India, January 21, 2025: Plaksha University, a technology university founded by over 130 business leaders and corporates, announced the launch of Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence – a one-year, full-time residential program co-created with leading global institutions. The program aims to develop the next generation of AI talent equipped to lead in an increasingly AI-driven world. The program has been co-created with insights from distinguished global academicians and industry leaders at Penn Engineering, UC Berkeley, Google, Microsoft, and Fractal.
The program is offered by the Harish and Bina Shah School of Computer Science and AI, a global hub envisioned to lead world-class AI education and research through distinguished faculty, pioneering scholarship and deep international collaboration with institutions like Penn Engineering. The partnership of the School with Penn Engineering includes exchange of faculty, facilitation of joint research and academic activities for researchers and students, as well as development and implementation of cooperative research and educational programs.
Visiting faculty from the Penn Engineering will co-deliver select core components of the curriculum, bringing global expertise in engineering education to Plaksha’s innovation-led pedagogy. Students will learn from an exceptional faculty cohort trained at leading international institutions, including UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, Oxford, Purdue, NTU Singapore, IISc, and the IITs, along with industry experts from organizations such as Microsoft.
Commenting on the launch, Harish Shah, Chairperson, Harish & Bina Shah Foundation said “Through this program, the School will cultivate the brightest minds in AI and ensure they are equipped to create meaningful impact in shaping the future of tech. This MS in AI program leverages our partnership with Penn Engineering and connects global academic depth with Plaksha’s interdisciplinary approach, real industry needs, and a strong sense of responsibility in how AI is built.”
“Penn Engineering is pleased to partner with Plaksha University on a program that reflects the strength of global collaboration in engineering education,” said Prof. Vijay Kumar, Nemirovsky Family Dean at Penn Engineering . “By sharing our faculty’s scientific and academic expertise, this partnership creates new opportunities for shared learning, research engagement and the preparation of engineers who will work at the forefront of artificial intelligence.”
Designed at the intersection of academic rigor and industry relevance, the MS curriculum combines strong foundations in AI with structured industry immersion, enabling students to design, build, and deploy AI systems in real-world contexts. Students will engage with advanced tools, industry case studies, and applied problem-solving to bridge theory and practice. A five-month Industry Immersion Project allows students to take on real-time challenges with partner companies, translating business needs into AI strategies and building scalable systems under the mentorship of industry leaders.
Commenting on the program, Hitesh Oberoi, Co-Promoter, MD and CEO, Info Edge Ltd (naukri, 99acres, jeevansaathi), said, “In today’s age, AI-first tech leaders require domain knowledge, systems thinking and the ability to innovate responsibly. A master’s program like Plaksha’s MS in AI with world-class faculty, live industry projects and interdisciplinary curriculum will nurture AI professionals, who are ready to lead and innovate.”
Announcing the launch, Professor Rudra Pratap, Founding Vice Chancellor of Plaksha University, remarked, “As AI reshapes economies and institutions, the real challenge is building the capability to apply it responsibly and at scale. Through this program, Plaksha is focusing on strengthening AI education in India by linking strong fundamentals with real-world deployment. This is the kind of leadership-oriented AI education the country will increasingly need.”
Plaksha University is poised to redefine the future of technology education in India, establishing itself as a leader in AI research and innovation while fostering the next generation of technology-driven problem-solvers.
Graduates of the MS in AI will be well prepared for high-impact roles such as AI engineer, data scientist, MLOps engineer, AI business analyst, and product or AI strategist. This career readiness is reflected in the strong outcomes of Plaksha alumni, who currently work in AI, data science, software engineering, and product roles at organizations such as Amazon, Arcesium, BCG, Flipkart, Fractal Analytics, and Info Edge. The program is supported by a global advisory board of technical and business leaders who help ensure the curriculum remains aligned with emerging technologies and shifting industry needs. Students will also benefit from Plaksha’s ecosystem of founders, academicians, and industry leaders who contribute to mentorship, collaboration, and real-world exposure. The launch of the MS in AI reinforces Plaksha University’s mission to develop technology leaders who can drive innovation and address complex real-world challenges.
About Plaksha University:
Founded by a global community of more than 100 technology and business leaders, Plaksha envisions reimagining technology education and research for India and the world. With strong partnerships with UC Berkeley, Purdue, UC San Diego, Cornell University, Penn Engineering, IIT Kanpur and IISc Bengaluru, Plaksha aims to nurture and empower a generation of catalytic leaders and create an ecosystem of research and innovation. The university collapses the traditional boundaries of engineering and promotes interdisciplinary learning by combining technology, design and entrepreneurship.
Plaksha is guided by an eminent academic board including Vijay Kumar, Nemirovsky Family Dean of Penn Engineering, University of Pennsylvania; Prof. S Shankar Sastry, Thomas Siebel Distinguished Professor of Computer Science, Venkatesh Narayanamurthi, former Dean of the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences; Sriram Rajamani, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Research India; Julia Ross, Dean of Engineering, Virginia Tech; Krishna Palepu, Ross Graham Walker Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School; Sanjay Sarma, Fred Fort Flowers and Daniel Fort Flowers Professor of Mechanical Engineering, MIT; and business leaders such as Neeraj Aggarwal, Chair – Asia Pacific, BCG; Rakesh Bharti Mittal, Vice Chairman, Bharti Enterprises; Hitesh Oberoi, Co-promoter &; CEO, Info Edge (Naukri.com); Srikanth Velamakanni, Co-founder, Fractal Analytics; Manas Human, Co- Founder, Nagarro; Navin Chaddha, Managing Director, Mayfield Fund; Sujeet Kumar, Co-founder, Udaan.com; Dalip Pathak, Special Limited Partner, Warburg Pincus LLC; CP Gurnani, former MD & CEO, Tech Mahindra; Pramod Bhasin, Chairman, Clix Capital among others. Corporate donors include companies like Bharti Airtel Foundation, Axis Bank, Indorama Ventures, Havells, Harish and Bina Shah Foundation, HT Parekh Foundation, Mphasis, Info Edge and Motilal Oswal. The global community of business leaders who founded Plaksha can be seen here.
About Penn Engineering
The School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn Engineering) is comprised of six academic departments and numerous interdisciplinary centers, institutes, and laboratories. Penn Engineering’s goal is to prepare students for leadership roles in a technological world where creativity, critical quantitative thinking, effective communication skills and a strong commitment to humane values are essential.
An Ivy League university located in the city of Philadelphia, Penn was the first of its kind, a university created for the purpose of building knowledge that would benefit the future of our country and mankind. Established in 1852 as the School of Mines, Arts and Manufactures, Penn Engineering is among the oldest engineering programs in the United States. Today, Penn Engineering is one of the University’s twelve schools, and offers degrees at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels.
Penn Engineering students have access to all that the University of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia have to offer, including hands-on research and design experience in a contiguous, urban campus. The close proximity to Penn’s other schools, including Medicine, Law, Business, and Design enables and promotes interdisciplinary collaboration. From biotechnology and nanotechnology to artificial intelligence and robotics, Penn Engineering’s research is at the forefront of scientific and technological frontiers. www.seas.upenn.edu
