The 15th CHPC & 7th NITheCS Coding Summer School (CSS) on Foundations in Data Science & Computational Thinking kicked off on 27 January 2025, with enthusiastic students gathering at universities across the country. This annual initiative equips participants with essential computational skills for research across disciplines.
The first week of this two-week intensive learning experience focused on Data Science, covering Pandas, Python Best Practices, Workflow management: Extract, Transform, Load, Exploratory Data Analysis, and Bash Fundamentals. The second week shifts focus to Computational Thinking, including Probability Theory and Statistics, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Perspectives from CSS participants
Two students shared their experiences with NITheCS, highlighting the impact of the CSS on their academic and research journeys:

Mathews Tladi
Mathews Tladi – University of Limpopo (Honours Graduate & Prospective Master’s Student in Large Language Models)
“My Honours research focused on developing an emotion recognition system for user-generated social media text, particularly on Twitter, to address challenges such as slang, abbreviations, and informal language. Now, as a prospective Master’s student, I aim to further explore Large Language Models (LLMs) and their applications in Natural Language Processing (NLP).
“I am attending the CSS to enhance my knowledge of AI and computational techniques while collaborating with researchers from diverse fields. My experience at CSS has been incredibly enriching, providing valuable insights into advanced data science concepts and fostering connections with peers who share my passion for AI and data analytics.”
Sophakama Zabo – Rhodes University (PhD Candidate in Bioinformatics)
“My main research interests lie in Computational Mechanistic Chemistry and Computer-aided Drug Discovery, with additional passions for Machine Learning, Green Chemistry, Ethnochemistry, and Genomics (human and viral). Since being accepted into the CSS, I have been eager to expand my knowledge of Machine Learning and gain a solid introduction to AI, without the usual worries surrounding the field.”
“Attending virtually from my home campus at Rhodes University, the CSS has exceeded my expectations in both content and delivery. This has been an exhilarating educational experience— fully engaging, enriching in interdisciplinary skills and competencies, and encouraging collaboration across fields. While online attendance has limitations, there has been brilliant compensation for this and a swift resolution to arising issues, allowing for a gratifying learning experience.”
A platform for future-ready researchers
The CSS 2025 runs until 7 February, providing participants with cutting-edge skills in computational science and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. As AI and Data Science continue to shape the research landscape, the CSS remains a crucial stepping stone for emerging researchers across South Africa.