FIRDOUS AHMAD
SRINAGAR, Dec 12: In a significant academic milestone for Kashmir, five postgraduate students from the Centre for Artificial Intelligence at the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), Awantipora, have secured highly competitive internships with NoGap AI—one of India’s rapidly expanding companies in applied artificial intelligence and cybersecurity solutions.
The selected M.Tech (Artificial Intelligence) 3rd-semester students include Abrar Ahmad, Aiymun Gull, Azra Qadir, Mutakeen Nissar, and Muskan Rafiqi. Their placement in a reputed, innovation-driven company marks a significant achievement not only for IUST but also for emerging AI talent in the region.
Notably, Abrar Ahmad has been a mentee under the KCF-Mentor Flagship Program of the Kashmir Career Forum (KCF). The initiative, widely recognized for empowering students through mentorship, skill-oriented guidance, and career-oriented exposure, continues to open national-level opportunities for young professionals from Jammu and Kashmir. KCF’s dedicated efforts in nurturing tech aspirations have once again borne fruit through Abrar’s selection.
During their internship, the students will engage in rigorous on-site training across core domains including machine learning, data engineering, and applied AI systems. They will gain hands-on exposure to live, product-driven projects designed to address real-world industry challenges, with a special focus on AI-powered cybersecurity frameworks, one of the fastest-growing tech domains globally.
Congratulating the students for their exceptional accomplishment, the Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of IUST expressed profound pride, noting that the achievement reflects the university’s growing potential in the field of advanced technologies. He emphasized the increasing importance of industry–academia collaborations in bridging the gap between classroom learning and professional expertise.
“This opportunity will significantly contribute to the students’ technical growth and prepare them for future challenges in the global AI ecosystem,” the Vice-Chancellor said, adding that the university remains committed to fostering innovation and skill development.
The achievement underscores the expanding reputation of IUST’s Centre for Artificial Intelligence as a hub for producing competent, industry-ready AI professionals. It also highlights the rising visibility of Kashmiri talent in India’s top technology-driven firms, reaffirming the growing culture of excellence and innovation in the region.
With platforms like KCF guiding young minds and institutions like IUST strengthening research-driven academic environments, Kashmir continues to mark its place on India’s evolving artificial intelligence map.
