Leeds Digital Festival is a two-week celebration of digital culture and brings together people and companies from the world of tech to highlight the city’s dynamic digital sector.

Championing the Festival showcases Leeds Trinity’s commitment to digital transformation as part of its Strategic Plan 2021-2026, which sets out the University’s intentions and ambitions, with a focus on digital futures and the Leeds City Region.

As part of the 2022 Leeds Digital Festival, Dr Antesar Shabut, Senior Lecturer in Computer Science at Leeds Trinity University, will lead a two-hour session on Tuesday 20 September (2.00 – 4.00pm). It will involve an introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning, as well as focusing on the skills required to work in this area. It is aimed at women and girls to encourage them into Computer Science and help them understand the soft and technical skills of emerging technology.

Professor Catherine O’Connor, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education and Experience at Leeds Trinity University, said: “Leeds is a digital powerhouse. It has a thriving digital, tech and creative sector employing tens of thousands of people and it’s great to see that being celebrated at the Leeds Digital Festival, which we are proud to sponsor and support at Leeds Trinity University.

“As an institution, we continue to reflect on how we best engage our diverse student body in the changing nature and digital transformation of the labour market. Our Strategic Plan is the foundation for this journey as it positions us as a career-led University connecting with the Leeds City Region agenda and committed to placing digital at the heart of what we do.”

Dr Shabut, Senior Lecturer in Computer Science at Leeds Trinity University, said: “I’m looking forward to hosting a session dedicated to Computer Science and AI as part of Leeds Digital Festival.

“It is an exciting opportunity to make more people aware of Computer Science, AI and machine learning, and will hopefully encourage them to consider a career in these areas. As a woman in this industry, I would love to see other women and girls being involved and I hope this event can encourage them to give it a go.”

Leeds Trinity University is also a partner of the #GrowingTalentDigitalLeeds programme with Ahead Partnership, which is designed to inspire and encourage young people to access exciting and rewarding careers in digital. The programme has been shortlisted in the Diversity & Inclusion category at the Leeds Digital Festival awards.

The University’s Strategic Plan is built around four Strategic Pillars of ‘Education and Experience’, ‘People and Sustainability’, ‘Research, Impact and Innovation’, and ‘Careers and Enterprise’. Providing a framework for the institution’s growth plans, it is supported by the two key themes of Digital Futures and the Leeds City Region.

Find out more about Leeds Digital Festival on its website.