HCLTech has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati to support AI-focused education for its early-career workforce. Through this initiative, employees enrolled in HCLTech’s TechBee programme will have the opportunity to pursue a four-year online BSc degree in data science and artificial intelligence.
The partnership reflects the growing need for industry-academia collaboration to build a skilled workforce equipped to thrive in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. According to HCLTech, the degree programme aims to develop future-ready talent capable of taking on leadership roles in an AI-driven economy.
IIT Guwahati director Devendra Jalihal described the programme as a high-quality and accessible educational offering designed to help learners adapt to the changing tech environment.
Assam takes bold steps to integrate AI in classrooms
The collaboration comes at a time when the state of Assam is taking proactive steps to embed AI in the school system. This week, the Assam State School Education Board (ASSEB) introduced three new elective subjects for higher secondary students—artificial intelligence, financial literacy, and sign language—beginning this academic year.
On May 14, IIT Guwahati also hosted a three-day residential AI training workshop for school teachers, aiming to equip them with tools to navigate digital-era classrooms. According to Assam’s education minister Ranoj Pegu, the programme supports life skills development and inclusivity alongside technical training.
The state has also piloted initiatives such as the introduction of Iris, an AI-powered teaching assistant dressed in traditional Assamese attire, to improve student engagement in private schools. These moves reflect a broader push across Northeast India to integrate AI in both pedagogy and practice.
HCLTech strengthens global AI learning footprint
Beyond India, HCLTech has ramped up its AI training globally. In October, it launched an AI transformation academy in partnership with UK-based Multiverse. The programme targets upskilling HCLTech’s UK employees through a 13-month ‘AI for Business Value’ curriculum, with a focus on applied AI, ethics, and productivity gains.
The company has also committed to upskilling 50,000 employees in generative AI by 2025, reinforcing its strategic vision to embed AI across business functions and client services.
