Despite the ongoing war, Oleg Chertov and his teams at the National Technical University of Ukraine, Kyiv, are committed to maintaining a high-quality educational process while also organizing offline events in relatively safe areas of western Ukraine. One such significant event was Machine Learning Week 2025 (ML Week 2025), which took place from January 27 to 31 in Slavske, Lviv region.
A Collaborative Effort Across Leading Universities
ML Week 2025 was a joint initiative involving four major Ukrainian technical universities:
- National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute” (Department of Applied Mathematics);
- Lviv Polytechnic National University (Department of Artificial Intelligence Systems);
- National Technical University “Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute” (Departments of Computer Modeling and Data Analysis, Systems Analysis and Information-Analytical Technologies, and Cybersecurity);
- Odesa Polytechnic National University (Department of Artificial Intelligence and Data Analysis).
A total of 63 students participated, forming 21 teams, each consisting of three students from different universities. This structure encouraged interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge exchange among participants.
Industry-Backed Projects in AI and Data Science
The event was supported by IT companies and public organizations, including AI House, Aurora, EPAM, Simulmedia, It-Jim, and NIX, which provided eight real-world projects primarily focusing on data science and computer vision. These projects required expertise in natural language processing (NLP) in both English and Ukrainian, as well as large-scale data handling techniques.
Students were assigned projects through a random draw, a selection method they agreed upon collectively. Over four intensive days, teams worked under the mentorship of industry professionals who provided guidance and daily consultations. Notably, Maksym Shchoholiev from the Department of Applied Mathematics at Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute served as the project curator for Simulmedia, supporting students throughout their research and implementation process.
Final Presentations and Recognition
On the final day, January 31, teams presented their projects, showcasing their findings and solutions. The diversity of topics and innovative approaches demonstrated the participants’ ability to apply machine learning techniques to practical challenges. The winners were selected based on their project outcomes, and all participants received incentive gifts sponsored by Aurora, AI House, and BrainStack.
Academic Contribution: Conformal Learning Seminar
ML Week 2025 also featured an enriching academic session: a one-and-a-half-hour seminar on “Conformal Learning – Prediction with Accuracy Guarantees.” The seminar was conducted by Margarita Volodymyrivna Aleksandrova, a former graduate of the Department of Applied Mathematics at Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute and currently a researcher at Amazon Luxembourg. Several teams successfully integrated concepts from conformal learning into their projects, further enhancing their analytical and predictive capabilities.
ML Week 2025 exemplifies the resilience and dedication of the Ukrainian academic and technological community in advancing education despite ongoing challenges. By fostering collaboration between universities and industry, the event provided students with hands-on experience in machine learning, preparing them for future careers in AI and data science. This initiative stands as a testament to the power of education and innovation in times of adversity.
For more details, visit: ML Week 2025.