UPES, a university located in Dehradun, has formalised a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with HCLTech. This collaboration is designed to provide students from UPES School of Business and School of Advanced Engineering with valuable real-world learning opportunities, according to an official release.
The primary objective of this partnership is to empower UPES students and research scholars to actively engage in projects and internships addressing significant industry challenges, such as the reduction of carbon footprint. Additionally, the collaboration seeks to promote the utilisation of cutting-edge digital technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, Industry 4.0, Data Engineering, and Cloud Computing, to drive innovative solutions for the oil and gas sector, the release mentioned.
“This strategic initiative will introduce solutions that promote sustainability, innovation, value optimization and prioritisation of low-carbon solutions in the oil and gas industry. The partnership will focus on the development of advanced solutions for the oil and gas industry using advanced technologies such as AI/ML, GenAI, IoT, Industry 4.0, data engineering and cloud computing,” Ajay Bahl, corporate vice president, HCLTech, said.
The alliance aims to build a robust connection between academia and industry by immersing students in practical case studies and granting industry professionals access to professors and lecturers specialising in diverse subjects. This collaborative exchange of ideas is anticipated to generate inventive responses to challenges prevalent in the industry, as per the release.
UPES and HCL Tech plan to organise webinars and actively participate in industry forums, focusing on exploration and production. These discussions will cover crucial topics such as sustainability, safety in oil field operations, and operational excellence. This initiative provides students with a platform to learn from industry experts and engage in meaningful discussions, it added.
In this strategic partnership, HCLTech will take the lead in various initiatives, including the development of a comprehensive knowledge management system, co-creation of state-of-the-art digital solutions, and assistance in shaping the curriculum to align with evolving industry requirements. To strengthen the academic-industry alliance further, both entities intend to collaboratively develop digital solutions, conducting pilots in areas like exploration, drilling, and hydrocarbon production, the release said.
“These projects aim to address critical challenges, reduce carbon footprints, and deliver value to Oil and Gas organisations. We look forward to hosting webinars and forums to explore new possibilities in Sustainability, Safety in Oil Field Operations, and Operational Excellence. This partnership fosters strong academic-industry ties, offering students practical case studies and connecting sponsors with professors to tackle industry issues, benefiting academia and industry alike,” Ram Sharma, vice chancellor, UPES, said.