St Mary’s pupils from Years 9–11 took part in an inspiring bespoke Artificial Intelligence (AI) Conference, delivered through a collaborative partnership between St Mary’s School and the University of Essex.
Hosted at the University of Essex’s Colchester campus on Wednesday 14 January, the event offered girls a unique opportunity to explore the fast-growing world of AI while experiencing university life first-hand.
The conference was carefully designed through this collaboration to provide girls with a realistic and informed understanding of AI and its real-world applications. Pupils from St Mary’s Senior School engaged in a series of interactive workshops and mini seminars covering topics such as AI in Security, AI in Travel and Tourism, and Evolutionary Theory with AI and Machine Learning.
The day opened with a keynote address from Dr Haidar Raza, Senior Lecturer in AI at the University of Essex’s School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering. Dr Raza set the scene for the conference, offering expert insight into the current landscape of AI and the exciting opportunities emerging within the field.
Through the partnership between St Mary’s and the University of Essex, the girls were able to explore AI tools, gain valuable insight into future career pathways and develop a deeper understanding of the skills required for jobs in an AI-driven world. The experience was further enriched by the support of University of Essex Student Ambassadors, who guided pupils around the campus and shared their experiences of university study.
Mrs Nicola Griffiths, Principal said “We would like to extend sincere thanks to the University of Essex for hosting this outstanding event and for working in partnership with us to deliver such an engaging and forward-looking educational opportunity for the girls. At St Mary’s it is our mission to empower girls by inspiring them to see the world as one of limitless possibilities and by equipping them with the knowledge, experiences and skills needed to thrive at school and beyond. There is a need for women to play a greater role in the world of work and society as a whole and this AI Conference sent our pupils away feeling very inspired and excited about the opportunities ahead.”
Pupils were enthusiastic about the experience, sharing positive feedback on both the content and delivery of the sessions. One pupil commented, “I really enjoyed the hospitality and travel and tourism section,” while another said, “The Life Science and Psychology was the session I enjoyed the most.” Reflecting on the overall experience, pupils also praised the speakers, describing them as “Really great, engaging talks – kind and approachable lecturers.”
This successful partnership highlights a shared commitment between St Mary’s and the University of Essex to inspire young minds, broaden aspirations and provide meaningful insight into future education and career opportunities.