CHANDIGARH, June 2 — Chandigarh University has become the country’s first private university to establish the ‘IndiaAI Data Lab’ in collaboration with Intel India, an initiative aimed at boosting student employability through advanced technical training.
The dedicated space, housed within the University Institute of Computing, will provide computing and computer science engineering students with a simulated apprenticeship platform to acquire practical skills in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science.
“This IndiaAI Data Lab has been established at a private university for the first time, not just in Punjab but in India,” Vice-Chancellor Prof (Dr) Raviraja N Seetharam affirmed during the inauguration ceremony.
He declared that the milestone is the culmination of nearly three years of continuous planning and collaboration with Intel India to build future-ready talent. He maintained that modern education thrives on activity-based and project-based learning rather than routine classroom teaching.
The facility is equipped with specialized AI PCs designed to serve as a hub for advanced research, student hackathons, and faculty development.
“By providing students with hands-on experience and access to AI PCs, this initiative will enable them to learn, create, and innovate using the latest AI technologies, while helping bridge the gap between academia and industry needs,” stated Shweta Khurana, Senior Director for Asia Pacific and Japan Global Government Affairs at Intel.
To expand upon the partnership, the university has also introduced specialized MCA (Data Science) and BCA (Data Science) programs in association with Intel India.
University authorities asserted that a unique feature of these new academic tracks will allow students to earn official Intel Certifications every semester to enhance their readiness for the digital economy.
The joint venture has already yielded practical training milestones prior to the lab’s physical launch. A recent summer school program titled ‘AI for Future Workforce’ provided hands-on exposure to more than 2,000 computing and engineering students. Furthermore, a team of BCA students from the university recently secured the second position at the national level during the Intel AI Summit.
