FACULTY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME- Agentic AI and Data Analytics for Academicians

The Centre for Artificial Intelligence (CAI), in collaboration with the Department of Computer Science and the Department of Statistics & Data Science, School of Sciences, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Pune Lavasa Campus, successfully organized a Faculty Development Programme (FDP) on “Agentic AI & Data Analytics for Academicians” from 27 July to 01 August 2026. The FDP was designed to empower faculty members with practical knowledge and hands-on experience in Artificial Intelligence, Generative AI, Large Language Models (LLMs), Agentic AI, prompt engineering, no-code and low-code application development, AI ethics, and data analytics using Orange Data Mining. The programme aimed to support faculty in integrating emerging technologies into teaching, learning, assessment, academic administration, and research, while developing the skills required for future-ready higher education. The programme was facilitated by Mr. Kunal Pagariya, Software Technical Expert, Amdocs India Pvt. Ltd., and Mr. Amit Ashokan, Director–Managing Partner, Aysdev Global Consultancy LLP, who brought valuable industry expertise and practical insights into the rapidly evolving field of Artificial Intelligence and its applications in academia. The FDP followed a highly interactive, experiential, and practice-oriented approach, with each session combining conceptual discussions, live demonstrations, hands-on exercises, interactive discussions, and project-based learning. Faculty members explored the capabilities of Generative AI and LLMs and developed customized prompts for a variety of academic applications. Participants applied AI tools to create lesson plans, course content, classroom learning activities, quizzes, worksheets, question papers, assessment materials, rubrics, case studies, and student engagement activities. The sessions also demonstrated how AI can support differentiated learning, feedback generation, and formative and summative assessment practices. The programme further explored the use of AI as a research support tool, enabling faculty members to experiment with applications such as literature exploration, research-question refinement, information synthesis, data interpretation, and academic writing support. Participants were also encouraged to critically evaluate and verify AI-generated information, reinforcing the importance of academic integrity and human judgement in AI-assisted research. A significant component of the FDP was the development of AI-enabled solutions for real-world academic and administrative challenges. Faculty members explored no-code and low-code approaches to create practical applications without requiring extensive programming expertise. Participants developed solutions including conversational chatbots, academic dashboards, student performance monitoring tools, and administrative workflow applications, demonstrating the potential of AI to improve institutional efficiency and support data-

driven decision-making. The programme also provided extensive practical exposure to data analytics and machine learning using Orange Data Mining. Faculty members worked with datasets to perform data preprocessing, visualization, workflow construction, pattern identification, and predictive modelling. These activities enabled participants to understand how data analytics can support student performance analysis, educational data interpretation, academic decision-making, and evidence-based institutional practices. The learning was consolidated through individual and group projects, which were presented during the concluding session. Recognizing the importance of responsible technology adoption, the FDP placed strong emphasis on Responsible and Ethical AI. Participants engaged with real-world cases involving algorithmic bias, transparency, data privacy, reliability of AI-generated information, accountability, and human oversight. These discussions helped faculty members develop a critical understanding of the ethical implications of AI and reinforced the principle that AI should complement academic expertise and professional judgement. The programme also contributed to the broader Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its focus on technology-enabled education, professional capacity building, innovation, and responsible digital transformation. By equipping faculty members with AI-enabled approaches for teaching, learning, assessment, and research, the FDP contributed to SDG 4 – Quality Education. Its emphasis on AI, automation, prompt engineering, and data analytics strengthened future-ready digital and professional competencies, supporting SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth. The hands-on development of

AI applications, dashboards, machine learning workflows, and other technology-enabled solutions, supported by industry expertise, aligned with SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure. Furthermore, the focus on Responsible AI, transparency, data privacy, accountability, and human oversight promoted ethical and trustworthy technology adoption, contributing to SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. The final day of the FDP featured individual and group capstone project presentations, where participants demonstrated the practical solutions and analytical applications developed during the programme. The projects reflected the application of AI and data analytics to areas such as lesson planning, assessment creation, student performance monitoring, academic automation, conversational systems, and educational data analysis. These presentations provided an opportunity for participants to showcase their ability to translate the knowledge gained during the FDP into practical and academically relevant solutions. The Faculty Development Programme successfully strengthened faculty members’ readiness to engage with the rapidly evolving digital landscape of higher education. The combination of industry-led learning, hands-on practice, innovative applications, responsible AI awareness, and data-driven approaches provided participants with meaningful competencies that can be applied directly to their academic roles. The programme concluded on a positive note, with participants appreciating its practical orientation, industry relevance, interactive methodology, and immediate applicability to teaching, assessment, research, and academic administration. The FDP served as a valuable capacity-building initiative, encouraging the responsible and innovative adoption of Agentic AI and Data Analytics to support the transformation of higher education.