<p>Faculty members at individual institutions facilitate classroom discussions and engagement, creating a blended model that combines central expertise with on-ground academic support.</p> — Faculty members at individual institutions facilitate classroom discussions and engagement, creating a blended model that combines central expertise with on-ground academic support.

Lucknow: The Technical Education Department of the Government of Uttar Pradesh has launched a pilot hybrid learning initiative titled UP–AI Connect through Smart Classrooms to introduce Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the state’s polytechnic education system.

The initiative, led by Narendra Bhooshan, Additional Chief Secretary, Technical Education, seeks to address what the department considers the single most critical factor in successfully integrating AI into classrooms — teacher readiness.

As part of a phased transition strategy, the department has leveraged its existing smart classroom infrastructure to test a centralised lecture delivery model supported by local facilitation. Two studios — one at the Institute of Research Development and Training (IRDT) in Kanpur and another in Ghaziabad — are serving as broadcast hubs from where subject-matter experts deliver live lectures to government polytechnics across the state.

Faculty members at individual institutions facilitate classroom discussions and engagement, creating a blended model that combines central expertise with on-ground academic support.

The programme formally commenced on February 12 with the launch of a weekly Thursday lecture series scheduled from 3 pm to 5 pm.

The inaugural session, titled “Decoding Possibilities of AI Uses,” focused on practical applications of AI across sectors. According to officials, early feedback from participating institutions has been encouraging, indicating strong student interest and engagement despite geographical dispersion.

“For now, the initiative remains in pilot mode. The department plans to complete one introductory AI series under the Thursday Connect format, review learning outcomes and participant feedback, refine the delivery framework, and subsequently expand into discipline-specific AI modules,” said Bhooshan.

Based on the lessons from this initial phase, the state aims to develop a more structured and scalable AI learning programme for its polytechnic network, he added.

The department has also invited participation from educators, AI professionals and industry practitioners, seeking volunteer subject-matter experts to contribute as guest faculty for upcoming sessions. If successful, UP–AI Connect could emerge as a replicable template for integrating AI-enabled hybrid learning within state-run technical education systems.