Q: What is SPARK Academy

A: The SPARK Academy is designed to train a new generation of African AI experts in medical imaging who can train others. This program includes a six week training, a one week hackathon, and a nine weeks practicum.

Q: What sets it apart from similar training programs and makes it special?

A: The SPARK Academy is unique for its emphasis on AI-based diagnostic capacity building and collaborative methods, with the broader goal of building an interdisciplinary network of researchers and teachers across Africa.

Q: I am an African student at a university/college outside Africa. Am I eligible?

A: No. Given, the limited training resources, The SPARK Academy is available to individuals who are currently studying or practicing at an African university, college, or institution.

Q: What level of programming experience do I need?

A: Intermediate to advanced skills level is encouraged.

Q: Do I need a personal computer to participate?

A: Yes, you will require access to a laptop or desktop to participate. We will provide cloud computing services for model development and evaluation.

Q: What does it cost to be a student?

A: The SPARK Academy is completely free for students to attend. There are no costs or fees associated with accessing the program or its resources. Students can take advantage of all the features of the SPARK Academy without any financial burden.

Q: What timezone will live training events and activities be held?

A: All live training activities will be held in the East Africa Time zone (GMT +3) .

Q: How much time should I commit to this course?

A: The amount of time spent on each block varies depending on the student's prior background knowledge, skill and learning style. Each week of the Foundation block should take no more than 12 hours to complete including weekend tutorials. The Hackathon is a 9-hour daily activity with group assignments designed to be completed within this time. Team Practicum block is designed to take no more than 20 hours per week to complete, including weekend tutorials.

Q: How do students get grouped into teams or 'pods'?

A: Teams will be formed by randomly grouping participants from different parts of Africa across disciplines.

Q: What are group projects?

A: Participants within the same group will work together (collective intelligence) to complete exercises or assignments and develop an AI-based segmentation model with the aim of winning the 2024 MICCAI BraTS Challenges.

Q: Will students receive a certificate of completion?

A: Yes. Participants in the SPARK Academy hackathon will receive a certificate of participation, recognizing their efforts in the event. In addition, participants who actively contribute to their pods' participation in the 2024 MICCAI BraTS Challenge will receive a certificate of completion. This certificate acknowledges the individual's hard work and dedication towards their team's success.

Q: I have more questions about the Academy. Who do I contact?

A: For any additional inquiries, please feel free to send us an email at spark@mailab.io