AI Education Gains Industry Focus as NIIT University Partners with Fractal for Centre of Excellence

Prof. Prakash Gopalan, President, NIIT University; Prof. Debopam Acharya, Dean, Engineering and Area Director, Computer Science and Engineering, NIIT University; and Sandeep Dutta, Chief Practice Officer and Head of APAC, Fractal, outline plans for practical AI projects, industry mentorship and student career opportunities.

AI Education Gains Industry Focus as NIIT University Partners with Fractal for Centre of Excellence
November 3, 2026: NIIT University (NU) has entered into a partnership with enterprise AI company Fractal to establish an AI and Analytics Centre of Excellence, bringing industry technologies, practical projects and professional mentorship into the university’s academic programmes.
The collaboration will focus on generative AI, agentic AI, machine learning, deep learning and responsible AI, with opportunities for students to work on real business and technology challenges.
The proposed centre will also address scalable AI infrastructure and applications relevant to enterprise operations.

STUDENTS TO WORK WITH FRACTAL’S COGENTIQ PLATFORM
A central component of the partnership is access to Cogentiq, Fractal’s platform for multiagent AI assistants and enterprise automation.
Students will have opportunities to explore the platform’s technology, datasets and development practices through industry aligned and sponsored projects.
Selected NIIT University faculty members will provide academic guidance, while Fractal specialists will offer technical mentorship.
The arrangement is intended to help students understand how AI systems are developed and applied within business environments.

THIRD YEAR STUDENTS TO UNDERTAKE INDUSTRY PROJECTS
Students in the third year of NIIT University’s B.Tech. programme will have opportunities to undertake capstone projects based on Fractal’s business and technology requirements.
Potential project areas include agent interoperability, coordination across different systems, enterprise AI workflows and large language model gateways.
These projects are intended to provide practical experience with tools and processes used in enterprise AI development.
The collaboration will also allow students to work with industry datasets and explore how technical concepts can be applied to operational problems.

NIIT UNIVERSITY EMPHASISES PRACTICAL LEARNING
Prof. Prakash Gopalan, President, NIIT University, said industry participation plays an important role in preparing students for changing workplace requirements.
“Industry collaboration is a key element in getting students ready for the changing demands of the workplace.”
He said the partnership would connect academic learning with practical experience in AI and analytics.
Prof. Debopam Acharya, Dean, Engineering and Area Director, Computer Science and Engineering, NIIT University, explained that the proposed centre would provide students with structured opportunities to apply classroom knowledge.
“Students will get to work on topics such as multi-agent AI platforms, enterprise automation and AI workflows using Fractal’s Cogentiq platform, with guidance from faculty and mentorship from the industry experts.”
The centre is expected to support collaboration between faculty members, students and industry professionals on relevant technical projects.

FRACTAL TO PROVIDE INDUSTRY GUIDANCE
Sandeep Dutta, Chief Practice Officer and Head of APAC, Fractal, highlighted the importance of preparing graduates for enterprise AI requirements.
“As organizations increasingly adopt AI to address complex business challenges, developing the right talent is critical.”
He said students would gain experience applying AI to business problems while developing skills relevant to industry needs.
The partnership is intended to introduce learners to enterprise development practices alongside their academic coursework.

INTERNSHIPS AND PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITIES PLANNED
Beyond the Centre of Excellence, NIIT University and Fractal plan to explore longer term engagement through summer internships, Industry Practice programmes, live projects and placement opportunities.
These activities are intended to familiarise students with professional expectations and provide experience before they enter the workforce.
The announcement does not specify the number of students who will participate, the centre’s launch date or the number of internships and placements to be offered.
NIIT University, established in 2009, operates from a 100 acre residential campus in Neemrana, Rajasthan.
Fractal develops enterprise AI models, platforms and products, including Cogentiq, and works with organisations across multiple industries.
Through the partnership, both institutions aim to connect AI education with practical business applications and the technical skills required in enterprise environments.

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