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Want To Learn AI From MIT Students? 30 Free Bootcamp Places Open In Cyprus

Young technology enthusiasts in Cyprus have an opportunity to learn how to build their own artificial intelligence systems alongside students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), with applications now open for two free bootcamps taking place in January 2027.

Organised by The League as part of MIT’s Global Teaching Labs programme, the initiative will offer 30 places across Limassol and Nicosia, with participants selected based on their technical abilities and motivation.

The five-day bootcamps will focus on AI agents, software systems capable of planning, using tools and carrying out tasks. Participants will work in small teams to design, build and test their own AI systems before demonstrating their projects to an audience.

Applications close on 29 November 2026.

What Will Participants Learn?

Unlike introductory courses focused primarily on using AI tools, the bootcamps will teach students how AI agents are developed and how they operate.

Working alongside MIT student instructors and university co-instructors from Cyprus, participants will:

  • Design an AI agent: Identify a problem and develop a system to address it.
  • Build and test their solution: Learn how AI agents use models, tools and code to complete tasks.
  • Explore responsible AI development: Examine which decisions can be automated, where human oversight is needed and how to identify potential failures.
  • Present their work: Demonstrate and explain their completed AI system during a public Demo Day.

The programme will be taught in English, with participants working in small teams over five consecutive days.

Where Will The Bootcamps Take Place?

Two sessions will be hosted by Cyprus’s universities:

Week 1 | Limassol

  • Dates: 11–15 January 2027
  • Venue: Cyprus University of Technology (CUT)
  • Hours: 09:00–15:00 daily
  • Places: 15
  • Demo Day: 15 January

Week 2 | Nicosia

  • Dates: 18–22 January 2027
  • Venue: University of Cyprus (UCY)
  • Hours: 09:00–15:00 daily
  • Places: 15
  • Demo Day and awards ceremony: 22 January

Each selected student will attend one of the two bootcamps.

Building On The 2026 Programme

The initiative returns to Cyprus for a second year following the introduction of MIT’s Global Teaching Labs programme to the island in January 2026.

The inaugural programme attracted 219 applications for 30 places. Held across Paphos, Nicosia and Limassol, it focused on robotics, with participants building working robots and presenting them during demonstration events.

This year’s edition shifts the focus to AI agents and agentic systems.

“Last January we watched teenagers from all over the island build things they did not think they could build, next to students from MIT,” said Yulia Tarasova, co-founder of The League, who initiated bringing the programme to Cyprus.

“This year we are going further, into AI agents, the technology everyone is talking about and very few schools teach. And it stays free, because talent is everywhere in Cyprus and opportunity should be too.”

The 2027 bootcamps are coordinated by The League with MIT MISTI Global Teaching Labs Cyprus and the host universities. The programme runs under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth and the Cyprus Computer Society, with support from Space307.

Who Can Apply?

The programme is aimed at secondary school students and first-year university students living in Cyprus who have a strong interest in technology and AI.

According to the dedicated application page, applicants should be aged 15–20, have a confident command of English and ideally possess some coding experience, particularly in Python.

Places are awarded through a competitive selection process:

  1. Online application: Submit an application by 29 November 2026.
  2. Programming task: Complete a technical assignment between 30 November and 9 December.
  3. Online interview: Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed between 10 and 20 December.
  4. Final selection: The 30 selected participants will be announced on 21 December.

There are no application or tuition fees.

How To Apply

Interested students can apply through The League’s official MIT MISTI 2027 programme page.

The application deadline is 29 November 2026.

EU Opens Health Research Funding Calls: Three Opportunities To Apply

The European Commission has opened new Horizon Europe funding opportunities for research into chronic diseases, independent living for people with disabilities and the effects of climate change on human health.

The three calls are part of the EU’s Horizon Europe Cluster 1: Health programme, which supports research and innovation aimed at improving healthcare, disease prevention and public health.

The opportunities are relevant to research institutions, universities, healthcare innovators and other organisations in Cyprus interested in participating in European research projects, subject to the eligibility requirements of each call.

The deadline for submissions is 17 February 2027, with one programme operating a two-stage application process.

What Funding Opportunities Are Available?

The three calls address different areas of health research and innovation.

1. Innovative Healthcare Interventions for Non-Communicable Diseases

This call focuses on developing innovative healthcare interventions for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including long-term conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes.

Non-communicable diseases account for more than 80% of Europe’s disease burden, according to the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA).

The funding opportunity aims to support research into effective treatment and disease management approaches, improving the quality of care for patients when prevention strategies have not been sufficient.

Application deadlines:

  • First stage: 17 February 2027
  • Second stage: 16 September 2027

The call follows a two-stage application process, with proposals progressing to the second stage subject to selection.

View the official funding call and application requirements.

2. Supporting Independent Living for People with Disabilities

The second call addresses the challenges faced by people with long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory disabilities, focusing on improving independent living and social inclusion throughout their lives.

Research may explore new approaches to accessible and person-centred support, including community-based care, personal assistance, assistive technologies and more inclusive living environments.

A central objective is to identify ways to reduce everyday barriers and support the transition from institutional care to independent living within communities.

The call encourages approaches that consider the needs of people with disabilities and their families, while improving access to appropriate support services.

Application deadline: 17 February 2027

View the official funding call and application requirements.

3. Understanding How Climate Change Affects Human Health

The third opportunity supports research into the relationship between climate change, environmental exposure and human health.

Its focus is the human exposome, a scientific concept describing the combined environmental and other exposures individuals experience throughout their lives, including chemical, physical, biological, nutritional and psychosocial factors.

Researchers are invited to investigate how climate-related factors such as extreme heat, air pollution and drought interact with other exposures and influence health outcomes.

The programme encourages multidisciplinary research examining how these exposures change in response to climate conditions, including the role of social and environmental inequalities in determining health risks.

The findings are intended to improve scientific understanding of the health consequences of climate change and environmental degradation.

Application deadline: 17 February 2027

View the official funding call and application requirements.

How To Apply

The three opportunities are part of the European Commission’s Horizon Europe Health programme for 2027.

Applicants should review the individual call documents before preparing proposals, as eligibility rules, consortium requirements and funding conditions vary by topic.

Key application information:

  • Deadline: 17 February 2027, at 17:00 Brussels time, for all three initial submissions.
  • Application platform: EU Funding & Tenders Portal.
  • Eligibility: Determined by each funding topic’s specific requirements and the relevant Horizon Europe participation rules.
  • Two-stage exception: The non-communicable diseases call has an additional deadline of 16 September 2027 for second-stage submissions.

Applications must be submitted electronically through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

Applicants can also consult the European Commission’s complete announcement of the 2027 Health funding calls for information on additional opportunities within the programme.

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