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FutureMinds Bootcamp set to revolutionise Maths learning through artificial intelligence

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In a transformative leap forward for South African education, Unisa, in partnership with the Department of Basic Education (DBE), launched the FutureMinds Bootcamp, a national initiative placing Mathematics skills development at the centre of a bold, AI-driven learning revolution.

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The launch took place in two dynamic phases. The first, held on 31 May 2025, brought together over 650 educators from across the country in a virtual workshop aimed at strengthening digital teaching practices and laying the foundation for artificial intelligence (AI) integration in the classroom. The workshop introduced educators to the power of prompt engineering, AI-generated lesson planning, and digital tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft Co-Pilot, all framed around making Maths more accessible, engaging and contextually relevant.

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FutureMinds Boot camp launched by ED: DTSFL, Prof Meahabo Magano, on 31 May

Educators were equipped with foundational AI concepts and practical strategies for enhancing conceptual understanding in Mathematics, from using simulations and game-based learning to inclusive strategies that support diverse classrooms. Many teachers expressed a renewed sense of purpose, highlighting how AI tools could help overcome the barriers often associated with Maths education.

The second phase, launched on 16 June 2025 in commemoration of Youth Day, shifted the focus to learners. Held under the banner "From Protest to Progress, from  Soweto to Cyberspace: The Youth Rise Again", this learner-centred event (with 450 attendees) was a call to action for a new generation. It reimagined the legacy of June 16 by inviting today’s youth to rise through digital literacy and mathematical confidence. Students from Grades 8 to 12 were introduced to how AI can be used to personalise learning, solve Maths problems creatively and enhance critical thinking.

The event showcased how AI can serve as a bridge, not just to technological skills, but to deeper, more intuitive mathematical understanding. Learners engaged in live demonstrations, creative competitions and inspiring conversations about how they could own their learning journeys using AI as a tool of empowerment.

At the heart of the FutureMinds Bootcamp is a simple, powerful idea: that Mathematics, often seen as a barrier, can become a gateway to opportunity, innovation and a digitally fluent future. By linking Maths education to real-world AI applications, Unisa and the DBE are not only modernising the curriculum, but also restoring student confidence in their ability to succeed in high-demand fields.

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FutureMinds Learner Launch in Commemoration of June 16: Learners had an opportunity to explore the metaverse where the event was streamed

This initiative forms part of Unisa’s DHET UCDP Student Digital Resilience Programme (2024–2026) in the Academic Development Open Virtual Hub (Department of Tuition Support and Facilitation of Learning), which aims to transform teaching and learning across South Africa’s education system, thereby ensuring more digitally competent students enter the universities.

Unisa’s FutureMinds Bootcamp is more than a programme; it is a national invitation to reimagine what is possible in education. It is a commitment to ensuring that every learner, regardless of background, has the skills, tools and support to thrive in a future where Maths and AI are not just academic subjects, but life-changing instruments of progress.

For more information or to join upcoming workshops, e-mail ADOVH@unisa.ac.za

*Produced by the Academic Development Open Virtual Hub (ADOVH)

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Publish date: 2025-06-24 00:00:00.0

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