Send any inquiries regarding the workshop registration to secretary.icter@ucsc.cmb.ac.lk

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

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)

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

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