Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT) Nagpur has successfully concluded the AICTE–QIP Postgraduate Certificate Programme on “Data Science & Machine Learning for Engineering Applications,” a flagship six‑month faculty development initiative supported by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). The programme was designed exclusively for faculty members from AICTE‑approved engineering institutions across India, with the aim of strengthening their capabilities in emerging areas of data science and artificial intelligence.
The 18‑credit programme, conducted from February to June, 2026, followed a hybrid structure comprising two intensive on‑campus phases and a four month online phase in between. With a total of 200 contact hours (excluding evaluation), the course offered a carefully balanced mix of theory sessions, coding labs, and project‑based learning, aligned with AICTE’s QIP‑PG guidelines on credits, contact hours, and evaluation. Participants also undertook capstone projects focusing on real‑world engineering applications in their own domains, enabling them to translate classroom learning into practical solutions
The course was coordinated by Dr. Praveen Kumar, Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science & Engineering. The programme brought together a diverse cohort of faculty participants, including senior professors, Heads of Departments, and Deans from core engineering disciplines, reflecting the growing demand for data‑driven methods across all branches of engineering. Speaking at the valedictory function, the programme coordinator highlighted the sustained effort involved in planning and conducting the course over five month and expressed satisfaction at the active engagement of participants throughout. He emphasized that the programme has been a value‑adding experience for both the organizing team and the participants, and expressed hope that the skills and perspectives gained will be effectively utilized in modernizing curricula, mentoring student projects, and initiating interdisciplinary research in line with the vision of the National Education Policy 2020. Honourable Director, QIP coordinator and Head of Department (CSE) distributed the certificates, grade sheets and memento to the successful participants.