By Colman Dsouza for BIS Mumbai

DB-ACE Chinchwad, Pune, held a grand induction ceremony for the new 'Agentic AI' course, aimed at equipping local youth with cutting-edge AI skills to unlock high-demand job opportunities in the technology sector. The event marked a significant milestone for technical education in the region, with a full batch of enthusiastic graduates (BSc, BCA, BE) ready to embark on their AI learning journey.

Fr Anton D'Souza, Director of DB-ACE Chinchwad, warmly welcomed the staff and students. In his inaugural speech, he reflected on Don Bosco's legacy as a champion of youth empowerment and detailed the impact of Salesian initiatives across the globe. Fr D'Souza emphasized the urgent need for professionals to operate and manage AI systems, setting the tone for the ambitious educational program. He introduced Mr Claudius Fernando, Principal Architect at Persistent Systems Limited, as the project lead for the innovative AI course.

During the ceremony, dignitaries unveiled the book 'Agentic AI Demystified,' authored by Claudius Fernando, Khushboo Patil, and Nixon Kurian. The launch was led by Fr Ashley Miranda, along with Mr Fernando, signifying the official commencement of the Agentic AI course at the institute. The book serves as a foundational guide and was originally launched at the Don Bosco Job Fair in Chinchwad.

Following the formal proceedings, Mr Fernando engaged with students and personally distributed copies of the newly released book. The Agentic AI course, designed for graduates with basic Python knowledge, covers essential topics including GenAI Foundations-LLM, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), advanced GenAI techniques for memory handling and debugging, Amazon Bedrock Agents, and practical tools like Langflow, LangGraph, MCP and A2A. The course commenced on August 30, 2025.

DB-ACE Chinchwad expressed deep satisfaction with the successful induction of the first cohort, underscoring the institute's commitment to uplifting disadvantaged youth through technology education. Fr Savio Silveira, Provincial of the Mumbai Province, congratulated the institute, recognizing it as potentially the first in the region to pioneer a dedicated AI curriculum. He extended his best wishes to both staff and students as they embarked on this transformative learning experience.