UPES and Hewlett Packard Enterprise Launch AI-Driven Centre of Excellence to Build the Next Generation of Engineers
Dehradun : UPES, in a strategic partnership with Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), inaugurated the HPE Networking AI-Driven Centre of Excellence (CoE), marking a significant step in the university’s commitment to building an AI-first learning ecosystem. The Centre has been designed to bridge academia and industry by equipping students with future-ready capabilities in AI-driven networking, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity and enterprise technologies.
Designed as a future-focused learning ecosystem, the Centre will offer curriculum integration, faculty development initiatives, hands-on laboratory experiences, live demonstrations, project-based learning, HPE-led bootcamps, certification pathways and opportunities for interdisciplinary innovation and research. Students will also gain access to HPE Networking training at Associate and Specialist level, potential internships and hiring pathways across HPE, its partners and customers, helping strengthen their readiness for the evolving technology workforce.
A recent NASSCOM and Deloitte report projects that India will need over 1.25 million AI professionals by 2027, citing an estimated shortfall of more than 600,000 skilled workers. The HPE Networking AI-Driven Centre of Excellence has been established to address such growing demand for skilled talent in AI, enterprise networking, cloud and cybersecurity.
For UPES, the CoE is proof that its AI-first university strategy is embedded into curriculum, faculty and industry partnership, rather than confined to a single course or department. Together, the partners expect the Centre to position UPES graduates not merely as job-ready, but as future shapers of enterprise AI adoption across networking, cloud and cybersecurity, with AI embedded across disciplines rather than limited to computer science alone.
The inauguration of the Centre formed the centrepiece of a day-long engagement between UPES and HPE’s global leadership. The program commenced with a welcome and reception, followed by a leadership roundtable that brought together senior representatives from both organisations to discuss the future of industry-academia collaboration and talent development. The formal inauguration and showcase of the Centre of Excellence was followed by an interactive student session featuring a keynote on “The Bridge: Degree to Career” by Shishir Singh, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Network Products & Advanced Technology. The visit also included a tour of the Bajaj Engineering Skills Training (BEST) Centre before concluding with a reaffirmation of the long-term partnership between UPES and HPE.
The HPE delegation also included other senior leaders like M. Muthukumar, Vice President – Platform Software Engineering and Managing Director, HPE Networking India; Maria Delting, Human Resource Leader – HPE Networking; Shalini Dutta, Head of Global Talent Acquisition; Beth Kremer, Senior Manager – University Recruitment & Programs and TA Operations; Samuel Daniel, India Leader – University Relations & Strategy; and Archana Yadav, Senior Global Program Manager, HPE Academic Alliance.
Speaking at the event, Shishir Singh, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Network Products & Advanced Technology, HPE Networking, said, “The future of enterprise technology will be shaped by professionals who can seamlessly combine AI, networking, cloud and cybersecurity to solve complex real-world challenges. We are delighted to partner with UPES to create an environment where students gain practical exposure to industry technologies, learn from practitioners, and build skills that are relevant to tomorrow’s digital economy. Strong industry-academia partnerships like this are essential to developing the next generation of innovators and technology leaders.”
From the university’s side, Dr. Abhishek Sinha, Pro Vice Chancellor – Student Success, UPES, said, “AI is fundamentally reshaping enterprise technologies, and universities have a responsibility to ensure students are prepared not just for today’s jobs, but for the careers and industries that are rapidly emerging. Through this partnership, our students will gain access to advanced technologies, global perspectives and experiential learning opportunities that will strengthen their ability to innovate, solve complex problems and lead in an AI-driven future. It is another important step in UPES’ vision as India’s AI-first university.”
The partnership marks another significant milestone in UPES’ AI-first journey, building on collaborations with global leaders including OpenAI, Google Cloud, Salesforce and Harvard Business Impact. By combining industry expertise with academic learning through the HPE Networking AI-Driven Centre of Excellence, the initiative will foster innovation, interdisciplinary learning and future-ready talent equipped to lead the next wave of AI-driven enterprise transformation.
