The Department of Computer Science & Engineering at Mangalore Institute of Technology & Engineering (MITE) organized a one-day hands-on workshop titled “Building AI/ML Foundation with Python” on 20th May 2025. The event was conducted from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM and was attended by 110 enthusiastic students from the 4th and 6th semesters. This workshop aimed to introduce participants to the foundational concepts of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning using Python programming.

The session featured two distinguished resource persons. Mr. Nikhil P Hegde, a Senior Project Manager at Siemens, Bengaluru, brought nearly two decades of experience in leading geographically dispersed teams and managing agile and lean projects. His insights into the leadership and project management aspects of AI/ML implementation added immense value to the session. The second speaker, Mr. Ankush Sangolgi, is a seasoned Data Analytics Consultant and Trainer with deep expertise in Python, SQL, Power BI, and statistical methods. His hands-on training experience with universities and corporate clients ensured practical, high-impact learning for the participants.

The workshop began with a theoretical overview of AI and ML concepts, focusing on supervised and unsupervised learning, features, labels, model training and testing, and the critical issue of overfitting. These concepts were clearly explained and made relatable through real-life analogies and case studies. Participants were introduced to fundamental machine learning algorithms such as linear regression and decision trees, which they implemented using Python during hands-on sessions.

A significant portion of the workshop involved practical coding exercises. Students utilized Python libraries like NumPy, Pandas, Matplotlib, and Scikit-learn to perform data preprocessing, train machine learning models, and evaluate model performance using metrics such as accuracy, precision, recall, and confusion matrices. These sessions were instrumental in building confidence among students in writing and understanding AI/ML code.

Additionally, the resource persons showcased the diverse real-world applications of AI and ML in sectors such as healthcare, finance, and e-commerce. These examples helped participants appreciate the relevance and impact of these technologies in everyday life and encouraged them to consider AI/ML as a potential career path. Discussions around these applications also provided students with a broader understanding of how theoretical knowledge translates into practical solutions.

In conclusion, the workshop was highly successful in fostering interest, building foundational knowledge, and enhancing the technical skills of the participants. It created an engaging learning environment that combined theoretical clarity with practical experience, paving the way for further exploration into the exciting world of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning using Python.