GCI World 2026 September - Information Session

Summary

The information session introduces GCI World, explains how to apply and complete the course, and features a past award-winning student describing the Japan trip offered as a prize.

What GCI World Teaches

• GCI stands for Global Consumer Intelligence. It is an online course covering foundational data science and AI, with an emphasis on applying them to marketing and business problems.
• The 14-week program helps students take their first steps toward data science, regardless of their starting skill level.
• Topics include:
  • Python fundamentals and machine learning
  • Supervised learning, model evaluation, and feature engineering
  • Applying machine-learning methods to practical business and marketing problems
• The course also includes guest lectures and other special sessions.
• The presenter said the previous semester attracted more than 25,000 participants from hundreds of countries.

Registration and Eligibility

1. Check the GCI World website and select “Apply now.”
2. Submit the registration form, including a university email address. The administrative team reviews applications, which may take one to two weeks.
3. Use the emailed credentials to log in to Omni Campus, the learning platform for course materials and assignments.
4. Apply for the GCI World course within Omni Campus. Creating an account does not itself enroll you in the course. This second application may also take one to two weeks to process.
5. Join the Slack community using the invitation link sent by email. Slack is used for announcements, reminders, questions, and communication with teaching assistants and other participants.

Applicants must be students as of the course start date, September 17, and need a computer and reliable Wi-Fi. A smartphone alone is not recommended because the course materials are designed for computer use.

Course Participation and Completion

• Submit an attendance survey after each weekly lecture for the required number of sessions. If unable to attend live, students can watch the recording and submit the survey through Omni Campus.
• Complete homework when assigned; not every class has homework.
• Complete the final assignment: analyze a provided dataset and prepare a business-proposal presentation. Details are explained during the course.
• Outstanding students are selected based on their overall task results; the presenter noted that there is no single separate criterion.
• Additional support includes office hours with assistants, held several times a week, where students can ask about lectures, coursework, and the final assignment.
• The program also plans four beginner-oriented Python Fundamentals sessions before the main course.
• A machine-learning forecasting competition based on a simulated business problem is also mentioned.

Recognition and Follow-On Opportunities

• Course completers receive a certificate.
• Graduates may have access to further opportunities, including an entrepreneurial community, deep-learning workshops, and invitations to advanced courses.
• Outstanding students may receive a special certificate and an educational trip to Japan.

Award-Winning Student’s Account of the Japan Trip

Shun, a GCI Gold Outstanding Student in 2025 from Thailand, described a five-day, four-night trip to Tokyo. He said the trip was fully funded, including travel tickets, and included a small daily allowance.

The trip included:

• Free time on arrival, which Shun used to explore Tokyo.
• Tours of the University of Tokyo campus and lab, along with workshops and activities with the lab team.
• Meetings with startups and visits to their offices, offering exposure to practical business problems and solutions.
• A final presentation and Q&A with professors, followed by feedback.
• A dinner with a professor and the lab team.

Shun said the course’s practical techniques helped him in two internships and at hackathons. He encouraged participants to work hard and aim for the outstanding-student award.

Speakers and Sources Featured

• Shin Takazawa — Main presenter; a high-school student in New Zealand, GCI alumnus, and lab intern. He introduced the course, application process, and requirements.
• Shun — Guest speaker from Thailand; GCI Gold Outstanding Student 2025, who shared his experience of the course and Japan trip.