CHPC Coding Summer School - 2026

→ Africa/Johannesburg
Description

The 16th CHPC & 8th NITheCS Coding Summer School on Data Science and Computational Thinking

26 January – 6 February 2026

The Coding Summer School takes place in a physical form at various university and research locations around South Africa and Southern Africa. Students are required to attend one of the designated locations.

Representation from 2025 CSS

See all the research institutes that took part in 2025:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ed4uKcthGgU&list=PLszGOWZDel95S87OUUia1MgFH1-CaORKr&index=7 

Background

The Summer School is jointly organised by the Centre for High Performance Computing (CHPC) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and the National Institute for Theoretical Computational Science (NITheCS). This joint effort was specifically motivated by a concept paper of the South African Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) that explores the possibility of broadening the scope of NITheP (National Institute for Theoretical Physics) into a national institute/centre for theoretical and computational science.

Aim of the School

"Train researchers across South Africa and Southern Africa in the fundamentals of scientific computing and data science."

Format

  • Lectures & tutorials occur Monday to Friday

  • Lecture & tutorial times: 09:30 – 16:00 with breaks each day

  • Notes and exercises provided

  • Certificates awarded to qualifying students

Week 1 - "Data Science":

  • Data Science with Pandas

  • Workflow management through ETL (extract, transform, load)

  • Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA) & Visualization

  • Terminal Skills & Leveraging AI Tools

Week 2 - "Machine Learning":

  • Computational Thinking

  • Probability Theory and Statistics

  • Machine Learning & AI fundamentals

Coordinators

CHPC: Dr Werner Janse van Rensburg, Mr Binjamin Barsch, Dr Kevin Colville, Miss Nomlindelo Mfuphi
NITheCS: Prof Francesco Petruccione, Mrs René Kotzé, Dr Thuthukile Khumalo, Mr Aluwani Guga

Registration

The CHPC and NITheCS call for all talented students registered for a postgraduate degree, or researchers in industry, to submit their applications.

Final-year undergraduates planning to do postgraduate studies the following year are also welcome to apply.

The registration fee is free for all successful applicants; however, students must attend the designated university locations. As public-funded institutions, the CHPC and NITheCS support the transformation of South Africa and thus highly encourage students from previously disadvantaged backgrounds to submit their applications.

Registration is required for students to participate in the CSS, including receiving any type of certificate or letter of participation.

Please take note:

  • A background in Python programming is required, and an entrance test must be completed to successfully join the Coding Summer School.

  • You must be registered for the CSS to gain access to the learning platforms, otherwise you will be removed.

  • No accommodation and no travel costs will be covered.

  • Light snacks and refreshments will be served.

  • Limited space is available at each venue.

Entrance Test:

  • You must complete the entrance test after registering for the Coding Summer School. The entrance test is compulsory.

  • The sooner you complete it, the sooner you will be informed whether or not you qualify for the Coding Summer School.

  • You will be emailed the entrance test once you complete your registration.

  • If you are new to Python, in preparation for the entrance test, we recommend (optional):

Important Dates

  • Starting date for registration: 20 October 2025

  • Closing date for registration: 15 December 2025

  • Notification of successful candidates: within a month after registration and completion of the entrance test

School Dates

  • School start and Orientation: Monday 26 January 2026 @ 09:30 AM

  • School end: Friday 6 February 2026

University Champions by Institution

Central University of Technology (CUT)
Dr Zolile Dlamini — zdlamini@cut.ac.za

Durban University of Technology (DUT)
Ms Ayogeboh Epizitone — ayogebohe@dut.ac.za

Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT)
Dr Makhosonke Henry Thabethe — thabetheMH@mut.ac.za

Nelson Mandela University (NMU)
Dr Martin Weigt — Martin.Weigt@mandela.ac.za

NWU-Mafikeng (NWU)
Mr Ayanda Zungu — Ayanda.Zungu@nwu.ac.za

NWU-Potch (NWU)
Dr Daniel Moeketsi — Daniel.Moeketsi@nwu.ac.za

NWU Vaal Campus (NWU)
Mr Luke Coetzee — Luke.Coetzee@nwu.ac.za

Rhodes University (RU)
Emily Morgan — emily@morgan.org.za
Rabelani Ramahala — rabelaniramahala77@gmail.com
Shakes Govender — shakes.govender@gmail.com
Rehema Mukami — rehemamwani@gmail.com

Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU)
Mr Lesego Miya — lesego.miya@smu.ac.za

Sol Plaatje University (SPU)
Dr Alfred J Mwanza — alfred.mwanza@spu.ac.za

Stellenbosch University (SU)
Mr Idris Muniru — idrismunir@gmail.com

Tshwane University of Technology (TUT)
Dr Nangamso Nyangiwe — NyangiweNN@tut.ac.za

University of Cape Town (UCT)
Mr Luyanda Bheyile — luyanda.bheyile@uct.ac.za

University of Johannesburg (DFC)
Dr Krishna Govender — krishnag@uj.ac.za

University of Johannesburg (APK)
Dr Adedapo Adeyinka — aadeyinka@uj.ac.za

University of Limpopo (UL)
Dr Thiko Mulaudzi — thiko.mulaudzi@ul.ac.za

University of Mpumalanga (UMP)
Prof. Ntombovuyo Wayi-Mgwebi — n.wayi-mgwebi@ump.ac.za
Ms Duduzile Masuku — Duduzile.Masuku@ump.ac.za

University of Pretoria (UP)
Dr Edwin Mapasha — edwin.mapasha@up.ac.za

University of the Free State (UFS)
Dr. Combrink — CombrinkHM@ufs.ac.za
Phelo Mkungeka — mkungekap@ufs.ac.za

University of the Western Cape (UWC)
Dr Frederic Isingizwe — fisingizwe@uwc.ac.za

University of the Witwatersrand (WITS)
Chan Van Nierkek — kutloano.seeiso127@gmail.com

University of Venda (UNIVEN)
Mulalo Marandela — mvmarandela1@gmail.com
Dr Ndivhuwo Ndou — ndivhuwo.ndou@univen.ac.za

University of Zululand (UNIZULU)
Mr Phathizwe Majozi — majozipp@unizulu.ac.za

Vaal University of Technology (VUT)
Ms Vivian Mapande — fhatuwanim@vut.ac.za

Walter Sisulu University (WSU)
Dr Zolile Mtumela — zmtumela@wsu.ac.za

University of Fort Hare (UFH)
Dyakalashe Siyabulela — SDyakalashe@ufh.ac.za
Mr Sanele — 201819299@ufh.ac.za

SANBI
Ms Mantshadi Mdhlalose — m.mdhlalose@sanbi.org.za

iThemba Labs-Cape Town
Dr Mahmood M. Akbari — mahmoa@unisa.ac.za

General Inquiries

For general inquiries, please log a ticket at:
https://chpc.freshdesk.com/support/tickets/new
and select “Coding Summer School” as the category.

Important: Privacy

In compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (PoPIA) No. 4 of 2013, please read the CSIR's Privacy Notice: https://www.csir.co.za/csir-privacy-notice

Purpose for the collection of personal data:

  • To contact you regarding this course;

  • To assess your academic background for eligibility;

  • To report to the Departments of Higher Education and Training, Science and Innovation, and the Services SETA.

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