A Record Summer for IE Sci-Tech’s Breakthrough Tech & AI Summer School

This summer, IE Sci-Tech launched the IE Breakthrough Tech & AI Summer School, a two-week program that drew students from all over the world. Designed for undergraduate students and recent graduates aged 18 to 24, the program provided an intensive, hands-on introduction to some of today’s most transformative technologies.

The success of the first edition led the second cohort to more than triple in size, making it IE’s most attended summer school. This growth mirrors a broader shift showing that Gen Z and millennials prioritise learning, development and real-world tech exposure over climbing traditional career ladders - making programs such as the IE Breakthrough Tech & AI especially attractive.

The curriculum focused on artificial intelligence, quantum computing, robotics and healthcare applications, taught through immersive, project-based learning in the state-of-the-art IE Robotics & AI Lab. Students were introduced to the fundamentals of emerging technologies and asked to apply them in real-world contexts, such as AI model development for healthcare, exploring quantum computing’s problem-solving potential, or designing robotics prototypes. Sessions on ethics and responsible innovation framed technical work within a broader societal reflection.

The agenda mixed lectures with practical workshops, mentorship sessions and reflection periods, culminating in a final team project. Some groups built functional robots, while others wrote their first lines of code—even without prior programming experience. For many, this was the most demanding but rewarding aspect of the program. As one of the students explained:

"This course pushed me harder than anything I’d tried before. I learned new techniques, discovered how to code, and made friends from places I’d only read about. It gave me confidence that I can tackle whatever tech throws at me next."

Luca Ventorini

Outside the labs and classrooms, students tried a quantum VR simulation, visited Segovia, and experienced summer life in Madrid. Between sessions at the IE Tower, they explored Retiro Park, browsed Malasaña’s street fashion, and cooled off at rooftop pools. Evenings often meant tapas, churros or the occasional flamenco show.

Dr Robert Polding, Assistant Vice Dean of Computing and Data Science and Academic Director of the Health & Tech Lab at IE University, said: “I was impressed by how quickly students tackled complex challenges and by their eagerness to explore tools they had never encountered. The students blew our minds with their creativity, technical ingenuity and enthusiasm.”

IE University has seen rising attendance at its summer schools in 2025, a pattern that reflects growing student awareness of what such programs offer to their careers. Summer schools like Breakthrough Tech & AI offer more than just academic content; by diving deep into new disciplines, gaining global networks and rapidly developing practical skills, participants show initiative and return to their universities and future careers with fresh ideas. These programs build adaptability, cultural awareness and confidence in pitching ideas—all traits that stand out in applications and job interviews.

For Alika Semianets, the impact went well beyond the labs: “Coming here felt like stepping into an ideas workshop. We worked across cultures, came up with bold solutions and kept building. I left inspired, with new ideas and a network I know I’ll keep.”

Applications for the 2026 edition will open in spring, with the program running in July. Prospective students can reach out at ieuniversitysummerschool@ie.edu for updates.