An industry-academia initiative spearheaded by Hyderabad Software Enterprises Association (HYSEA) with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and future-ready education as the focus of the programme saw 212 faculty members from 33 institutions complete the entire learning pathway.

An additional 185 faculty members continue to progress toward certification milestones, HYSEA said in a release on Project Drona 2.0, the second edition of the programme, following the convocation ceremony it hosted here in collaboration with the Telangana Academy for Skill and Knowledge (TASK). In all, faculty from more than 60 engineering institutions form part of the programme.

One of the largest such in Telangana, the nine month programme is designed to strengthen faculty capabilities in AI, leadership, curriculum innovation, industry engagement and emerging technologies. The objective is to equip educators with the knowledge, tools and industry exposure required to prepare students for an increasingly AI-driven workplace.

Delivered through the Infosys Springboard learning platform, the programme included 14 AI learning modules, five leadership courses, four AI certifications and industry-oriented capstone projects.

Led by Telangana Council of Higher Education (TGCHE) Chairman V. Balakista Reddy, speakers at the convocation, including JNTU Hyderabad Vice Chancellor Kishen Reddy, underscored the importance of AI-fluent educators, stronger industry-sponsored research and consulting engagements. HYSEA president Flt. Lt. Bipin Pendyala reaffirmed the commitment of the body of IT companies in the city to deepen industry-academia collaboration and expanding the reach of future Drona editions.