New Delhi : Established with a vision to be the role model of learning, research, innovation, and sustainability for the knowledge society, the University of the Future, NIIT University (NU), has partnered with Fractal, an enterprise AI company that builds its own AI models, platforms and products for Fortune 500® organizations, to improve the teaching of AI and Analytics by combining academic learning with real-world experience with an industry-focused approach. The partnership will focus on developing an AI & Analytics Centre of Excellence (CoE), integrating industry technologies and datasets into student projects and creating opportunities for internships, industry practice and placements.
The Centre of Excellence under this collaboration will focus on scalable AI infrastructure, generative AI, agentic AI and real-world industry applications. It will provide a platform for students and faculty to engage in emerging artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and explore their application in solving business and technology challenges. Students will also gain hands-on experience with real industry datasets and exposure to machine learning, deep learning and responsible AI.
The collaboration will also introduce students to Fractal’s Cogentiq platform, which supports multi-agent AI assistants and enterprise automation. Selected NU faculty members will provide academic guidance and Fractal experts will offer technical guidance as students work on industry aligned and industry sponsored projects on the platform, its technology stack, datasets and best practices.
Students in the third year of the B.Tech. program will have the opportunity to work on capstone projects that are based on the business and technology needs of Fractal. Such projects could be agent interoperability frameworks, cross-system orchestration, enterprise AI workflows, large language model (LLM) gateways, and related applications. The projects will allow students to put their technical knowledge to real-world problems and gain exposure to industry tools and development practices.
Speaking on the collaboration, Prof. Prakash Gopalan, President, NIIT University, said: “Industry collaboration is a key element in getting students ready for the changing demands of the workplace. We’re excited to partner with Fractal to help bridge the gap between classroom learning and industry practice, particularly in AI and analytics. Through this engagement, students can learn to apply machine learning, deep learning and responsible AI concepts to practical challenges, while working with tools and frameworks used in industry. This will equip them with the knowledge and practical skills needed to tackle real-world challenges and work with emerging technologies.”
On this occasion, Prof. Debopam Acharya, Dean – Engineering & Area Director – Computer Science and Engineering, NIIT University, said: “The AI & Analytics Center of Excellence will offer a structured platform for students to explore AI applications through hands-on projects. Students will get to work on topics such as multi-agent AI platforms, enterprise automation and AI workflows using Fractal’s Cogentiq platform, with guidance from faculty and mentorship from the industry experts. It will allow them to see how concepts learned in the classroom can be applied to practical business and technology problems.”
Commenting on the collaboration Sandeep Dutta, Chief Practice Officer and Head of APAC, Fractal, said: “As organizations increasingly adopt AI to address complex business challenges, developing the right talent is critical. Through our collaboration with NIIT University, students will gain hands-on experience working on industry-relevant projects, applying AI in real-world business contexts and building skills that are directly aligned with enterprise needs.”
The partnership will also create opportunities for a long-term engagement between NU and Fractal through summer internships, Industry Practice (IP) programmes, live projects and placement opportunities. These initiatives will give students greater exposure to industry expectations and help them develop the technical and problem-solving skills required for professional roles in AI and analytics.
Through this collaboration, NIIT University aims to strengthen the connect between its academic programs and evolving industry needs, offering students opportunities to work on relevant technology projects and earn practical experience before entering the workforce.
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