AICTE and C-DAC to Train Teachers, Promote High Performance Computing in 1,000 Engg Colleges

This MoA between C-DAC and AICTE aims to drive sustainable human resource development in HPC and allied technologies, foster innovation, and meet the evolving needs of industry and academia.

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) to establish an ecosystem for human resource development in High Performance Computing (HPC) and allied areas. This strategic collaboration aims to enhance India's capabilities in HPC, aligning with the goals of the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM).

The development of HPC-aware manpower is a critical deliverable of the NSM, a flagship program of the Government of India aimed at building capacity and capability in HPC across the nation. The NSM is executed by MeitY and the Department of Science and Technology (DST). AICTE, tasked with the coordinated development and qualitative improvement of technical education in India, has partnered with C-DAC to proliferate HPC education across AICTE-affiliated colleges nationwide.

Key Initiatives Under the MoA

1. Faculty Development Programs (FDP):

o             Training for 2,500 faculty members from approximately 1,000 engineering colleges through 50 FDPs.

o             These trained faculty members will subsequently teach HPC-related topics to about 50,000 students.

2. Awareness Programs:

o             Conducting HPC awareness programs in 1,000 engineering colleges, reaching out to 100,000 students to spark interest in HPC.

3. Installation of PARAM Shavak:

o             Deployment of 50 units of PARAM Shavak, C-DAC's ‘Supercomputing Solution in a Box,’ in AICTE-affiliated institutions, providing students with hands-on supercomputing experience.

S. Krishnan, Secretary of MeitY, expressed his satisfaction, noting that the HPC-aware manpower development activity of the NSM will now reach a broader audience in engineering colleges across the country. "This initiative will help build HPC-related capabilities within the technical workforce, preparing them for future challenges," he said.

Prof. T. G. Sitharam, AICTE Chairman commented, “With the signing of this MoA between AICTE and C-DAC, we are taking a significant step towards creating a robust ecosystem for High Performance Computing (HPC) education in India. This collaboration is not just about training faculty and students; it's about empowering the next generation of technologists with the skills and knowledge they need to lead in the field of HPC. By integrating advanced HPC learning platforms and industry-aligned courses, we aim to foster innovation and meet the evolving needs of both academia and industry. This initiative aligns perfectly with the goals of the National Supercomputing Mission and the vision of NEP 2020, ensuring that our technical education system remains at the forefront of global advancements."

Key Activities Under the MoA

• Master Trainer Programs:

o             Training and refresher programs to enhance the teaching skills of master trainers in HPC and allied technologies. These master trainers will then train faculty members, equipping them to teach HPC topics effectively.

• Quality Improvement Programs:

o             Specialized training programs to enhance the HPC subject expertise of faculty members from non-computer science disciplines.

• Courses on SWAYAM:

o             Offering HPC courses on the Ministry of Education’s SWAYAM platform, providing free online courses to learners nationwide.

• Industry-Aligned Courses:

o             Designing HPC courses to align with the current and emerging needs of the HPC industry.

• C-DAC Developed HPC Learning Platforms:

o             Offering C-DAC’s HPC learning platforms, such as PARAM Shavak and PARAM Vidya, to nominated institutes through AICTE.

This MoA between C-DAC and AICTE aims to drive sustainable human resource development in HPC and allied technologies, foster innovation, and meet the evolving needs of industry and academia.