February 24, 2025
On March 7th, 2025, C-DAC Delhi successfully completed a two-week (80-hour) Certificate Course in Responsible AI (CCRAI) for eighteen participants from diverse Cuban government departments. The course, sponsored by the Ministry of External Affairs ITEC programme, began on February 24th, 2025, and fostered active engagement among the participants.
To celebrate the successful completion of the course and honour the dedication of participants, faculty, and staff, a valedictory ceremony took place at C-DAC, New Delhi on March 7th, 2025.
The ceremony started withthe welcome of Chief Guest, Shri. Raj Srivastava (IFS), Additional Secretary & Dean - Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service (SSIFS), New Delhi and H.E. Juan Carlos Marsan Aguilera, Ambassador of Cuba to India by Shri. Abhinav Dixit, Scientist G&HoD - ICD & ACTS&Dr. Priyanka Jain, Scientist F &HoD � Neurocognitive AI & XR Group, C-DAC Delhi. Shri. Raj Srivastava, H.E. Juan Carlos Marsan Aguilera, Shri. Abhinav Dixit, and Dr. Priyanka Jain lit the lamp with Saraswati Vandana after the national anthems of India and Cuba were played.
Shri. Vijay Kumar Kayat Scientist E - ICD & ITEC Coordinator, C-DAC Delhidelivered the welcome address followed by opening remarks by Dr. Priyanka Jain highlighting the importance of Artificial Intelligence and gave an introduction to the course module.
Thereafter presentation on ITEC, C-DAC &itsglobal footprintwas given by Shri. Abhinav Dixit. During thevaledictory speech Shri. Dixit highlighted the importance of ITEC scheme of Ministry of External Affairs under developmental assistance. He gave an insight on his experience of policy formulation, technology deployment, service delivery, capacity building, project management and administration in international collaboration. He urged participants to be the goodwill ambassadors of C-DAC to propagate course being offered under ITEC in India to their colleagues, friends & relatives. He praised the course faculty for developing a comprehensive and well-structured curriculum and thanked the C-DAC Delhi organizing team.
The delegation leader, speaking for all participants, shared their positive experiences, highlighting the new skills gained in Responsible AI, the cultural exposure to Indian heritage in Delhi and Agra, the warm hospitality, and the enjoyable Indian cuisine. They expressed strong satisfaction and a desire to attend future C-DAC courses in India.
Ms. Saumya Kushwaha on behalf of all course faculty viz. Shri. Tanmay Jain, Shri. Kartike Pushkarna, Shri. Krishan Sharma,Shri. Aaksh Deep and Shri. Chandan Sarkar shared wonderful experience and feedback about the participants. Shri. Prashant Kumar presented a short film, "Memoirs," highlighting the participants' memorable experiences during their time at C-DAC New Delhi and in India.
H.E. Juan Carlos Marsan Aguilera, in his address, highlighted that this was the first Artificial Intelligence course specifically for Cubans in India, and emphasized its significant value. He expressed gratitude to the Ministry of External Affairs for their consistent support in fostering technological skills and cooperation. He was pleased to see the participants' evident enjoyment and engagement, and affirmed that the knowledge gained during the two-week programme would greatly contribute to their professional security. He further noted that Cuba had recently launched its strategy for the development of future intelligence, and that despite infrastructure limitations, the nation's well-prepared human capital positioned it to be a leader in this field, particularly within the Latin American region.
Shri. Raj Srivastava during his valedictory speech thanked C-DAC for inviting him to this important session when we are developing 18 new friends of India. He thanked H.E. Ambassador for coming for this session that shows important that you play to build such partnerships. He said "there is one particular time that they both were in the same geography, from 2011 in Vienna he was minister council there. So I remember in some of the G77 meetings coming together. Partnerships are built in a process, they are not event. So we are in this journey, and this particular course that you all have done is part of the journey of developing stronger partnerships. It is about that philosophy that whole world is one family and if we have some knowledge, it's part of human wisdom, and it has to be shared without a type of idea. That means AI is actually going to solve some of the problems which we could not understand before. So AI is not a challenge, it's an opportunity, and I think that you have understood in these two weeks more beyond it. So in the folder that you would have seen the programme that is involved are actually the programme for betterment of humanity, not just India. So I think that's why it's very good that some of you got exposure to one of the premium institution of India, I encourage all of you to be there. What? Of you to wherever field, whichever field you are working, to think loud about what more cooperation you think can be developed each individual, rather than just this course. So this is just a process, the beginning of the process that was told also that we are through this two weeks initiating something, not closing so this is not a closing Ceremony. It's actually beginning of the opportunity see. I'm sure some of you would have experienced part of yourself which you have not yet experienced with those words, I wish you all the best, and I'm sure we will have more opportunities."
The ceremony concluded with Shri. Raj Srivastava and Shri. Abhinav Dixit awarding Course Completion Certificates and mementos to each participant.
