• HCLTech has partnered with IIT Guwahati to offer a four-year BSc in Data Science and AI for TechBee employees, advancing its AI upskilling goals.
  • Assam is also expanding AI education, introducing AI electives in schools and training teachers through IIT Guwahati to prepare for a tech-driven future.

HCLTech has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati to provide a four-year online BSc degree in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence for employees enrolled in its early-career program, TechBee.

The collaboration marks another significant step in HCLTech’s ongoing AI skilling strategy, aimed at future-proofing its workforce for leadership roles in the digital economy.

The initiative is designed to make advanced, high-quality education in AI accessible to young professionals who are part of the company’s TechBee initiative—an early career programme that trains high school graduates for entry-level tech roles while enabling them to continue their academic pursuits.

“[The programme] has been designed to offer accessible, high-quality education that empowers students to thrive in the ever-evolving technology landscape,” said Devendra Jalihal, Director of IIT Guwahati.

This partnership is part of HCLTech’s broader commitment to AI workforce transformation. Last October, the company launched an AI Transformation Academy in collaboration with UK-based edtech firm Multiverse, targeting employees across the UK.

That programme, titled ‘AI for Business Value’, spans 13 months and focuses on the practical application of AI in business environments, including discussions around ethics, strategy, and productivity. It aligns with HCLTech’s ambition to upskill 50,000 employees in GenAI by 2025.

A Broader AI Momentum in Assam

The IIT Guwahati partnership also comes at a time when the state of Assam is rapidly embracing AI in education. This week, the Assam State School Education Board (ASSEB) announced the introduction of AI, financial literacy, and sign language as elective subjects for higher secondary students starting this academic year.

Earlier this month, IIT Guwahati hosted a three-day residential AI training programme for school teachers, equipping them with tools to integrate AI into classrooms and foster inclusivity.

“This programme also aims to equip [students] with essential life skills and promote inclusivity,” said Assam’s education minister, Ranoj Pegu.

Assam made headlines last year by introducing ‘Iris’, an AI-powered virtual teacher dressed in a traditional Mekhela Chador, in one of its private schools, demonstrating the state’s blend of tradition and tech in the classroom.

According to a recent report by the International Council for Education, Research and Training (ICERT), AI tools in education are helping personalise learning, improve classroom engagement, and optimize resource allocation through analytics.

Edited by Harshajit Sarmah