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The application period for the third edition of the Summer School is open until January 6, 2025.
Registration is now open for the first cohort of the TRAIL for Professionals program, starting January 22, 2025.
The summer school, a joint initiative by Mila and the Université de Montréal brings together participants from different backgrounds and horizons to explore the intersections between responsible artificial intelligence (AI) and human rights. The application period for the 2025 edition of the Summer School is open until January 6, 2025.
The summer school's sessions include responsible AI, AI governance, AI ethics and legal aspects of AI. Participants will acquire both theoretical knowledge and practical skills to better understand and navigate questions emerging at the intersection of responsible AI and human rights.
The summer school requires around 40 hours of work, including class time, activities, a possible short preparation session before the summer school, group work and projects. A certificate of participation will be awarded following completion of the program.
You may find a recap of the 2023 and 2024 edition.
The application period for the third edition of the Summer School is now open and will close on January 6, 2025.
What: A 5-day intensive learning program combining theory, practice and skills development on the topic of responsible AI and human rights.
Who: Graduate students, early-career researchers, professionals from the public, private and non-profit sectors from all around the world. Prerequisites: participants must have basic AI-related expertise, and/or professional experience in relevant fields (STEM, or relevant areas of law, policy or social sciences).
When: May 26 to 30, 2025
Where: Mila – Institut québécois d’intelligence artificielle, in person (see location here).
Capacity: The program is limited to 40 participants
Language: The summer school will be bilingual, with sessions and presentations offered in French and in English. Participants need not be fluent in both languages, but basic proficiency in both is an asset. Resources will be available in both French and English, and translation tools will be used to make the content accessible to all.
Each day of the school focuses on a specific theme like responsible AI, AI governance, AI ethics, legal aspects of AI, and human rights.
Morning sessions will allow participants to discover the relevant theoretical foundations pertaining to the day’s theme and explore existing application and evaluation tools.
Afternoon sessions will be focusing on practical workshops and experiential learning; participants will take part in skills-building workshops, hands-on activities and other applied learning activities such as case studies.
Summer school registration fees vary according to participant category:
UdeM 2nd and 3rd cycle students and other BCI members: $175 CAD*
International 2nd and 3rd cycle students and non-BCI members: $350 CAD*
Post-docs and professionals from the public sector or non-profit organizations: $955 CAD*
Private sector professionals: $1450 CAD*
A 15% discount is offered to Mila partners.
*Please note that the price presented here does not include the fees associated with university credits for students from UdeM and members of the BCI network.
Registration fees cover access to program content, lunches during the five-day program, as well as opening and closing social events. They do not cover accommodation, transportation, meals not mentioned and any visa fees.
Financial Support
If you are selected, you will have the opportunity to benefit from financial support. When applying for the summer school, a section will be dedicated to financial support. Evaluators will not have access to this information and it will not be taken into account during the selection process. Once selected, financial support applications will be evaluated to ensure a fair distribution of financial resources among those in need. Answers regarding financial needs will be given promptly.
We strongly believe that opportunities should be available to all, regardless of socio-economic status. We also recognize the richness of perspectives arising from ethnic, cultural, historical and geographical differences, but also the lack of opportunities for voices from outside western countries and cultures to contribute to the conversation around Responsible AI.
In order to ensure the fairness of our initiative, to attract people from various backgrounds and to include their voices, we provide a limited number of scholarships to participants with a proven need for financial support. The scholarships are designed to support participants who would not otherwise be able to cover any or all of the costs of Summer School. The bursary can help the recipient cover various expenses related to his/her participation in the Summer School, such as the cost of the summer school ticket, accommodation, travel. Eligible participants may come from less developed countries, disadvantaged socioeconomic environments and/or marginalized communities.
Due to the limited number of available scholarships, a note explaining why you believe you are eligible for the coverage of your expenses must be provided to us in your application. We encourage participants to include a detailed description of their situation and other forms of assistance or recognition they receive to support your application. Applicants should make sure to include an estimate of their summer school expenses to enable us to assess the needs of each applicant.
Individuals from all cultural and ethnic backgrounds are welcome at the summer school. Each participant in need of a visa will receive, upon request, a letter of invitation signed by Mila and the Université de Montréal. To find out if you need a visa or the approximate processing time based on your country of departure, click here. Finally, follow this link to find out what steps to take to apply for an entry visa into Canada.
As the number of participants is limited, the selection of candidates will be based on the excellence of their application. Evaluators will only have access to the documents uploaded and your answers to motivation questions to assess applications. You will be notified by the end of January.
To submit your application, please complete the form, answer the questions and upload the following documents on the dedicated platform.
You will receive a confirmation message when your application is submitted.
In the event of over- or under-representation of a group within the selected cohort, the selection committee retains the right to give preference to certain candidates in order to ensure a plurality of experiences and perspectives within the group. In this case only, the committee may refer to the forms completed at the time of application.
A waiting list may be set up until all available places have been filled. If this is the case, you will be informed.
As part of our commitment to greater global accessibility, we are looking for a partner, ideally in the global south, to co-organise the 2026 edition of the summer school.
Download our Open Guide to go behind the scenes of the organisation of the programme. This guide has been designed to share the steps, resources and logistics involved in the development and deployment of the Responsible AI and Human Rights Summer School. The aim is to facilitate the replication and improvement of this training, while encouraging the creation of similar initiatives and collaborative projects on a global scale.
Only available in French for now. Will be available in English soon.
The Summer School is an in-person event. It is offered only on-site. We do not offer an option to join the summer school online.
More details to come.
More details to come.
Yes, the summer school aims to draw on different perspectives, both social and technical, and to create a space for exchange between them.
The summer school does not require training in any specific field of expertise. The program only requires that you have expertise closely related to AI, whether you have a background in law/humanities/social sciences OR a technical background. The important thing is that you have a strong interest in Responsible AI, and that you can both benefit from and contribute to the conversation on the various topics provided for in the program.
Yes, the summer school aims to welcome diverse voices from different geographical and cultural backgrounds. The 2023 cohort was made up of over 20 nationalities, and this diversity contributes greatly to the richness of the program. So your application is more than welcome, wherever you come from!
The summer school offers a certificate to participants who successfully complete the program.
Students wishing to receive credit for the training will also be able to do so. Students from Université de Montréal and other BCI member institutions in Quebec will be required to pass the evaluation at the end of the summer school, which represents an investment of approximately 6 hours in addition to the 40 hours of programming and activities. In this case, the summer school is equivalent to a total of 45 hours for 3 university credits. It is the responsibility of students wishing to receive credit for the training to take the necessary steps to register with their TGDE (UdeM students) or the BCI (students from other Quebec universities) and to pay the related fees.
International students or students from outside Quebec who wish to do so will be able to have the certificate awarded at the end of the summer school recognized by their educational institution and obtain university credits, in accordance with the terms and conditions laid down by their institution.
The cost of the summer school covers the entire program, lunches for the duration of the program, as well as the opening and closing events. The summer school does not cover transportation (local and international) or your accommodation in Montreal.
As far as meals are concerned, the summer school fee covers coffee breaks, lunches and meals at the opening and closing events. Other meals must be arranged by you. For accommodation and local (and international) transport, you'll need to cover these details yourself.
If you benefit from our financial support, the cost of the summer school, transport and accommodation can be covered by us.
If you know you'll need a visa to come to Montreal and take part in the summer school, you can follow this link to find out all the steps involved in obtaining a visa from the Canadian government. You can also click here to find out the estimated processing time for your visa application. You will need to let us know as soon as possible that you will require a visa so that we can send you a letter of invitation to the summer school, signed by Mila and the Université de Montréal, to be included in the documentation to be submitted with your visa application.
The summer school offers financial support to participants who would not be able to cover all or part of the expenses related to their participation in the program. Once admitted, participants will receive an email on this subject.
Yes, as long as you inform us in advance. Our cancellation and refund policy requires that you inform us of your intention to withdraw 30 days in advance for a full refund, after which no refund will be possible. The earlier you notify us, the better, as the approach of the program start date leaves us little margin to offer the place to someone else. Please see the appropriate section for more information.
Registered participants who are not authorized to travel on the summer school start date for one of the following reasons will be reimbursed:
Note: dated proof of inability to travel will be required.
Participant cancellations will be processed as follows: up to 30 days before the event, participants will receive a full refund; after this deadline, no refunds will be issued.
