The PGT SHAPE AI Challenge gives Postgraduate Taught students in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences the opportunity to work in interdisciplinary teams on a cutting-edge, AI-and-education-focused project.
How are AI solutions used in the education industry, such as to support teachers’ practice and assess students’ learning? How can we determine which AI solutions are the most accurate, effective, and ethical? How can Arts, Humanities, and Social Science specialists contribute to the rapidly evolving AI landscape and ensure that it is fair, considerate, and humane?
The PGT SHAPE AI Challenge will help PGTs in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences to answer these questions and to have a genuine impact on the AI environment. Running between October 22nd 2025 and December 10th 2025, this voluntary work experience opportunity will see students work in interdisciplinary teams and collaborate with Oxford University Press, the renowned publisher and educational authority, on refining a cutting-edge AI evaluation framework that assesses the accuracy, efficiency, and ethicality of AI systems used in educational settings.
Oxford University Press will pose a ‘challenge’ to student teams. Over the course of the PGT SHAPE AI Challenge, students will develop a range of skills and competencies, including teamwork, presentation skills, digital skills, and future-focused thinking. By the end of the programme, student teams will present their ideas to a panel of judges, with a winning team awarded a prize!
Please note that this programme is only open to Postgraduate Taught students from specific Schools and will be delivered exclusively on the Edgbaston campus. Participation in the PGT SHAPE AI Challenge will count as an activity for the Birmingham Award.
The PGT SHAPE AI Challenge is open to Postgraduate Taught students from the following Schools:
College of Arts and Law
College of Social Sciences
Please note that the PGT SHAPE AI Challenge is only open to Postgraduate Taught students undertaking a degree programme on the University's Edgbaston Campus, where all sessions will take place in-person. Registered Distance Learners may take part in the PGT SHAPE AI Challenge, but they must be able to commit to attending all sessions in-person.
The PGT SHAPE AI Challenge will have sessions running on the following dates:
Please note that all sessions will take place in-person on the Edgbaston campus and that attendance at all sessions is compulsory.
In addition to these sessions, teams will be expected to spend approximately 2-3 hours per week working on their solutions to the challenge.
By successfully completing the PGT SHAPE AI Challenge, you will:
- Develop key transferable skills that are highly sought after by employers, including time management, ideation, teamwork, presentation skills, report writing, and digital skills.
- Gained experience in working on an AI-related challenge, offering a competitive advantage in the future job market.
- Receive a certificate of participation, co-signed by both the University of Birmingham and Oxford University Press.
- Have the PGT SHAPE AI Challenge added to your enhanced degree transcript.
- Undertake meaningful work experience that can be drawn upon in future job applications and interviews.
How to apply for the PGT SHAPE AI Challenge
Applications will open at 9am on 22nd September 2025 and will close on 12th October at 11:45pm.
Places for the PGT SHAPE AI Challenge are limited and will be allocated depending on the quality of your application. Please ensure you take the time to complete the application form in full and answer the questions to the best of your ability.
In particular, your application will assessed against the following criteria:
Complete your application form for the PGT SHAPE AI Challenge here!
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