Event
Agentic AI workshop 2026: A Two-Day Industry Masterclass
Beyond Automation Build AI Agents That Think, Decide, and Act
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Thu 1 - Fri 2 Oct 26
09:00
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Colchester Campus
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Event type
Workshops, training and support
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Event organiser
Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, School of
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Contact details
Dr Haider Raza h.raza@essex.ac.uk
Agentic AI: AI systems that can plan, reason, use tools, and take autonomous actions, represents the next frontier of business automation. Yet fewer than 15% of organisations are fully prepared to adopt it.
This intensive two-day workshop, delivered on campus at the University of Essex, brings together business leaders, AI engineers, and researchers to learn how to design, build, and deploy agentic AI systems for real-world use. Partnered with Sensiwise AI Ltd and Experts from KAUST Academy (a global top-20 research institution), this workshop forms part of the University's broader AI initiative.
Participants will leave with a working prototype of an agentic AI system, a deployment-ready architecture blueprint, and a University of Essex certificate of completion.
What you will learn
- Agentic AI foundations: Understand the architecture behind modern AI agents: perception, reasoning, action, and adaptation loops.
- Hands-on system building: Build a working agentic system using LangChain or LangGraph with real-world datasets in guided lab sessions.
- Tool integration and RAG: Connect agents to APIs and databases. Build retrieval-augmented generation pipelines.
- Models across the spectrum: Explore different agent use cases using both small open-source language models and closed-source models — understanding when and why each approach matters.
- Governance and ethics: Apply human-in-the-loop design, GDPR compliance, and responsible AI frameworks to your agentic systems.
Who should attend
- Business leaders: CEOs, directors, and strategy leads exploring AI adoption and digital transformation — no coding required.
- Technical professionals: AI engineers, data scientists, and software developers building production AI systems.
- Academic researchers: University staff and postgraduate students exploring applied AI research and industry collaboration.
Registration
Registration via Eventbrite will open soon.
Workshop agenda
Thursday 1 October - Day 1: Foundations and design of agentic AI
| Time | Talk |
| 09:00 - 09:15 | Welcome, context setting and cohort introductions |
| 09:15 - 10:45 | From rule-based systems to agentic AI |
| 10:45 - 11:00 | Break and refreshments |
| 11:00 - 12:30 | Agent and RAG components deep-dive |
| 12:30 - 13:30 | Lunch and networking |
| 13:30 - 14:30 | Lab 1: Build a RAG pipeline |
| 14:30 - 14:45 | Break and refreshments |
| 14:45 - 15:45 | Lab 2: Build a data analyst agent |
| 15:45 - 16:30 | Build your own agent |
| 16:30 - 17:00 | Day 1 wrap-up, reflection and Day 2 preview |
Friday 2 October - Day 2: Hands-on development and deployment
| Time | Talk |
| 09:00 - 09:15 | Day 2 kickoff and environment check |
| 09:15 - 10:45 | Lab 3: Meeting summariser pipeline |
| 10:45 - 11:00 | Break and refreshments |
| 11:00 - 12:30 | Lab 4: Research agent, agentic RAG in action |
| 12:30 - 13:30 | Lunch |
| 13:30 - 13:45 | Capstone briefing: what makes an agent production-ready? |
| 13:45 - 15:30 | Capstone build sprint |
| 15:30 - 15:45 | Break and refreshments |
| 15:45 - 16:30 | Capstone presentations |
| 16:30 - 17:00 | Closing, awards and certificate ceremony |
What is included
The £650 registration fee includes:
- Both workshop days 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM
- All course materials, lab notebooks, and datasets
- Catering across both days (lunch, morning and afternoon refreshments)
- Participant goody bag
- University of Essex certificate of completion
- On-campus B&B accommodation (if needed)
Frequently asked questions
Do I need coding experience?
No. The workshop serves both technical and non-technical participants. Day 2 lab sessions include a no-code track for business and non-technical delegates.
What is included in the £650 fee?
Both workshop days, all course materials and lab notebooks, catering, a printed handbook, goody bag, and a University of Essex certificate of completion, and two nights accommodation.
Is accommodation available?
Yes. On-campus B&B accommodation is available, which is included in the package. Please indicate your requirement when registering on Eventbrite.
Is the fee VAT exempt?
Yes. Registration fees for this workshop are VAT exempt.
What should I bring?
A laptop with a modern browser. All lab environments are pre-configured in the cloud — no local software installation is required. A technical setup guide will be sent one week before the event.
Who are the expert speakers?
Speakers are drawn from Sensiwise AI (applied AI practitioners), KAUST Academy (a global top-20 research institution), and the University of Essex School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering.
