Thanks to machine learning and deep learning, AI applications can learn from data and can provide results in near real-time, analysing new information from many sources and adapting accordingly with a level of accuracy that's invaluable to business.
Hence, in addressing the University’s drive to prepare students for the future of work, Student Governance and Leadership Development’s Top Technology Peer Facilitator, under the guidance of Prof Anish Kurien, Acting Director of the TUT AI Hub, have assembled a group of 15 students, primarily from the Student Governance and Leadership Development Top Junior Programme, along with a group of engineering students to enrol for a training programme focused on computer vision, offered by TUT AI Hub partner Augmented Startups.
Prof Kurien explains that computer vision is a field of computer science that focuses on enabling computers to identify and understand objects and people in images and videos. Like other types of AI, computer vision seeks to perform and automate tasks that replicate human capabilities. “The pre-development or initial phase of the programme that is free of charge and offered through Augmented AI startups, introduces students to the OpenCV, (Open-Source Computer Vision, a open source library used for image processing), Python programming, image detection and the fundamentals of creating their own open computer vision systems,” he said.
Prof Anish Kurien addressing the Top Juniors during the computer vision training.
Upon completion of this phase, the plan is to transition to Computer Vision Pro, a more advanced programme that will equip students with practical skills applicable to real-world applications. The aim is to provide students with valuable knowledge and experience that they can add to their CVs and use as reference in their future careers.
The AI Training programme aligns with the University’s broader goal of making the TUT AI Hub accessible to a wider range of students.
A seminar conducted by the TUT AI Hub at the SGLD leadership Lab in May 2024, generated significant interest in the programme, which resulted in the formation of this group. Future plans include the integration of the programme into the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment’s programme mix and expanding its availability to all Top Junior Programme students.
- The Top Junior Programme is offered to first-year students to hone and refine their leadership skills.
Click here to watch a video of the work done at the AI Hub.
Dr Nico Steyn demonstrates how AI can be applied to life in a fun way.
Top Juniors free training.
