Workshops

UCSC – IIT Workshop on Shared Task towards building a Sinhala/Tamil Large Language Model

Recent advancements in Large Language Models (LLMs) have transformed the world by facilitating access to information. Building a Large Language Model (LLM) is a significant and ambitious project. Unfortunately, the lack of an LLM for the Low resourced languages like Sinhala and Tamil presents  significant challenges. Hence there is a huge requirement for developing LLM models for low resourced languages. This can be achieved through the following two approaches.

  1. Building an LLM from scratch, which includes main subtasks like tokenization, embedding, training and fine tuning, in addition to acquiring a substantial amount of text data.
  2. Developing a language interface to an open-source LLM using Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG).

In parallel to the ICTer 2024 conference, and as a follow-up of the Shared Task on Sinhala LLM at iCIIT 2024, UCSC and IIT are collaboratively organizing a workshop titled “Shared Task towards building a Sinhala/Tamil Large Language Model” which includes two main tasks.

Entering to Global Game Design and Development Industry

Morning Session: Game Design 101

  • Role of a Game Designer
  • Generating ideas for Games
  • Core and Core Loop Design
  • Mechanics, Dynamics and Goals

Evening Session: Game Development 101

  • Role of a Game Developer
  • Game Dev Technology
  • Choosing a Game Engine⁠
  • Design to Development

Conducted with the collaboration of the UCSC IEEE Student Branch.

Speaker: Ravindu Cooray, Head of RAM Studios

Date: 5th November 2024
Time: 8.30 am – 4.00 pm
Location: UCSC
Registration: Rs. 5000.00

Nuts and Bolts of Transformers

  • Deep dive into the mechanics of Transformer models
  • Hands-on training: Build and train a Transformer model from scratch in just 3 hours
  • Explore attention mechanisms and model architecture
  • Practical insights into AI and NLP advancements
  • Ideal for researchers, students, and AI enthusiasts

Conducted by Cognitive Systems and Time Series (COTS) Research Group

Speaker: Keshan Sodimana, Associate Architect in Machine Learning, London Stock Exchange Group(LSEG)

Date: 5th November 2024
Time: 1.00 pm – 4.00 pm
Location: UCSC
Registration: Rs. 5000.00

UX Design Essentials: From Theory to Industry Practice

  • Gain a solid foundation in UX principles and how they apply to real-world projects.
  • Explore the key stages of the UX design process, from user research to prototyping.
  • Learn how to transition your theoretical UX knowledge into industry-ready skills.
  • Discover the top UX design tools and technologies used by industry professionals.
  • Learn to effectively apply user personas, journey maps, and wireframes in your design process.
  • Understand the role of UX in creating user-centered products that drive business value.
  • Gain insights into how UX designers collaborate with teams in the tech industry.

Recourse person: Michael Lu, Architect – UX & UI Engineering  SyscoLABS

Date: 5th November 2024
Time: 9.00 am – 1.00 pm
Location: UCSC
Registration: Rs. 5000.00

From Insights to Impact: Driving Business Value with UX in Enterprise Development

  • Discover how advanced UX design can solve critical business problems and the strategic role it plays in enterprise settings.
  • Gain practical knowledge on conducting user research to uncover valuable insights.
  • Learn effective methods for translating user insights into impactful design solutions.
  • Work with industry experts to explore the intersection of UX and business objectives, focusing on user-centered design’s role in enhancing productivity and customer engagement.
  • Master the art of leading UX initiatives within enterprise environments, navigating complex organizational structures and stakeholder demands.
  • Participate in interactive sessions where you’ll design and iterate on enterprise UX solutions, using real-world data and case studies to ensure maximum business impact.

Recourse persons:

  • Sanduni Kariyawasam, Senior UX Designer, IFS
  • Sajani Lokuge, Senior UX Designer, IFS
  • Pulasthi Ranawaka, Senior UX Designer, IFS
  • Wyomi Ranasinghe, Director Product Management, IFS
Date: 8th November 2024
Time: 8.30 am – 4.30 pm
Location: UCSC
Registration: Rs. 5000.00

Young Outstanding Researcher


Young outstanding researchers are the future of the scientific community, and we want to recognize and celebrate their achievements. This competition is designed to identify the most outstanding young researchers and provide them with the recognition they deserve.

We'll be looking for researchers who have already demonstrated exceptional talent and promise in their field. Whether it's through groundbreaking research, innovative ideas, or a commitment to advancing the frontiers of knowledge, we want to see evidence that you're already making an impact in your field.

We're particularly interested in researchers who are working on cutting-edge topics or exploring new areas of inquiry. We're looking for individuals who are pushing the boundaries of what is currently known, and who have the potential to make significant contributions to their field in the years to come.

We'll also be evaluating the quality and impact of your research work. We'll be looking for evidence of rigorous methodology, innovative thinking, and the potential for real-world application. We'll be assessing the quality of your publications, the impact of your work, and your potential for continued success in the field.

But we're not just looking for exceptional researchers - we're also looking for individuals who have the potential to become leaders in their field. We'll be evaluating your leadership potential, communication skills, and ability to collaborate with others.

Overall, the Young Outstanding Researcher competition is an opportunity for you to showcase your exceptional talent, dedication, and promise as a young researcher. We encourage you to apply and show us why you're the most outstanding young researcher in your field.

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Most Contributing Researcher


The Most Contributing Researcher competition recognizes researchers who have made significant contributions to their field over the course of their careers. We're looking for individuals who have dedicated themselves to advancing the frontiers of knowledge, and whose work has had a meaningful impact on their field and beyond.

But we're not just looking for exceptional researchers - we're also looking for individuals who have made meaningful contributions to their community and society as a whole.

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Most Popular Researcher


This exciting competition is designed to help talented students like you showcase your research skills and connect with top professionals in academia and industry. Our focus is on selecting the most popular researcher from among the participating students, and we'll be evaluating a variety of factors to determine the winner.

One of the key factors we'll be looking at is your connection with academia and industry. We believe that strong connections and collaborative potential are essential for success in research.

We'll also be considering your communication skills, leadership abilities, and overall potential to become successful researchers. Effective communication and collaboration are critical in research, and we'll be looking for evidence that you have these skills and the potential to develop them further.

Overall, the Research Talent Event provides an excellent opportunity for you to showcase your research talents, connect with top professionals in academia and industry, and potentially win the title of most popular researcher. We encourage you to apply and show us what you've got.

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