The summer vacation is poised to be an exciting one for some lucky teenagers who are participating in a four-week Generative AI and Python Camp 2024.
The summer camp will run from July 8 to August 8, 2024, in two locations — Castries Comprehensive Secondary School and Beanefield Comprehensive Secondary School — and targets children from 13 to years old. The camp runs from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm daily and is available at no cost to students.
Saint Lucian company, Orbtronics, is hosting the Generative AI and Python Camp 2024 in collaboration with the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), TaiwanICDF, and the Ministry of Education.
Generative AI is artificial intelligence capable of generating text, images, videos, or other data using generative models, often in response to prompts. Python is a high-level, general-purpose programming language whose design philosophy emphasizes code readability with the use of significant indentation.
During the camp, students will:
- Engage actively with practical AI and coding experiences
- Discover STEM fields that can shape their future careers
- Learn teamwork and effective collaboration
- Apply AI concepts to develop a functional chatbot
- Enjoy an interactive, social environment while making new friends and having fun
At the opening ceremony for the camp held on Monday, July 8, 2024, at the Castries Comprehensive Secondary School, participants were told how important their roles are in ensuring that the skills they learn now are used to make the world a better place.
In his remarks, H.E. Peter Chia-Yen Chen, Taiwan’s Ambassador to Saint Lucia, said that not only was the Government of Taiwan thrilled to collaborate with the Government of Saint Lucia and the ECCB in sponsoring the Summer Camp, but that Mr. Simon Chen, ICT Project Manager from the Taiwan Technical Mission, will be a lecturer, guiding students in the field of AI Financial Technology.
Ambassador Chen referenced Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te’s inaugural address, in which President Lai underscored the importance of Taiwan expediting its transformation into an ‘AI island’ to meet the global challenges of adopting more and more smart technologies. He also cited Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lin Chia-lung, who highlighted that Taiwan is a major player in ICT and AI, noting that it’s not just “Taiwan can help”, but “Taiwan can lead.” Ambassador Chen said the goal is for Taiwan and Saint Lucia to engage in closer and more innovative cooperation in the field of AI.
“Technology education and the Generative AI are not just trends; they are the keys to unlocking a future full of possibilities,” said Ambassador Chen. “For instance, Generative AI can revolutionize daily life in numerous ways. Imagine an AI that can help farmers predict the best time to plant and harvest crops based on weather patterns, leading to better yields and less waste. In healthcare, AI can assist doctors by quickly analyzing medical images to identify potential health issues, allowing for faster and more accurate diagnoses. In education, AI can create personalized learning experiences, helping each student learn at their own pace and in a way that suits them best. The integration of technology education and Generative AI will undoubtedly unlock new possibilities and drive innovation.”
Ambassador Chen said Taiwan’s commitment to technology education is reflected in various initiatives over the past few years. He said that from 2019 to 2022, the “ICT for Educational Development Project” made a significant impact on the ICT education environment in Saint Lucia by providing smart classroom equipment and training course in 25 schools.
“In 2021, our collaboration with the STUF United Fund and the Government of Saint Lucia introduced a coding platform using the Scratch program to our students, successfully nurturing 15 seed teachers,” Ambassador Chen said.
Mr. Timothy N.J. Antoine, Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), whose message was relayed virtually, said the skills the participants will learn are essential building blocks for moulding their future careers.
“We believe that the jobs of the 21st century, many of them, will be supported by Generative AI and skills such as Python,” Antoine said. “Therefore, we want to give you the best possible choice to participate in that future, whether it’s to create your own job to be able to command a great job.”
Antoine noted that skilled jobs such as data scientists, analysts and cybersecurity specialists are in great demand globally, telling participants that the aim is to equip them to pursue careers in these essential areas.
“Our objective is to be able to train at least 500 young people every summer for the next five years in Generative AI, Python and the latest web skills. So I’m glad that you have seized this opportunity,” Antoine explained.
Meanwhile, Mr. Richard Maxwell, Information Technology Manager, in the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Division, encouraged participants to actively engage, learn as much as they can, and fully immerse themselves in the upcoming summer camp. He added that the collaborative effort on the part of sponsors is essential in promoting the educational and technological direction that the Caribbean requires.
“I would like to emphasize that technology and education such as generative AI and Python programming at a young age empower students to become the creators and innovators so needed by our Region and the world in this digital age,” said Maxwell. “Additionally, enhancing one’s proficiency in Python as a versatile and widely used programming language, as well as manipulating AI and machine language, makes you globally competitive with the potential to open infinite job opportunities in the future.”
Also in attendance at the opening ceremony were other officials, including Mr. Daniel Lee, Chief of the Taiwan Technical Mission; Mr. Rohan Lubon, Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports; Mr Everton Sealy, Country Manager, ECCB Office in Saint Lucia; and Mr. Simon Chen, Project Manager, Taiwan Technical Mission.
SOURCE: Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in Saint Lucia