Advanced prompting techniques and use cases applications

Date: 3 Sep 2025 (Wed)

Time: 16:00 - 17:30

Venue: Online

Target Audience: All students

Medium of Instruction: English

Objective:

This workshop aims to deepen your understanding of modern Foundation Models (FMs)—the advanced AI systems powering today’s GenAI tools. You’ll explore how these models function, their evolution, and the different types available (including chat, visual, and reasoning models). You’ll get hands-on experience with state-of-the-art models like GPT-4.1 and o3, and learn practical techniques for crafting prompts that yield useful results.

What you will learn:

• Understand the basics of Foundation Models and get familiar with leading models like GPT-4.1 and o3.
• Learn why effective prompting is important, and practice techniques to design prompts that deliver accurate, helpful responses.
• See practical examples of how Foundation Models are used in academic and industry settings to support teaching, learning, and research.
• Gain hands-on experience using Foundation Models on accessible platforms through live demonstrations and guided exercises.
• Discover how GenAI tools can automate tasks and support you in managing complex academic or research projects, while maintaining responsible and ethical use.

Agenda:

1. Introduction to Large Language Models (LLMs)
   1. Overview of LLMs and their evolution
   2. How modern LLMs function
   3. Understanding benchmarks and leaderboards
2. Mastering Prompt Engineering
   1. The importance of effective prompts for academic tasks
   2. Techniques for designing optimal prompts in study and research
   3. Practice examples: refining your prompt engineering skills for coursework and assignments
3. Hands-On Practice with LLMs
   1. Overview of free and accessible LLM platforms for students
   2. Live demonstration: Using LLMs for summarizing articles, generating study questions, and drafting research outlines
   3. Guided exercise: Improving your prompt engineering for university assignments and projects
4. Wrap-Up and Q&A
   1. Summary of key takeaways for using LLMs in academic settings
   2. Open discussion and questions