In these lecture notes for a summer mini-course, we provide an exposition on quantum groups and Hecke algebras, including (quasi) R-matrix, canonical basis, and $q$-Schur duality. Then we formulate their counterparts in the setting of $imath$quantum groups arising from quantum symmetric pairs, including (quasi) K-matrix, $imath$-canonical basis, and $imath$Schur duality. As an application, the ($imath$-)canonical bases are used to formulate Kazhdan-Lusztig theories and character formulas in the BGG categories for Lie (super)algebras of type A-D. Finally, geometric constructions for $q$-Schur and $imath$Schur dualities are provided.
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