The University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST), in partnership with Qatar’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), has announced it will host the Second Winter School in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Software Engineering (SE) in January 2026. The initiative aims to advance digital skills and foster innovation within Qatar and the broader region.
Building On Inaugural Success
The upcoming event follows a highly successful inaugural edition that brought together a diverse group of scholars, researchers, and students. The first Winter School featured over 15 expert-led sessions, with participant feedback highlighting its significant impact. A remarkable 94 percent of attendees rated the program as highly relevant to their professional and academic development, while 90 percent expressed strong interest in attending future editions.
Advanced Curriculum For 2026
This year’s program promises an even richer applied learning experience, providing a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange through lectures, hands-on workshops, and panel discussions. The curriculum will delve into advanced topics critical to the modern tech landscape, including AI-driven industrial automation, responsible AI-driven software engineering, multimodal models, Large Language Models (LLMs) agents, and strategies for mitigating AI privacy risks.
Driving Qatar’s National Vision
The collaboration underscores a national commitment to building a competitive, tech-driven economy in line with Qatar’s strategic goals.
Dr. Zakaria Maamar, Dean of the College of Computing and Information Technology at UDST, emphasized the significance of the initiative. “The Winter School reflects our commitment to advancing digital skills and fostering innovation in Qatar and the region. By empowering students, researchers, and professionals with the latest competencies and knowledge in AI and software engineering, we are building the foundations for a tech-driven ecosystem that nurtures Qatar’s digital transformation and National Vision 2030.”
For her part, Duha Al Buhendi, Director of the Digital Society and Digital Competencies Department at MCIT, highlighted the partnership’s value in developing local talent. “The second edition of the Winter School in Artificial Intelligence and Software Engineering reflects the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology’s commitment to strengthening Qatar’s digital competencies. Our priority is to empower national talent with advanced skills and to bridge academic outcomes with the evolving needs of the digital industry, thereby supporting the country’s digital transformation journey and advancing the goals of the Digital Agenda 2030 and Qatar National Vision 2030,” she said.
About The Winter School in AI and Software Engineering
The Winter School is a collaborative initiative between the University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) and Qatar’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT). It serves as a platform for students, researchers, and professionals to gain advanced training and applied experience in the fields of artificial intelligence and software engineering, positioning UDST as a regional hub for digital technology education and innovation.
Source: QNA
