A new initiative aimed at strengthening AI skills among women engineering students has been launched through a collaboration between JAN AI, Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) and the Visvesvaraya Research and Innovation Foundation (VRIF), with a focus on building human-centred AI solutions for real-world challenges.
The programme brings together 55 women engineering students from VTU-affiliated institutions for an intensive AI boot camp designed to combine technical training with field-based problem solving. Backed by the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM), the initiative seeks to improve women's participation in artificial intelligence while encouraging the development of technology solutions that address community needs.
Unlike conventional AI training programmes that primarily focus on coding and model development, the boot camp adopts a human-centred approach. Students are encouraged to engage directly with communities, identify local challenges and develop AI-driven solutions that can create measurable social impact.
As part of the programme, participants visited rural communities to understand issues faced by residents before applying AI tools to design practical solutions. The projects explored applications across sectors such as rural development, livelihoods and community services, highlighting how AI can be used to solve everyday problems rather than remaining confined to laboratory environments.
The initiative reflects a broader effort to improve diversity in India's AI ecosystem, where women continue to be underrepresented in advanced technology roles despite accounting for a significant share of engineering graduates. By combining technical education with entrepreneurship and community engagement, the programme aims to equip participants with industry-relevant AI capabilities while encouraging them to become future technology innovators.
JAN AI, which focuses on developing AI solutions for rural India, said its training model emphasises practical adoption over theoretical learning. According to the organisation, more than 75,000 individuals across the country have already participated in its AI training initiatives, with programmes designed around local language accessibility, voice-first technologies and real-world implementation.
The collaboration also aligns with VTU's ongoing efforts to strengthen AI education across its academic ecosystem. The university has introduced AI-related coursework, encouraged faculty development in artificial intelligence and expanded industry partnerships to prepare students for an increasingly AI-driven workforce. University leadership has consistently highlighted the need for students to build AI competencies as industries undergo rapid technological transformation.
Industry observers note that demand for AI talent continues to grow across sectors including manufacturing, financial services, healthcare, retail and enterprise technology. At the same time, organisations are placing greater emphasis on responsible and human-centred AI development that considers ethics, usability, transparency and societal impact alongside technical performance.
The latest programme reflects this evolving direction by encouraging participants to understand the people and communities that AI systems are intended to serve before designing technology solutions. Such approaches are increasingly being adopted globally as governments, universities and enterprises seek to ensure AI deployment remains inclusive and trustworthy.
For VTU, the initiative also supports its wider entrepreneurship agenda. The university has been expanding programmes that expose engineering students to innovation, startup creation and industry collaboration, with a growing emphasis on solving practical challenges through emerging technologies.
As India continues investing in AI talent development, collaborations between universities, startups and public institutions are becoming increasingly important in preparing the next generation of professionals. The JAN AI-VTU initiative adds to this momentum by combining technical AI education with community-focused innovation while creating more opportunities for women to participate in the country's expanding AI ecosystem.