The AI Expo Africa 2020 ONLINE young engineer AI Skills programme, feedback from two young delegates.  Building a bridge from academia to industry and helping young people into the world of industrial opportunity in the 4IR in Africa.

In 2018 and 2019 our AI skills workshops were a great success and a great way for young students / engineers and entrepreneurs to learn via a hands on experience from experts in the field of machine learning, deep learning and data science. 

Nick Bradshaw, CEO AI Media Group, curators of AI Expo Africa stated, “The focus for these AI skills workshops is on engaging young engineers, students and entrepreneurs into a world class trade show and business community – we make the cost of entry zero and they all receive a 3 hour immersive workshop, access to the expo and networking zones.  The 400 free tickets we give away each year for the programme are issued so young people considering their next career move can engage with experts, understand the technology landscape and current skills that are in demand.  

Over the last 2 years we have been lucky enough to have been joined by the likes of AWS, Microsoft, Intel to make these opportunities a reality which we are very grateful for and we saw the level of interest from female delegates raise to 34% in 2019, which is above average engagement and one we want to see grow”.

Bradshaw concludes, “We are proud to have two examples of feedback from workshop attendees Samuel and Rebone (below) who shared with us their experience and how it helped shape their thinking on the industry use of AI and career progression. 

This year at AI Expo Africa 2020 ONLINE Intel are supporting our Youth ePavilion that will house multiple youth focused 4IR programmes and the entire eConference is being archived for 30 days so we can open it up for 1000s of young learners, students, researchers and entrepreneurs across Africa.  

We hope to have 5000-10,000 young people join the show via this element (which kicks of 7th September and runs until 3rd October) which is an African first for a conference of this size and testimony to how the move to online engagement and e-learning is something we are all having to embrace. We hope you enjoy these inspiring stories and can join us at AI Expo Africa 2020 ONLINE”.

Samuel Ofosu Mensah

Who are you (Name / Organisation)?

My name is Samuel Ofosu Mensah and I am a P.hD. student at the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS).

Why did you attend the AI Expo Africa workshop programme?

I attended AI Expo Africa for a number of reasons. First, I attended to present a poster which showcased machine learning in finance. In addition, I wanted to know what companies and startups will be presenting on their research and products in AI.  Finally, I saw it as an opportunity for networking and sharing ideas with other participants.

What value did you get from joining a large industry event like AI Expo Africa?

It was a great gain for me because of what I learned from attending the talks, speaking to experienced researchers both in the industry and academia. My personal favourite was Simon See from NVIDIA.

How has this changed your perspective about industry and career path?

As a postgraduate student, I kept wondering how my work will be relevant in the real world but this changed after attending last year’s event.

Overall – was it a very positive experience?

Yes, last year’s event was a positive experience and I am looking forward to the 2020 event.

Would you recommend young students/graduates/entrepreneurs attend such events?

Yes, I would recommend young students to attend AI Expo Africa because it will give them the opportunity to meet new people for future collaborations.

Rebone Meraba

Who are you (Name / Organisation)?

Rebone Meraba, a Bioinformatician. My research interests include applying AI techniques to Bioinformatic problems, and processing biological/medical data for precision medicine, discovery, diagnosis and treatment.

Why did you attend the AI Expo Africa workshop programme?

To network with industry professionals and get insights on the latest trends on how AI is contributing to the growth of businesses especially within the medical industry.

What value did you get from joining a large industry event like AI Expo Africa?

I acquired actionable insights on how AI is effectively used and integrated to grow various businesses.

How has this changed your perspective about industry and career path?

Insights on the future endeavours of AI across the various sectors and how various businesses are using AI, reaffirmed the efficiency of AI in efforts to solve real-life problems.

Overall – was it a very positive experience?

Yes, I appreciated the structure and order of the program. There were adequate breaks during the day which allowed one to not be overwhelmed by the vast content.  Most importantly, the speakers had prepared well for their talks and they catered for a mixed audience ranging from beginner to advanced AI practitioners within different sectors. Lastly, the venue choice was very appropriate for the amount of attendees.

Would you recommend young students/graduates/entrepreneurs attend such events?

Definitely yes. With the intention to continuously enhance one’s skills and knowledge, it’s beneficial for students to not only attend the expo but to participate in the student workshops, poster presentations, and mostly, collaborate with other students during the Zindi hackathon.

About AI Expo Africa 2020

Produced by the AI Media Group and with 3000+ community members, AI Expo Africa is now entering its third successful year and is the largest B2B trade focused Artificial Intelligence, RPA & Data Science business conference in Africa. The 2020 edition of AI Expo Africa will run online on 3-4 September 2020 and builds upon the phenomenal success of the 2018 and 2019 events that cemented it as the largest gathering of its kind, with over 1000 registered delegates, decision makers, investors, buyers, suppliers, innovators, SMBs and global brands in the region.

Tickets https://www.quicket.co.za/events/85507-ai-expo-africa-2020/#/

Contact: enquiries@aiexpoafrica.com

Web: www.aiexpoafrica.com

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