~Programme aims to reach over 3 lakh students across 570+ affiliated colleges

Kanpur, August 18, 2026: C3iHub, IIT Kanpur, has signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar University (DBRAU), Agra, formerly Agra University, and the Vivekanand Incubation Foundation (VIF) to launch a vocational program in cybersecurity for students across the university's affiliated institutions. The programme aims to reach over 3 lakh students across 570+ colleges, making cybersecurity education accessible to a large and diverse student community.

Delivered entirely online and in Hindi, the programme will equip students with essential cybersecurity knowledge and practical skills. The format has been designed to make technical learning more accessible, particularly for students in semi-urban and rural areas who may face language barriers when accessing conventional technical instruction in English.

The MoU was formally signed by Prof. Surendra Baswana, Program Director, C3iHub, and Head, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Kanpur; Prof. Sanjay Chaudhary, Director, IQAC and VIF, DBRAU; and Prof. Anil Gupta, Director, UCC, DBRAU Agra.

Under this collaboration, C3iHub will design and deliver the curriculum, drawing on IIT Kanpur's research and training expertise in cybersecurity. VIF will provide the administrative and technical infrastructure required to deploy courses at scale. Along with this vocational course, the university will establish a dedicated Cybersecurity Counselling Cell (CCC) to mitigate cybercrime incidents and provide prevention and support for students.

Prof. Ashu Rani congratulated the teams of C3iHub and DBRAU Agra on this occasion and said, “Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar University serves lakhs of students across 570+ colleges, and with that reach comes a responsibility to prepare them for the world they will actually work in. Cybersecurity is no longer a specialised subject for engineers alone; it is a basic life skill. This partnership with C3iHub, IIT Kanpur, and the Vivekanand Incubation Foundation allows us to offer that skill to our students at scale, in their own language”.

This course will cover cybercrime and cyber hygiene, social media threats, identity theft, personal data leaks, women's and children's online safety, the dark web, cyber terrorism, and illegal activities. Quizzes, workshops, and course feedback will be integral to the course, supported by customised virtual labs that provide students with real-world, practical experience.

The MoU signing ceremony was graced by IIT Kanpur Director, Prof. Manindra Agrawal, and other distinguished guests, including Prof. Ashu Rani, Vice Chancellor, DBRAU, who joined online, in the presence of Prof. Vinay Kumar Pathak, Vice Chancellor, CSJMU, and the President of the Association of Indian Universities.

About IIT Kanpur

The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, established in 1959, is recognised as an Institute of National Importance by the Government of India. Renowned for excellence in science, engineering and interdisciplinary education, IIT Kanpur spans a 1,050-acre lush green campus and comprises 21 departments, 27 centres, three interdisciplinary programmes and three specialised schools. With over 590 faculty members and more than 9,500 students, the institute continues to lead in innovation, research and holistic development.

For more information, please visit: www.iitk.ac.in