Over 50 Bengaluru Faculty Trained in AI Under Sunstone’s Udaan Initiative
More than 50 faculty members and academic leaders in Bengaluru were upskilled in Generative Artificial Intelligence through Udaan, a large-scale future skills initiative powered by Sunstone. The Faculty Development Programme was conducted on February 24, 2026, at Rathinam Institute of Technology, aiming to equip educators with practical AI tools to enhance classroom engagement, streamline assessments, and prepare institutions for an AI-driven academic landscape.
The programme was designed to help educators transition beyond traditional teaching methodologies by integrating AI into daily academic practices. Through a collaborative and technology-enabled learning environment, participants were introduced to practical applications of Generative AI that support lesson planning, assessment design, research, and academic leadership. The initiative focused on building both confidence and readiness among faculty members to adapt to rapidly evolving technological demands in education.
The intensive training session was led by Mr. Rammohan Thirupasur, a Generative AI Strategist and former Associate Director at IBM/Kyndryl, bringing over 28 years of global IT experience to the classroom. Recognized as one of India's top Gen AI leaders by DISAi magazine, he has trained more than 600 professionals across major enterprises including KPMG, Wipro, EY, ABB, and Siemens.
During the workshop, faculty members received hands-on instruction in Prompt Engineering and Generative AI applications. Participants gained real-time exposure to leading tools such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and NotebookLM. The session emphasized practical integration of these platforms into academic workflows, enabling educators to design dynamic assessments, personalize learning experiences, and reduce administrative workload.
Mr. Guru Prasath, Executive Director at Sunstone, commented on the institution's commitment to innovation, stating, "At Rathinam, we view education as a dynamic ecosystem where both students and educators must evolve simultaneously. Initiatives like Udaan are pivotal in this journey, as they empower our faculty to become lifelong learners themselves. By integrating AI into their pedagogical toolkit, we are not just future-proofing our students' careers, but also fostering a culture of innovation and excellence among our staff. This program is a significant step in our mission to create a truly world-class learning environment."
Adding to this, Mr. Devashish Pande, Regional Director at Sunstone, said, "At Sunstone, we believe that the future of education begins with empowered educators. Through Udaan, we are ensuring that teachers are not just aware of AI, but are confident in using it every day—whether it's saving time on administrative tasks or creating more engaging, personalized learning experiences for students."
Dr. Priyanka B. Dongre, Principal of Rathinam Institute of Technology, further emphasized the impact of the training, stating, "Rathinam has always been committed to staying at the forefront of educational innovation. Hosting this Faculty Development Programme under the Udaan initiative reflects our dedication to future-ready learning. When we invest in training our teachers, we are directly investing in the quality of education our students receive. It was inspiring to see such enthusiastic participation from our faculty, eager to embrace these powerful tools."
The day-long programme witnessed active participation through interactive workshops and practical exercises. Faculty members practiced crafting effective prompts, explored AI-driven research support tools, and examined ways to leverage Generative AI for real-time problem-solving in academic contexts. Each participant left with a practical toolkit designed for immediate implementation within classrooms and administrative processes.
As part of Udaan’s broader mission, the Faculty Development Programme underscores the importance of strengthening educator capabilities alongside student development. By equipping teachers with industry-relevant AI competencies, the initiative seeks to foster a sustainable, technology-enabled education ecosystem that aligns with evolving global standards and workforce expectations.
The programme was designed to help educators transition beyond traditional teaching methodologies by integrating AI into daily academic practices. Through a collaborative and technology-enabled learning environment, participants were introduced to practical applications of Generative AI that support lesson planning, assessment design, research, and academic leadership. The initiative focused on building both confidence and readiness among faculty members to adapt to rapidly evolving technological demands in education.
The intensive training session was led by Mr. Rammohan Thirupasur, a Generative AI Strategist and former Associate Director at IBM/Kyndryl, bringing over 28 years of global IT experience to the classroom. Recognized as one of India's top Gen AI leaders by DISAi magazine, he has trained more than 600 professionals across major enterprises including KPMG, Wipro, EY, ABB, and Siemens.
During the workshop, faculty members received hands-on instruction in Prompt Engineering and Generative AI applications. Participants gained real-time exposure to leading tools such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and NotebookLM. The session emphasized practical integration of these platforms into academic workflows, enabling educators to design dynamic assessments, personalize learning experiences, and reduce administrative workload.
Mr. Guru Prasath, Executive Director at Sunstone, commented on the institution's commitment to innovation, stating, "At Rathinam, we view education as a dynamic ecosystem where both students and educators must evolve simultaneously. Initiatives like Udaan are pivotal in this journey, as they empower our faculty to become lifelong learners themselves. By integrating AI into their pedagogical toolkit, we are not just future-proofing our students' careers, but also fostering a culture of innovation and excellence among our staff. This program is a significant step in our mission to create a truly world-class learning environment."
Adding to this, Mr. Devashish Pande, Regional Director at Sunstone, said, "At Sunstone, we believe that the future of education begins with empowered educators. Through Udaan, we are ensuring that teachers are not just aware of AI, but are confident in using it every day—whether it's saving time on administrative tasks or creating more engaging, personalized learning experiences for students."
Dr. Priyanka B. Dongre, Principal of Rathinam Institute of Technology, further emphasized the impact of the training, stating, "Rathinam has always been committed to staying at the forefront of educational innovation. Hosting this Faculty Development Programme under the Udaan initiative reflects our dedication to future-ready learning. When we invest in training our teachers, we are directly investing in the quality of education our students receive. It was inspiring to see such enthusiastic participation from our faculty, eager to embrace these powerful tools."
The day-long programme witnessed active participation through interactive workshops and practical exercises. Faculty members practiced crafting effective prompts, explored AI-driven research support tools, and examined ways to leverage Generative AI for real-time problem-solving in academic contexts. Each participant left with a practical toolkit designed for immediate implementation within classrooms and administrative processes.
As part of Udaan’s broader mission, the Faculty Development Programme underscores the importance of strengthening educator capabilities alongside student development. By equipping teachers with industry-relevant AI competencies, the initiative seeks to foster a sustainable, technology-enabled education ecosystem that aligns with evolving global standards and workforce expectations.
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