Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, participants will be able to :
• Design and program python applications using Spyder and Jupyter environments
• Use the main flow of control elements in Python
• Choose the appropriate variable type when required
• Use the different collection types, including lists, tuples and dictionaries
• Write functions and pass parameters
• Create classes and objects
• Read, write and parse different types of files
• Access operating system variables and automate tasks
• Use Numpy and Pandas to represent data sets
• Create mathematical models using Scipy, e.g using integrate and fast fourier transforms
• Graph using matplotlib and other tools

Who is the course for?

Schedule

The course outline below has been updated for 2026 with the addition of sections on using AI and some other updates, full details of which can be downloaded by clicking on “Full Course Details” button on image above.

Day 1

Python Basics
Flow Control
Functions
Modules and Packages
Lists, Tuples
Working With Strings
Using AI Assistants for Coding

Day 2

Working with files
Exception Handling
Dictionaries and Sets
OS Services and Task Automation
SQLite Introduction
Basic UI Applications

Day 3

Classes
Adding AI To Your Python Application Using ChatGPT API
Juypter
NumPy
Pandas
Matplotlib

Day 4
– The course includes a fourth day of exam preparation for the online Python Institute PCEP™ exam – Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer

Full details of the latest updates to the course outline can be downloaded by clicking on “Full Course Details” button on image above.

Trainer Profile

Aidan Killeen has a BEng degree in Electronic Engineering and has worked as a full-stack software developer for almost 30 years. He has 25 years’ experience as a Technical Trainer – working with Python (since 2003) and several other programming languages: Perl, C#, Java and JavaScript primarily.

Aidan developed and delivers the Python CPD course for the Institute of Chartered Accountants, using the OpenPyXL Python library for automation of the processing of Microsoft Excel files.
Aidan is using Python and the OpenAI API to train on adding AI features to existing Python applications.
Some of the training clients he has worked with on Python include the HSE, Stafford Lynch, Maynooth University, McAfee, AON Insurance, CAI, Efkon GmbH, Dell and Analog Devices.

Bill Emerson of Professional Training has worked as a software engineer, developer and trainer in the UK and Ireland since 1992, in a variety of industries, including financial services, scientific and educational. He has programmed extensively in Java and Python and divides his time between development projects and designing and delivering training courses. He has delivered python courses to many groups, including climate researchers and electronic engineers.

Bill lectures in software design and data analytics at Undergraduate and Postgraduate level, and is involved with a number of research projects involving data mining, analysis and visualization.

In 2025 reruns were held on 20 – 22 Jan & 26 Feb, trainer Bill Emerson, with Aidan Killeen delivering training after that on 31 Mar – 2 Apr & 30 Apr, 19 – 21 May & 24 June, 9 – 11 June & 15 July, 2 – 4 Sept & 29 Sept. and on 13 – 15 Oct & 17 Nov. Bill Emerson delivered this course in 2024 on: 12-14 Feb, 8-10 April, 22-24 April, 13-15 May and 16 – 18 Sept + 16 Oct and 21 – 23 Oct + 13 Nov 2024. Reruns in 2023 were on: 9 – 11 Jan, 27 Feb – 1 Mar and on 20 – 22 Mar, 22 – 24 May, 31 May – 2 Jun, 28 – 30 Aug, 2 – 4 Oct and 6 – 8 Nov 2023, following 7 reruns in 2022: 24th – 26th Jan, 28th Feb, 2nd Mar and 4th Mar, 21st – 23rd Mar, 28th – 30th Mar, 23rd – 25th May, 19th – 21st Sept and 14th – 16th Nov 2022 and 11 reruns held in 2021 on: 25th – 27th Jan, 1st – 3rd Feb, 1st – 3rd Mar, 30th Mar – 1st Apr, 12th – 14th April, 19th – 21st April, 17th – 19th May, 14th – 16th June, 21st – 23rd June, 4th – 6th Oct and 1st – 3rd Nov 2021.