On 27th January 2021, the IIT Kanpur team began a two-month Virtual Internship Program (AICTE initiative in association with IITs and IISERs) for students currently enrolled in Under Graduate or Post Graduate Programs (both in AICTE approved and non-approved Institutions) at Jammu & Kashmir. The Opening ceremony was marked by the address of Professor J Ramkumar, Department of Mechanical Engineering & Design Program, IIT Kanpur, and an inspirational talk from Professor Abhay Karandikar, Director, IIT Kanpur, and Professor A Raina, Dean of Academic Affairs, IIT Kanpur. The objective of this scheme was to provide exposure to Jammu and Kashmir youth to academic culture at Institutions of Higher learning.

IIT Kanpur had received numerous applications for this program. Based on merit, 18 students were shortlisted including eight female students. These students are majorly from the 2nd and 3rd year of their academic program. They are from various engineering and science disciplines like Civil, Electrical, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, and Physics. We selected 12 Ph.D. students at IIT Kanpur, including three females, for mentoring the undergraduate students. Each participant was assigned to a student mentor based on their field of interest, who guided them during this virtual internship program.

As part of the internship, students got the exposure to know various research activities of IIT Kanpur. Every week, we had organized guest lectures on the general and latest technological advancements by IIT Kanpur. Seven out of eight guest lectures were on different industry innovation topics like modern supply chain, drone innovation, sustainable development. The lectures even had discussion on the exchange of cultures, and some leisure activities; the last guest lecture was organized on ‘Art and Craft.’ The list of lectures is provided below.

All students have actively participated in this lecture's sessions. After every lecture session, we organized an informal interaction as a happy hour to show students' talent and have discussions in career planning with the mentors. Mentors also discussed the admission process and different internship programs at IIT Kanpur. Students had multiple interactive sessions with their mentors regarding further research and funding opportunities for their ideas. Mentors also motivated the participants towards innovation and taking the lead in start-ups.

Under the internship program, students undertook a short duration but focused research project, and pushed their intellectual abilities beyond those driven by the classroom. After completing eight weeks, the students submitted an internship report to their respective mentors. Here is the list of reports submitted by the participants.

On 27th March 2021, we have organized the closing ceremony of the two months long internship program. Our Dean of Academic Affairs, Professor A Raina, will be present at that ceremony. She is born and brought up in Kashmir, and she is the first female Dean of IIT Kanpur. She is also an Alumni of IITK, having received her Ph.D. in Linguistics in 1992. This initiative is being led by Prof. J. Ramkumar, Department of Mechanical Engineering & Design Program. He completed his Ph.D. from IIT Madras and joined IIT Kanpur as a Mechanical Engineering Department faculty in 2003. Prof Ramkumar is the faculty of IIT Kanpur and the academic mentor of multiple start-up initiatives. After the closing ceremony, DOAA team of IIT Kanpur will send the participation certificate to the respective students.

The support and participation of the following is gratefully acknowledged:

1. The student mentors at IIT Kanpur and the participated students for their enthusiastic participation.

2. Members of the Executive Committee, Advisory Committee, Departmental Representatives, and numerous other faculty members who helped in the program.

3. Mr S K Shah of DOAA office for co-ordinating the administrative responsibilities.

4. Ms. Piya Ghosh and Dr. Amandeep Singh for co-ordinating the whole program.

5. AICTE & IIT Kanpur team.