Week0
Welcome meeting
One week before the start (16/10/2026). Meet your facilitators and the rest of the cohort, agree how the group will work together, and share what you hope to get from the 12 weeks.
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KAISH Introduction Program
A free, 12-week, part-time program of guided discussions. You learn what AI safety is and why it matters, and you build the skills to grow as a professional and shape a successful career.
Cohort 1: 16/10/2026 to 01/01/2027
Weekly session: Unknown, Unkown Erbil time
Hybrid
One discussion session a week
No coding needed
Free
Apply by 15/10/2026
Overview
The program is an introduction to AI safety through conversation. Each week a small group meets with a facilitator to talk through one question: how today’s AI works, what can go wrong, and what people around the world are doing about it.
The first six weeks introduce AI safety. The last six turn to you: how to communicate, work with others, present yourself, and plan a successful career in AI or in your own field. There is no coding and nothing to read before a session. You only need to come ready to think and talk.
Who it’s for
- University students in any field, at any university in the Kurdistan Region or Iraq, undergraduate or postgraduate.
- Recent graduates and young professionals who want to understand how AI is changing their work and their options.
- Anyone curious about AI and its risks who wants to take part in the conversation, whatever their background.
No prior knowledge of AI or AI safety is expected.
What you need
- CuriosityAn interest in how AI is changing the world and a willingness to share your view and listen to others.
- EnglishEnough to follow and join a discussion. You don’t need perfect English.
- TimeOne session a week for 12 weeks.
- Age18 or over on the start date.
Not needed: programming, mathematics, a technical degree, or any background in AI.
Format and practicalities
12weeks
1discussion session a week
0lines of code
1personal career plan by the end
- The sessionA facilitator opens with a short introduction to the week’s question. The group then discusses it together, in pairs and as a whole, and each session ends with one practical takeaway.
- WhereUnknown, Erbil, with an online section for participants elsewhere in the Kurdistan Region and the diaspora.
- LanguageSessions are in English. Discussion moves into Kurdish or Arabic whenever that helps someone understand.
- Before each sessionNothing to prepare. Come ready to talk.
- CompletionAttend at least 10 of 12 sessions and share your personal plan in Week 12. You receive a certificate of completion from the Hub. It is not university credit.
The 12 weeks
Weeks 1–3AI and AI safetyWhat AI is, and why its safety matters
Weeks 4–6Risks and responsesWhat could go wrong, and who is working on it
Weeks 7–9Becoming a professionalCommunication, teamwork and your profile
Weeks 10–12Building your careerPaths, applications and your next step
Phase 1 · Weeks 1–3
AI and AI safety
By the end you can explain in plain words how today’s AI is made, and what people mean by AI safety.
Week1
What is AI today?
- Topics
- How modern AI systems such as chatbots are made; what they do well and where they fail; where we already meet AI in daily life, study and work.
- Discussion
- Where did you use AI this week, and what did you trust it to do?
Week2
What is AI safety?
- Topics
- The idea that AI systems may not do what we intend; a short history of the field; the communities and organisations working on it today.
- Discussion
- What would it mean for an AI system to be safe, and safe for whom?
Week3
When AI gets it wrong
- Topics
- Real examples of AI systems behaving in ways their makers didn’t intend: mistakes stated with confidence, bias, gaming their goals, and misuse; why these problems are hard to fix.
- Discussion
- Which example worries you most, and why?
Phase 2 · Weeks 4–6
Risks and responses
By the end you can weigh the main arguments about AI risk, and describe how different people work to reduce it.
Week4
Risks from more capable AI
- Topics
- The arguments for and against concern about more powerful future AI systems; how experts disagree, and what they agree on.
- Discussion
- What is the strongest argument against worrying, and does it convince you?
Week5
How people work on AI safety
- Topics
- The main kinds of work: technical research, testing and evaluating AI systems, policy and governance, and communication; the people who do each, and the skills they use.
- Discussion
- Which kind of work fits your strengths and interests best?
Week6
AI, The End of the path? Or an Unbelivable Starting?
- Topics
- Is AI reaching such a danger level that make humans surrender? Or The Humans be successful in controling AI and reaches top of the science process!
- Discussion
- How much time AI need to reach a high level? And what are those phases that should pass?
Phase 3 · Weeks 7–9
Becoming a professional
By the end you can present your ideas and yourself with confidence.
Week7
Communicating clearly
- Topics
- Explaining a complex idea simply, in writing and out loud; structuring a short talk; answering questions you didn’t expect.
- In the session
- Each participant explains one idea from the program in three minutes, and gets friendly feedback.
Week8
Working with others
- Topics
- Teamwork and leadership; giving and receiving feedback; professional emails and messages; running and taking part in meetings.
- Discussion
- Think of the best team you’ve been part of. What made it work?
Week9
Your professional profile
- Topics
- Writing a clear CV; a LinkedIn profile that works for you; presenting your experience honestly, including volunteering and student projects.
- In the session
- Review each other’s CVs in pairs, with a checklist from the facilitators.
Phase 4 · Weeks 10–12
Building your career
By the end you have a personal plan for your next six months.
Week10
Paths into AI and AI safety
- Topics
- Study at universities in the region and abroad, scholarships, fellowships and online programs, jobs and internships; how people in the field got their start.
- Discussion
- Which path fits where you are now, and what would the first step be?
Week11
Applications and interviews
- Topics
- Writing a strong application and motivation letter; preparing for interviews; following up after a rejection.
- In the session
- Practice interviews in pairs, with feedback.
Week12
Your next step
- Session
- Each participant shares a personal plan for the next six months: a program to apply to, a skill to build, or a person to learn from.
- Closing
- Certificates of completion, and how to stay involved with the Hub.
Special events
During the 12 weeks we may hold special events, such as a talk by someone working in AI or AI safety, a visit, or an evening with the wider community. Events are an extra, not a requirement, and we announce each one in advance on News and events.
The application process
Three steps. Every applicant hears back, whatever the outcome.
Submit the application form
About 20 minutes, by 15/10/2026 at 23:59 Erbil time. You also mark the hours in the week when you could attend.
Talk with a facilitator
A 20-minute conversation, online or in Erbil, between 16/10/2026 and 1/1/2027. We talk about what you hope to get from the program and your availability. No trick questions.
Hear our decision
By Unknown Date. Confirm your place within seven days and join the welcome meeting before 16/10/2026.
What we look for
- Curiosity about AI and its effects on people.
- Clear thinking in your written answers, in your own words.
- Real interest in the questions, not only the certificate.
- Realistic availability for all 12 weeks.
- Someone who makes the group better: asks questions, helps others, disagrees respectfully.
What we don’t require
A particular university, field of study or grade average, any coding or technical background, prior knowledge of AI safety, or perfect English.
What we expect once you’re in
Come to every session you can, ready to take part. Tell your facilitator early if you will miss a week, and follow the Hub’s code of conduct.
Key dates for Cohort 1
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Applications open | 01/10/2026 |
| Applications close | 15/10/2026, 23:59 Erbil time |
| Conversations | 16/10/2026 to 1/1/2027 |
| Decisions sent | Unknown Date |
| Welcome meeting | 16/10/2026 |
| First session | 16/10/2026 |
| Final session | 01/01/2027 |
Frequently asked questions
Does it cost anything?
No. The program is free.
Do I need to know how to code?
No. The program has no coding and no technical exercises. It is built on discussion.
Do I get university credit?
No. You receive a certificate of completion from the Hub.
Can I do the whole program online?
Yes. The online section follows the same weekly topics.
I don’t live in the Kurdistan Region. Can I apply?
Yes. Priority goes to applicants living in the Kurdistan Region and the rest of Iraq; Kurdish diaspora and other applicants are considered if places remain.
Is there an age requirement?
You must be 18 or over on the start date.
What if I miss a session?
You can miss up to two. Tell your facilitator in advance.
How is the session time chosen?
Everyone marks the hours they’re free on the application form, and we choose the time that works for most of the cohort.
Will there be a Cohort 2?
We intend to run the program again after reviewing Cohort 1. Join the mailing list below to hear first.
Who leads the sessions?
Trained facilitators from the Hub’s team, listed on the About page.