Microsoft’s First AI Bootcamp at CU-UP: Using AI to Empower the Future
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Chandigarh University, Uttar Pradesh (CU-UP), recently embarked on a journey toward innovative education by partnering with global technology leader Microsoft to deliver its first-ever AI Bootcamp. This event was a great start to manifest the university’s vision of providing students with experiential education that aligns with today’s industry needs, attracting more than 300 students from various backgrounds, including Engineering, Business, Commerce, and Computer Applications.
This is a great opportunity for CU-UP and Microsoft; the bootcamp is only the first of many initiatives that will grow into a partnership focused on creating a talent pool prepared for the workforce of the future. Under a newly signed MoU, CU-UP and Microsoft are working to deliver new programs in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), providing students with the tools and education to succeed in a rapidly changing technological environment.
Not only will the collaboration create an environment where students do not just read about AI; it will make it part of the fabric of their everyday learning. Learners in these technical courses will have the opportunity to learn and use AI through programming languages like Python and incorporate AI into real-world use cases and applications. Across a wide range of industries, many new skills are needed for students to be truly successful. Almost everyone is now aware of the growing impact of automation and digital transformation on the skills required to be successful in the job market, and the implications for a new skill set required.
Under the ’Unnati AI’ initiative, the AI Bootcamp was organized by Microsoft, FITT IIT Delhi, and Chandigarh University, with CU-TBI as the implementation partner. One of the defining characteristics of the initiative is its inclusion, as Microsoft has mandated that women must occupy 50 percent of the evaluation slots at bootcamps to establish gender parity and uplift upcoming talent from Tier-II and Tier-III cities.
During the event, CU Chancellor and Member of Parliament Satnam Singh Sandhu spoke of the broader vision of the university. Drawing from the past twelve years of strong institutional history for CU, he noted the newly built UP campus looks to establish partnerships in industries which are essential pathways for the future, such as Data Analytics, Cyber Security, Cloud Computing, and Fintech. He emphasized these efforts were not simply to place alumni within the industry but to improve employability and support access for many students, especially for opportunities that are traditionally located in a metro city.
FITT IIT Delhi’s MD Nikhil Agarwal recognized CU-UP’s progressive mindset and great infrastructure. He remarked that India’s emergence as a technologically empowered country is dependent on universities such as CU that combine skilling with innovation. He added that the Unnati AI program was based on discussions held with Prime Minister Modi regarding how AI could be leveraged for national development. We hope that the next Sundar Pichai or Satya Nadella will emerge from this very place”, he added.
Lipika Sharma of Microsoft added, “While many universities are still exploring how to make India’s youth industry-ready in Artificial Intelligence, Chandigarh University, Uttar Pradesh has taken a pioneering step by establishing the country’s first AI-supported campus,” another layer to the discussion. She said AI should not be mistaken for a replacement for human labor, though those who possess skills in AI will have a distinct competitive advantage. CU-UP’s leadership position as India’s first AI-supported campus is representative of a long-term vision, she explained, and Microsoft is pleased to be a part of it.
Abhishek Tiwari, Founder of Venture Mozart, also stated that he was pleased with the university’s gutsy decision to integrate AI into its program. He felt that this action would not only benefit the students from UP but would also serve as an example for other institutions in India to consider doing the same. He stated that knowing how to use AI was practically useless without being able to turn those skills into opportunities, whether it’s content creation or entrepreneurship.
Jai Inder Singh Sandhu, Managing Director of CU, rounded off the vision for the future of the university. He said that marking its new campus with an over ₹2500 crore investment and establishing 5 Centres of Excellence commitment will allow CU-UP to develop a serious research and innovation foundation. As well, the university will provide ₹3 crore CV Raman Scholarships for promising students pursuing scientific fields.
In its first-ever year, Chandigarh University, Uttar Pradesh, has already shown that with the right mission and vision, academic institutions can take the lead to prepare the workforce of tomorrow.
