VAMNICOM, Pune Spearheads with Academic Programme on Artificial Intelligence

Pune ,16 January 2025: Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management, Pune, Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India, celebrated its 58th Foundation Day on Wednesday, 15th January, 2025 in VAMNICOM campus of the Institute.

Dr. Premnath Venugopalan, Head Venture Centre, Innovations and Senior Principal Scientist at CSIR - NCL, Pune was the Chief Guest of the Foundation Day function alongwith distinguish dignitaries Mr. Rajendra Jog, Country Director Syngenta Foundation India and Mr. Bhushan Muthiyan, CEO Automaton.

On the eve of the 58th Foundation Day of VAMNICOM and the International Cooperative Year 2025, landmark collaboration between VAMNICOM and the Syngenta Foundation, has been announced. The partnership marks the launch of the “Bharat-Banker” program, a pioneering initiative aimed at equipping rural youth with essential skills to thrive in the BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance) sector while strengthening India’s rural banking ecosystem. The Syngenta foundation has intention to enter in an MoU with VAMNICOM for contributing towards cooperative credit sector in India. Mr. Rajendra Jog, Country Director Syngenta Foundation India addressed the gathering on Syngenta foundations work in different horizon of the agricultural industry and skill development programmes that are executing by Syngenta for the betterment of the society by education, research and extension, he stated.

Dr. Premnath Venugopalan, Head Venture Centre, Innovations and Senior Principal Scientist at CSIR - NCL, Pune as a Chief Guest, high lightened on Automaton AI- with VAMNICOM taking leap forward by having industry collaboration with Automaton to bring a systematic learning curriculum on AI and ML for VAMNICOM students. The course is customized to equip students with knowledge on AI and ML and its application in agribusiness. This program aligns with the Ministry of Cooperation’s initiatives, addressing critical goals such as Computerization of PACS, transforming PACS into Common Service Centers, and building a robust rural youth workforce for PACS and the broader rural banking ecosystem. The trained youth will act as Cooperative Ambassadors, driving sustainable development in rural areas.

By harnessing AI technologies, students will be able to reach out to farmers to enable them to make well-informed decisions with real-time and historical data, optimise resources, and boost productivity to meet the demands of a growing population which will also help with addressing climate change challenges.

After the successful course module introduction and feedback AI Lab will be established at VAMNICOM. The trained students, faculty and research scholars can work on analysing vast amounts of data on weather patterns, soil quality, and previous crop yields. He further appreciated the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (CED) Centre at VAMNICOM for its significant contribution in Cooperative ecosystem by strengthening Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) and start-up incubation. Moreover he, emphasized on strengthening of cooperatives by addressing on the issues related to business and role of the innovation in solving problems faced by cooperative sector in India.

Dr. Hema Yadav, Director, VAMNICOM began her speech by welcoming Chief Guest, dignitaries on the dais, Invitees, Faculty students of PGDM ABM and Staff of the Institute and participants of training programmes. 

The mission of this National Institute is to serve as an intellectual nerve center for agriculture, cooperative and rural development. VAMNICOM to facilitate building cadres of professional managers to key positions in the ever growing number of Co-operatives / Collectives form of organisations through management development, training, education, research and consultancy support.

She briefed about the Prime Minister’s vision to make India a Vishwa Guru, the Institute has decided to include Artificial Intelligence subject in the course structure of PGDM-ABM programme. 

VAMNICOM and Automation AI agrees to co-operate and collaborate in the areas of training, education and other knowledge-based activities covering Short courses and Long-term programmes, Research and Consultancy, Exchange information and Expertise, Training of Trainers etc.

She briefed the gathering about the dignitaries on the dais and reviewed the achievements of the Institute in the area of management education, training, research and consultancy assignments attempted during the previous year. She narrated the efforts put in by the Institute for offering Higher Education System through restructured PGDM-ABM to cater to the market demand for skilled agri-managers to the country from 2004, the restructured shape been given to PGDCBM Programme for in service officers working in Cooperative and Government Sector and Diploma in Management of Computer Operations benefitting to IT officials of Cooperatives and Government Department.

While highlighting the achievements in the area of research, consultancy assignments and related academic aspects viz., working paper series, international publication of books, cooperative case studies She briefed the quality approach been achieved in these areas including education and training offered by the Institute.

The event was marked by the presence of VAMNICOM faculty, staff and PGDM-ABM Students, distinguished personalities from academia, industry, and government sectors.

Source: VAMNICON