in various sectors, provided mentorship opportunities, and featured major sponsors such as Google and Apple. The initiative aims to develop local AI talent and foster collaboration in the MENA region.
In Doha, Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI) collaborated with MenaML to organize the 2025 Middle East and North Africa Machine Learning (MenaML) Winter School. This six-day program attracted 141 university students and industry professionals, aiming to enhance their artificial intelligence (AI) skills through lectures, practical sessions, and discussions on pertinent topics such as large language models, generative AI, and deep learning.
The curriculum emphasized the application of AI across various sectors, including education, genomics, biology, and healthcare, aligning with Qatar’s national objectives for AI practitioners to drive transformation in these areas. Notable speakers from QCRI, Google DeepMind, Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, InstaDeep, and other organizations engaged with participants, enriching their understanding and contributing to the development of Qatar’s AI and computer science capabilities.
Dr. Ahmed K Elmagarmid, Executive Director of QCRI, highlighted the success of the Winter School, stating that collaborations with partners like Google DeepMind enable the development of AI talent aligned with current and future computing needs. The program also facilitated professional development opportunities, mentorship, networking events, and a poster session for participants to present their research to peers and industry leaders.
Several prominent companies, including Google DeepMind, Google Cloud, Dell, and Apple, sponsored the event, actively engaging with students through mentorship and interactive challenges. Additionally, community partners like MoroccoAI and inzva contributed to the initiative’s success. The MenaML Winter School aims to cultivate future AI leaders and establish a robust network of AI professionals in the MENA region, fostering collaboration and local talent development in the field.
The MenaML Winter School serves as a crucial platform for equipping students and professionals with essential AI skills in the region. Through expert-led sessions and ample networking opportunities, the event not only enhances individual knowledge but also contributes to the overarching goal of nurturing AI talent and fostering innovation in the MENA area. The collaboration among distinguished organizations is paramount to achieving these objectives and advancing Qatar’s knowledge-based economy.
Original Source: thepeninsulaqatar.com
