STEM students
Active students from technical faculties (FON, ETF, RAF, MATF) aged 19 to 25.
SITA × American Resource Center
Do not just learn about artificial intelligence. Build with it.
Twelve weeks of intensive project work, twenty seats and mentors from leading IT companies. You leave as an engineer who can design, build and defend an AI-native application from scratch.
Applications close on 5 August 2026. The programme runs from 2 September to 24 November.
0 RSD
The programme is entirely free of charge
20
A small, highly selective cohort
12 wks
10 weeks of workshops + 2 weeks of capstone work
20+
Experts worked on the programme
Organised and supported by
What is the AI Bootcamp
University teaches you what a model is.
Here you learn to ship a product.
The AI Bootcamp was created to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and the real-world needs of the industry. Through hands-on project work and a simulated real-development environment, the programme transforms theoretical understanding into engineering autonomy.
Instead of passive learning, this bootcamp operates on the principle of learning by doing. Throughout the programme you will experience the fast-paced workflow of a modern development team, delivering functional software along the way.
The ultimate goal is simple: to prepare job-ready, AI-native engineers who can immediately step into roles and get hired by local IT companies.
The outcome
Twelve weeks move you this far
Before
Someone who merely understands artificial intelligence concepts.
After
An engineer capable of designing, building, deploying and defending sophisticated, AI-native applications from scratch.
Important note. This programme is entirely free of charge. Our ultimate goal is to equip you with highly practical, market-ready skills so that upon graduation you are fully prepared to secure employment as an AI engineer in leading local IT companies.
Who is this for
Built for juniors who want to build
This bootcamp is tailored for junior technical learners and software engineers who want to master practical AI toolsets and application development.
Recent graduates
Young professionals up to 30 years old who have recently completed their degrees.
Transitioning engineers
Established engineers undergoing a career transition or seeking to upskill in AI.
You are a great fit if…
- You can write basic Python.
- You have used the terminal to run a command.
- You want to build actual products, not just learn theory.
- You are curious about AI APIs and practical agentic tooling.
This may not be the right fit if…
- You have never written code before.
- You need a purely lecture-based format.
- You cannot commit to the required weekly hours.
Curriculum
Twelve phases, from foundations to defence
The curriculum was developed to directly respond to the current demands and technical needs of the IT market in Serbia. Each phase is one week of work.
Phase 01
Foundations
Weeks 1–401wk 1
AI-native engineering foundations
02wk 2
Python and API foundations for AI apps
03wk 3
Prompting, context and structured outputs
04wk 4
Tool calling and API integration
Phase 02
Agents and RAG
Weeks 5–705wk 5
Stateful workflows and simple agentic patterns
06wk 6
RAG fundamentals
07wk 7
RAG quality and controlled improvement
Phase 03
Production readiness
Weeks 8–1108wk 8
Evaluation and capstone approval
09wk 9
Security, responsible AI, and capstone risk hardening
10wk 10
Reproducibility and release-candidate gate
11wk 11
Capstone hardening, clinics, and review
Phase 04
Defence
Week 1212wk 12
Final project defence
More than 20 AI experts and engineers from leading domestic and global IT companies operating in our market worked on defining the modules, planning the classes, creating the programme, and selecting the technologies.
A number of engineers from the group of creators will also be involved in the teaching process itself as lecturers and mentors, and the final schedule by modules will be published before the start of the programme.
The people behind the programme
People who do this every day
The programme was designed by engineers who build AI systems in production, not in a classroom.
9 experts
- Marko Mitrović
- Viktor Nagy
- Dimitrije Jovanović
- Miloš Kajkut
- Nedeljko Damnjanović
- Nenad Vujičić
- Norbert Nemet
- Siniša Stević
- Vanja Bijalković
6 experts
- Borivoje Kovač
- Siniša Andrić
- Aleksandar Vujić
- Stevan Đorđević
- Marko Pavković
- Marko Potkonjak
… and others. More than 20 experts in total, from domestic and global IT companies.
Key organizational details
Everything to know before applying
Format
In-person workshops, in a classroom.
Location
American Resource Center (ARC) premises in Ložionica.
Timing
Wednesdays and Fridays, from 17:00 to 19:45.
Equipment and licenses
Bring your own laptop. SITA and ARC provide all necessary software licenses.
Duration
12 weeks in total: 10 weeks of workshops and 2 weeks of final project development.
Language
Lectures are in Serbian. Materials, documentation and coursework are in English.
Weekly commitment
6+ hours of workshop time, plus independent project work.
Cohort size
Limited to 20 participants for personalized mentorship and high-quality interaction.
Credentials
An official certificate upon successful completion and defence of the capstone project.
Where and when
Ložionica, Wednesdays and Fridays
All class dates
September 9 sessions
249
111618
232530
October 9 sessions
279
141621
232830
November 6 sessions
4610
131820
All sessions run from 17:00 to 19:45 at the ARC premises in Ložionica.
Selection process
Places are limited
To maintain high educational quality we take at most 20 participants. The application is online, and successful candidates will be offered a place in the upcoming cohort.
17 July 2026
Applications open
You fill out the online application form.
5 August 2026
Applications close
Last day to submit your application.
After the deadline
Admissions decision
Successful candidates will be offered a place in the cohort.
2 Sep – 24 Nov 2026
The programme runs
12 weeks of workshops and the capstone project.
FAQ
Questions before you apply
Is the AI Bootcamp really free?
Yes, the programme is entirely free of charge. SITA and ARC also provide all necessary software licenses. Participants only bring their own laptops.
How many seats are there and how are participants selected?
The cohort is limited to 20 participants for personalized mentorship and high-quality interaction. You fill out an online application form, and successful candidates will be offered a place in the upcoming cohort.
How much time do I need to commit each week?
Expect 6+ hours of workshop time per week, plus independent project work. Classes are held on Wednesdays and Fridays from 17:00 to 19:45.
What prior knowledge do I need?
You should be able to write basic Python and have used the terminal to run a command. If you have never written code before, this is probably not the right fit.
What language are the classes in?
Lectures are in Serbian. Learning materials, documentation, and coursework are in English.
Do I get a certificate?
Yes, an official certificate upon successful completion and defence of the final capstone project.
Where are the classes held?
At the American Resource Center (ARC) premises in Ložionica, Belgrade. Workshops are in person, in a classroom.
Who teaches the programme?
More than 20 AI experts and engineers from leading domestic and global IT companies, including EPAM and Endava, worked on the programme.
A number of them will also be involved in teaching as lecturers and mentors, and the final schedule by modules will be published before the start of the programme.