Introduction to Modern Machine Learning

This Winter School provides a practical introduction to the foundations and applications of modern machine learning. Designed for participants who want to build a solid understanding of today's ML landscape, the program combines core concepts with hands-on experience using state-of-the-art tools and frameworks.

Summary

Date 08 - 12 March 2027
Place Hotel Regina in Mürren, Bern
Language English
Target groups Students, PhD students, PostDocs, UniBE staff and externals
Course fee CHF 1'160
Special course fee CHF 660 (UniBE members and students)
Accomodation costs CHF 900 (applicable for all participants)
Registration until  05 February 2027
Workload Four days and nights, 2 ECTS*

 

The format of this Winter School is intentionally applied. Sessions introduce concepts quickly and move to working code, real tools, and the kinds of architectural decisions you'll encounter in practice. Mornings and select afternoons are structured; the rest of the time is yours — whether that means skiing, fresh mountain air, or catching up on your own projects.

By the end of the week, you'll understand the foundations of modern machine learning, gain hands-on experience with neural networks and AI-assisted development, and leave ready to build, evaluate, and improve machine learning solutions with confidence.

 

Learning outcomes

By the end of this winter school, participants will be able to:

  • Know what ML is
  • Solve optimization problems
  • Know how to select a most promising approach and quantify model generalization
  • Have an overview of modern machine learning methods from traditional methods to SOTA deep models.
  • Implement a basic neural network or adapt existing model architecture.
  • Know how to apply AI assistance in development and project maintenance.
  • Critique a machine learning approach.

Programm

Monday (Arrival) 
14:00 - 14:30 Welcome and Check-In 
14:30 - 16:15 Lecture 1: Machine Learning fundamentals
16:15 - 17:00 Tutorial: Project management, IDE setup, git essentials, and tool assistance for ML development
17:30 - 18:30 Apéro 
19:00 - 20:00 Dinner

Tuesday 
08:15 - 09:00 Lecture 2: Training a model from scratch: understanding supervised Learning
09:00 - 10:00 Tutorial: Classical ML models: Implementation and evaluation
10:00 - 10:30 Break 
10:30 - 12:30 Lecture 3: Data preprocessing, feature engineering, and performance quantification for ML models
12:30 - 17:00 Lunchbag, skiing, work or whatever 
17:00 - 18:30 Tutorial: Model evaluation techniques and metrics for assessing model performance
19:00 - 20:00 Dinner

Wednesday 
08:15 - 09:00 Lecture 4: Neural Networks and Deep Learning
09:00 - 10:00 Tutorial: Building a simple neural network using PyTorch
10:00 - 10:30 Break 
10:30 - 12:30 Lecture/Tutorial: Important building blocks of modern neural networks: activation functions, optimizers, and regularization techniques
12:30 - 17:00 Lunchbag, skiing, work or whatever 
17:00 - 18:30 Lecture 5: Deep learning models overview: architectures that enable solutions
19:00 - 20:30 Dinner (Regina) 

Thursday 
08:15 - 09:00 Lecture 6: BONUS
09:00 - 10:00 Integrated LLMs systems – Skills
10:00 - 10:30 Break 
10:30 - 12:30 Tutorial: Transfer Learning in different domains
12:30 - 15:00 Lunchbag, skiing, work or whatever 
15:00 - 16:30 Tutorial: interfacing project with LLMs for common NLP tasks and beyond
16:45 - 18:30 Sledge ride from Almendhubel down to the hotel, leaving the reception at 16:45 
19:00 - 21:00 Cheese Fondue at restaurant Alpenruh (meet at the hotel reception Regina at 18:45) 
21:30 - xx:00 Tächibar 

Friday 
08:15 - 09:00 Lecture 7: Review and reflect: ML essentials and key takeaways
09:00 - 10:00 Tutorial: Data visualization techniques for ML model insights and understanding
10:00 - 10:30 Break and checkout 
10:30 - 12:30 Tutorial: Applying ML to your own data: getting started and discussion Session
12:30         End of school 

Venue

The schools take place in the wonderful historic Hotel Regina in the center of the alpine ski resort Mürren.

Mürren is situated on a mountain terrace 1638 meters above sea level in the Bernese Oberland, granting an unique view of the majestic mountain range of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau rising on the opposite side of the narrow mountain valley. Mürren is car free.

Accommodation costs at Hotel Regina Mürren include a room with shared bathroom, breakfast, coffee break, lunch bag, dinner, and social program for the duration of the Winter School. Additional consumption at the hotel needs to be paid directly upon check-out. 

Participants who participate remotely only pay the course fee. 

Payment, cancellation policy and refunds

Payment

By submitting the registration form, you are making a binding registration for the Winter School.

After your registration has been received, an invoice for 50% of the total participation fee (course fee + accomodation) will be issued. The remaining 50% will be invoiced two weeks before the start of the Winter School. Payment must be made by the due date indicated on each invoice.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations must be submitted in writing by email to info.dsl@unibe.ch.

  • Until 8 February 2027: Cancellations are free of charge. Any payments already received will be refunded in full.
  • After 8 February 2027: Cancellations are possible; however, refunds will be subject to a CHF 150 administrative fee.
  • No refunds will be granted for participants who fail to attend the Bern Winter School without prior written cancellation (no-shows).

Refunds

Refunds will be processed after the Winter School has concluded.

If the Winter School is cancelled by the organizers, all payments received will be refunded in full. The organizers accept no further liability beyond the reimbursement of the participation fee.