Dehradun, July 24, 2026 – UPES has partnered with Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) to inaugurate the HPE Networking AI-Driven Centre of Excellence (CoE), a milestone in the university’s AI-first educational strategy. The CoE is designed to bridge the gap between classroom theory and enterprise-grade practice in AI-driven networking, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, and other emerging technologies.
The centre will offer a comprehensive learning ecosystem, including curriculum integration, faculty development, hands-on lab work, live demonstrations, project-based learning, HPE-led bootcamps, certification pathways, and opportunities for interdisciplinary research. Students will also gain access to HPE Networking training at Associate and Specialist levels, as well as potential internships and hiring pathways through HPE, its partners, and customers.
According to a recent NASSCOM and Deloitte report, India will need over 1.25 million AI professionals by 2027, with an estimated shortfall of more than 600,000 skilled workers. The new CoE directly addresses this demand by preparing students for careers in AI, enterprise networking, cloud, and cybersecurity.
For UPES, the CoE exemplifies its AI-first university strategy, which integrates AI across the curriculum, faculty, and industry partnerships rather than confining it to a single course or department. The partnership aims to produce graduates who are not just job-ready but capable of shaping enterprise AI adoption across multiple domains.
The inauguration was the centerpiece of a day-long engagement between UPES and HPE’s global leadership. The event began with a welcome reception and a leadership roundtable on industry-academia collaboration. After the formal inauguration and showcase, an interactive student session featured a keynote by Shishir Singh, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Network Products & Advanced Technology at HPE, titled “The Bridge: Degree to Career.” The delegation also toured the Bajaj Engineering Skills Training (BEST) Centre before reaffirming the long-term partnership.
Other senior HPE leaders present included M. Muthukumar, Vice President – Platform Software Engineering and Managing Director, HPE Networking India; Maria Delting, Human Resource Leader – HPE Networking; Shalini Dutta, Head of Global Talent Acquisition; Beth Kremer, Senior Manager – University Recruitment & Programs and TA Operations; Samuel Daniel, India Leader – University Relations & Strategy; and Archana Yadav, Senior Global Program Manager, HPE Academic Alliance.
Speaking at the event, Shishir Singh said, “The future of enterprise technology will be shaped by professionals who can seamlessly combine AI, networking, cloud and cybersecurity to solve complex real-world challenges. We are delighted to partner with UPES to create an environment where students gain practical exposure to industry technologies, learn from practitioners, and build skills that are relevant to tomorrow’s digital economy. Strong industry-academia partnerships like this are essential to developing the next generation of innovators and technology leaders.”
Dr. Abhishek Sinha, Pro Vice Chancellor – Student Success, UPES, added, “AI is fundamentally reshaping enterprise technologies, and universities have a responsibility to ensure students are prepared not just for today’s jobs, but for the careers and industries that are rapidly emerging. Through this partnership, our students will gain access to advanced technologies, global perspectives and experiential learning opportunities that will strengthen their ability to innovate, solve complex problems and lead in an AI-driven future. It is another important step in UPES’ vision as India’s AI-first university.”
The partnership builds on UPES’s existing collaborations with global leaders including OpenAI, Google Cloud, Salesforce, and Harvard Business Impact. With the HPE Networking AI-Driven Centre of Excellence, the initiative aims to foster innovation, interdisciplinary learning, and future-ready talent prepared to lead the next wave of AI-driven enterprise transformation.