THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, AUGUST 11, 2026

Protiviti Member Firm for India has partnered with KIIT University to establish an Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence on the university campus, in a move aimed at creating an industry-ready talent pipeline for India’s rapidly expanding AI-driven economy.

The strategic collaboration seeks to bridge the gap between academia and industry by combining AI-led learning, research and development, innovation, incubation and consulting capabilities with enterprise-focused talent development.

The Centre will focus on emerging areas including Artificial Intelligence, Generative AI, Agentic AI and Data Science, offering programmes designed to equip students and working professionals with technical expertise as well as an understanding of business transformation, governance, risk and consulting.

InsightVerge, the strategic knowledge partner and associate of Protiviti Member Firm for India, will design, deliver and support the academic and professional programmes offered through the Centre.

The AI Centre of Excellence will provide application-oriented learning through live consulting assignments, industry projects, capstone programmes, mentorship, executive education and practitioner-led classroom sessions. It will also function as a platform for research, innovation, incubation and venture-building, encouraging students to apply emerging technologies to real-world business challenges.

"Artificial Intelligence is fundamentally changing the way organisations operate, compete and create value. As businesses accelerate their AI journeys, there is an urgent need for talent that understands not only the technology but also its business, governance, and risk implications," Sanjeev Agarwal, CEO and Managing Director, Protiviti Member Firm — Middle East & India, said.

The partnership with KIIT University would help combine academic learning with practical industry experience and equip students with the skills, industry exposure and broader perspective required to contribute to India's evolving AI and digital economy, he added.

During the event, KIIT University conferred the Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) on Agarwal in recognition of his contributions and more than three decades of professional experience, including his role in establishing and driving the growth of Protiviti's Middle East and India practice.

Prof. (Dr.) Kumar Mohanty, Director, Industry Engagement and KSOM, KIIT University, said the collaboration would give students exposure to emerging technologies, consulting practices and real-world business challenges.

The Centre would strengthen experiential learning through industry-led curricula, live projects, mentorship and innovation initiatives, preparing students to meet the demands of a rapidly changing global economy, he said.

The initiative will also support executive education and professional upskilling, enabling working professionals to develop capabilities in AI and related disciplines.

With businesses increasingly integrating AI into core operations, the demand is rising for professionals who can combine technology expertise with business strategy, governance, cybersecurity, risk management and consulting capabilities.

The AI Centre of Excellence is therefore expected to create a sustainable talent pipeline capable of supporting India's broader digital transformation agenda.

Protiviti is a global consulting firm providing consulting and managed solutions across finance, technology, operations, data, digital, legal, human resources, risk and internal audit through a network of more than 90 offices in over 25 countries.