Introduction
In a significant move to enhance India’s capabilities in high-performance computing (HPC), the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) has partnered with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). This collaboration aims to develop an ecosystem for human resource development in HPC and allied areas, targeting both faculty and students across India. This initiative is part of the broader National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) and aligns with India’s vision to become a global leader in advanced computing technologies.
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Background:
High-performance computing (HPC) is crucial for solving complex scientific and engineering problems. It involves the use of supercomputers and parallel processing techniques to perform large-scale computations at high speeds.
HPC applications span various fields, including climate modeling, drug discovery, financial modeling, and artificial intelligence (AI). As industries increasingly rely on data-driven decision-making and complex simulations, the demand for HPC expertise is growing rapidly.
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The Collaboration: C-DAC and AICTE
On June 25, 2024, C-DAC and AICTE signed a memorandum of agreement. This agreement aims to jointly develop a training ecosystem for high-performance computing (HPC) and related areas. The initiative focuses on training faculty members from engineering colleges across India. The goal is to ensure faculty can impart cutting-edge knowledge to their students.
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Key Components of the Collaboration
Faculty Development Programmes (FDPs):
- Scope: The collaboration aims to train around 2,500 faculty members from approximately 1,000 engineering colleges across India.
- Methodology: This will be achieved through 50 FDPs, where ‘master trainers’ will undergo intensive training to enhance their teaching skills in HPC and allied technologies. These master trainers will then train other faculty members, creating a cascading effect.
Curriculum Integration:
- Target Audience: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) plans to integrate HPC-related topics into the curriculum for about 50,000 students.
- Implementation: This initiative will help build HPC-related capabilities within the technical workforce, aligning educational outcomes with industry requirements.
Training Platforms and Resources:
- Swayam Platform: The Ministry of Education’s Swayam platform will offer high-performance computing courses, providing free online courses to learners.
- C-DAC Resources: C-DAC will offer HPC learning platforms like PARAM Shavak and PARAM Vidya to AICTE-affiliated institutions.
Awareness Programmes:
- Reach: MeitY plans to introduce HPC concepts to about 1,000 colleges, targeting around 100,000 students.
- Tools: To support this initiative, 50 PARAM Shavak—‘Supercomputing Solution in a Box’ by C-DAC—will be installed in AICTE-affiliated institutions.
Benefits of the Collaboration
Enhanced Faculty Expertise:
- The FDPs will ensure that faculty members are well-versed in the latest HPC technologies, enabling them to teach these concepts effectively.
- Faculty from non-computer science streams will also receive training, broadening the reach of HPC education.
Industry-Ready Graduates:
- By integrating HPC topics into the curriculum, students will gain practical knowledge and skills that are highly sought after in the industry.
- This will make graduates more employable and ready to tackle real-world challenges in various sectors.
Strengthening India’s HPC Ecosystem:
- The collaboration will contribute to building a robust HPC ecosystem in India, positioning the country as a leader in advanced computing technologies.
- It will also support the National Supercomputing Mission’s goal of enhancing HPC capabilities nationwide.
Conclusion
The collaboration between C-DAC and AICTE marks a significant step towards strengthening India’s capabilities in high-performance computing. Training faculty members and integrating HPC into the curriculum ensures that India’s technical workforce can meet the demands of the rapidly evolving technology landscape. As the country pushes the boundaries of innovation, strategic partnerships like this will play a crucial role. These collaborations will drive growth and development in the high-performance computing sector. As the country continues to push the boundaries of innovation, strategic partnerships like this will play a crucial role. These collaborations will drive growth and development in the high-performance computing sector.
