Author: Matt Egginton

Microcredential in Applied Data Analytics and Machine Learning with Python

Posted on by Matt Egginton

Applications are open for our new microcredential!

With 24 hours of class time over six weeks, self-study materials and an independent study project, our Microcredential in Applied Data Analytics and Machine Learning with Python will develop in-demand skills, build practical experience, boost professional efficiency and help advance careers by bridging foundational knowledge with advanced tools and methods. 

Through hands-on sessions and guided exercises, participants will learn to explore and transform data, communicate findings effectively through visualizations, and implement machine learning algorithms using Python to gain actionable insights.

Asynchronous modules provide valuable training in coding best practices and technical project management to enhance collaborative and efficient workflows. This program builds on foundational skills to enable more elaborate analyses, improving both technical expertise and practical problem-solving abilities.

Participants should have completed our Microcredential in Practical Foundations for Data Analytics, or have equivalent experience. 

The course runs from March 24th through April 30th, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:00-5:00pm Atlantic. 

The deadline to apply is February 23rd. 

LLMs for IT Professionals: Building, Fine-Tuning, and Deploying

Posted on by Matt Egginton

LLMs for IT Professionals: Building, Fine-Tuning, and Deploying

Back by Popular Demand!

We’re again partnering with Digital Nova Scotia and St. FX University to redeliver the five-module training program on machine learning, and specifically LLMs. 

This microcredential course is designed to equip experienced developers with the skills and knowledge necessary to build and deploy large language model (LLM)-based applications.

Participants will gain hands-on experience with transformers, datasets, Python AI models, and best practices for integrating AI into applications. They will also explore techniques for fine-tuning models, leveraging APIs, and ensuring robust testing and QA.

By the end of this course, learners will acquire the knowledge and practical skills to build and fine-tune LLMs, seamlessly integrate them into applications, develop end-to-end pipelines for specific use cases, and apply best practices for responsible AI deployment.

  • Module 1: Introduction and Fundamentals
  • Module 2: Building and Fine-Tuning LLMs
  • Module 3: Leveraging LLMs through APIs and Integration
  • Module 4: Utilization of RAG and MCP
  • Module 5: Good Practices and Ethics

Classes run Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning May 11th. There are additional self-learning materials, and participants will be expected to complete assignments and a capstone project.

For more information and to apply, visit Digital Nova Scotia.

Digital Humanities Summer Institute East 2026 (DHSI East) – Registration Open!

Posted on by Matt Egginton

Registration is now open for DHSI East 2026, which will take place at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, from May 5th to 8th, 2026. Faculty, staff, students, and all interested are welcome.

There will be three concurrent workshops this year:

Project Management in the Humanities
Instructor: Dr. Jennifer Guiliano, Professor of History, Indiana University

Research Data Management for Humanities Researchers
Instructors: Shahira Khair, University of Victoria Libraries
                        Sandra Sawchuk, Mount Saint Vincent Libraries

Digital Publishing in the Humanities Classroom
Instructors: Dr. Andie Silva, Professor of English (York College) and Digital Humanities (CUNY Graduate Center)
                        zelda montes, CUNY Graduate Center

Keynote:
Show Your Work’: Linking, Platforming, and Deplatforming for the Future of Born-Digital Scholarship
Dr. Susan Brown, University of Guelph

Details, registration, application for accommodations grant

LLMs for IT Professionals: Building, Fine-Tuning, and Deploying

Posted on by Matt Egginton

LLMs for IT Professionals: Building, Fine-Tuning, and Deploying

We’re again partnering with Digital Nova Scotia and St. FX University to redeliver the five-module training program on machine learning, and specifically LLMs, this time with an added module on RAG and MCP. 

This microcredential course is designed to equip experienced developers with the skills and knowledge necessary to build and deploy large language model (LLM)-based applications.

Participants will gain hands-on experience with transformers, datasets, Python AI models, and best practices for integrating AI into applications. They will also explore techniques for fine-tuning models, leveraging APIs, and ensuring robust testing and QA.

By the end of this course, learners will acquire the knowledge and practical skills to build and fine-tune LLMs, seamlessly integrate them into applications, develop end-to-end pipelines for specific use cases, and apply best practices for responsible AI deployment.

  • Module 1: Introduction and Fundamentals
  • Module 2: Building and Fine-Tuning LLMs
  • Module 3: Leveraging LLMs through APIs and Integration
  • Module 4: Utilization of RAG and MCP
  • Module 5: Good Practices and Ethics

Classes run from 9:00am to 12:00pm Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning January 5th. There are additional self-learning materials, and participants will be expected to complete assignments and a capstone project.

For more information and to apply, visit Digital Nova Scotia.

ACOA and ACENET

Posted on by Matt Egginton

We were very proud when ACOA approached us to do a Business Impact Story. A longtime partner and funder of ACENET, ACOA has worked with us for over 20 years through both good and challenging times, providing advice and guidance, and helping us navigate the evolving Atlantic Canadian innovation ecosystem. With the support of ACOA, the Alliance and its predecessors, as well as the Provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia and PEI, ACENET has been able to serve over 4000 clients and train over 14,000 learners in the region. 

Read the story at ACOA

Digital Nova Scotia, St. FX and ACENET Launch Microcredential in AI

Posted on by Matt Egginton

Practical AI Utilization for Developers and Programmers

We’re partnering with Digital Nova Scotia and St. FX University to deliver a four-week training program on machine learning, and specifically LLMs. 

This microcredential course is designed to equip experienced developers with the skills and knowledge necessary to build and deploy large language model (LLM)-based applications.

Participants will gain hands-on experience with transformers, datasets, Python AI models, and best practices for integrating AI into applications. They will also explore techniques for fine-tuning models, leveraging APIs, and ensuring robust testing and QA.

By the end of this course, learners will acquire the knowledge and practical skills to build and fine-tune LLMs, seamlessly integrate them into applications, develop end-to-end pipelines for specific use cases, and apply best practices for responsible AI deployment.

Classes run from 4:00pm to 7:00pm Tuesdays and Thursdays for four weeks beginning January 28th. There are additional self-learning materials, and participants will be expected to complete assignments and a project.

For more information and to apply, visit Digital Nova Scotia.

Top AI Talent: Meet the Standout Graduates of our AI Microcredential Program for IT, Programming & Development

Posted on by Matt Egginton

Please view the full story at Digital Nova Scotia

Practical AI Utilization for Developers and Programmers

ACENET has partnered with Digital Nova Scotia and St. FX University to deliver a four-week training program on machine learning, and specifically LLMs. 

This microcredential course is designed to equip experienced developers with the skills and knowledge necessary to build and deploy large language model (LLM)-based applications.

Participants gained hands-on experience with transformers, datasets, Python AI models, and best practices for integrating AI into applications. They will explored techniques for fine-tuning models, leveraging APIs, and ensuring robust testing and QA.

By the end of this course, learners acquired the knowledge and practical skills to build and fine-tune LLMs, seamlessly integrate them into applications, develop end-to-end pipelines for specific use cases, and apply best practices for responsible AI deployment.

The first cohort completed the program in March, 2025. Digital Nova Scotia interviewed two of the top candidates about their experience. 

Joseph Orji, https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-orji/
Alexei Bissonnette, https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexei-bissonnette-9aa38a23a/

Read the interviews at Digital Nova Scotia!

Embedded Tech Support – Spring 2025 Call!

Posted on by Matt Egginton

Call is Open for Embedded Technical Support program

The Embedded Technical Support program is designed to assist researchers in any discipline at Atlantic Canadian post-secondary institutions to adopt or improve their use of advanced computing techniques and resources in their research. 

These tools have the potential to accelerate discovery in almost any discipline. However, the expertise necessary to optimize code, successfully migrate workflows from a desktop to an HPC cluster, build a cloud platform, or simply explore the capabilities and benefits of advanced computing may not be readily available, especially in smaller projects.

This program pairs our technical experts with innovative projects that have high potential for success and impact, and that require advanced computing resources, programming support and/or in-depth technical expertise. Some examples of areas we can help are:

  • Code parallelization and performance optimization for HPC systems 
  • Scientific or data visualization
  • Data analytics
  • Workflow migration from the desktop to a cluster
  • Applying research data management best practices
  • Tailored training

Successful projects under this program are able to access focused and dedicated support from one or two of ACENET’s research consultants for a period of two to four months. During this period, the ACENET staff member will spend up to 50% of their time working on the project.

The current call is open from 14 April until 18 May, 2025.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at applications@www.ace-net.ca.

More information and application form

Canadian Certificate in Digital Humanities Launches

Posted on by Matt Egginton

A joint effort among a number of partner organizations, the Canadian Certificate in Digital Humanities/Certificat canadien en Humanités Numériques (cc:DH/HN) is launched! 

The certificate, open to anyone regardless of citizenship or country of residence, recognizes people who have taken 100 hours of eligible digital humanities workshops over a five-year period. 

To find out more about the certificate, including eligibility and how to apply, visit https://ccdhhn.ca/.

If you are a Canadian organization offering digital humanities training and would like to have your workshops listed as eligible and/or become a partner organization, please contact us at digitalhumanities@stfx.ca. 

ACENET Certificate in Advanced Computing

Posted on by Matt Egginton

New Certificate in Advanced Computing

ACENET’s Certificate in Advanced Computing provides participants skills in using a supercomputer for large-scale simulations, analysis, complex modelling, machine learning, and visualization. They progress from beginner to intermediate with topics that include programming with Python, data analytics and visualization, Linux and Shell Scripting, high performance computing, parallel computing, cloud, version control, machine learning, and others such as technical writing, technical project management, cybersecurity and quality assurance.

Designed to provide job-ready skills, the certificate is completed part-time online over five months with approximately 100 hours of teaching time. The program takes a modular approach, combining six evening hours per week of interactive online classes with supplemental learning material, and includes a final independent study project intended to demonstrate knowledge and skills in a real-world setting. 

People who have knowledge, experience and comfort with computers, and who want to develop advanced computing skills to either expand their career prospects or bring new capabilities to their existing employment may be interested in this program. Specific work experience is less important than computer experience, and participants may come from a range of industries. Programming experience is beneficial, but not necessary, but a background in mathematics and statistics is strongly recommended. Those who are both motivated and have the capacity and time to augment this program with guided, self-directed learning will be most successful. 

The first cohort begins in March, 2024 under the techNL Find Your Future in Tech project, which is funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program. The application period is now closed.

Details about the certificate can be found on our website. Questions are welcome and can be directed to certification@www.ace-net.ca.