AI Accelerator Program

About the AI Accelerator Program

Launched this summer, as a partnership between Dawson College, AI Launch Lab and Mitacs, the AI ​​Accelerator Program represents the next step in R&D program initiatives, providing college students with the opportunity to work on real-world projects. The new 10-week online program provides the tools and exposure needed to enable students from all disciplines to launch their careers in AI. In addition, the program could be followed by a paid internship for college students by Mitacs in collaboration with organizations or companies.

Over the course of 10 weeks (last two weeks, optional), from September 28 to December 7, 2024 immerse yourself in the world of AI!

Why join?

  • Create your own AI project with fellow students
  • Work alongside AI experts
  • Explore ethical considerations
  • Present your AI project with your team
  • Kickstart a career in AI, with professional mentorship
  • Prepare for a potential paid internship
Program Timeline 

Weeks 1-4: Foundational Skills
In the first four weeks, you’ll build a strong foundation in essential skills such as programming, data handling, and data cleaning. These foundational skills will equip you with the necessary tools to succeed in more advanced AI and machine learning concepts.

Weeks 5-8: AI and Machine Learning
The next four weeks will focus on core AI and machine learning topics. You’ll dive into key algorithms, fine-tuning models, and practical applications, gaining hands-on experience through projects and exercises.

Weeks 9-10: Advanced AI Topics (Optional)
In the final two weeks, you’ll explore advanced AI topics that push the boundaries of what you’ve learned. These sessions will cover cutting-edge techniques and specialized applications, preparing you to tackle complex challenges in AI.

This structured approach ensures that by the end of the program, you’ll have a comprehensive understanding of both foundational and advanced AI concepts, along with practical experience to apply in real-world scenarios.

*As this unique opportunity is new, the number of paid internships available is limited at this time.

 

 

Additional Information

Workshops

  • Workshops will be given in English
  • During the workshop on each Saturday, students will have an opportunity to collaborate with their teammates to work on their AI project.
  • The duration of each workshop is approximately 3 to 3.5 hours
Fall 2024 Cohort’s Schedule and Topics

 

Saturday, September 28 – December 7
September 28 Orientation + Project Blueprint + Intro to Machine Learning + Ethics part 1 (Destination AI certs)
October 5 Python Crash Course + must be Interactive for hands-on experience
October 12 Thanksgiving holiday – no meeting
October 19 Basic Sci-kit Learn and Pandas, Seaborn, Matplotlib, Data Processing/Cleaning
October 26 Ethics Part 2
November 2 Hugging Face
November 9 Fine-tuning pre-trained model
November 16 RAG – Retrieval Augmented Generation + Agents
November 23 Streamlit for building demo website
November 30 Advanced AI Topics
December 7 Advanced AI Topics

If you were wondering whether AI is everywhere, it is! The skills that you gain from AI training programs are applicable to almost any field and give you the opportunity to gain real experience.

This program aims to fill that gap by helping CÉGEP students. If you apply now, you are taking a step forward to get ahead in your industry.

Fall 2024 Application

APPLY HERE at this link.



Last Modified: September 11, 2024