Cyber Physical System

An AICTE Sponsored 6-Month Intensive Cross-Disciplinary Programme in Computational Problem-Solving, Data Analytics, IoT, Edge-AI, MLOps, and Modern CPS Cybersecurity.

June 22 - Nov 21, 2026
200 Hours
Hybrid Mode

About AICTE & QIP

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) sponsors this Quality Improvement Programme (QIP) as a flagship national-level initiative designed to upgrade the expertise, capabilities, and qualifications of faculty members and engineering professionals from degree-level institutions across India.

About IIIT Dharwad

Indian Institute of Information Technology Dharwad is an Institute of National Importance set up under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model by the Ministry of Education (MoE), Govt. of India, Govt. of Karnataka, and KEONICS. It is dedicated to addressing the skill gaps in emerging, highly-specialized technological domains such as IoT, Edge-AI, and Cybersecurity.

Programme Objectives

The primary objective of this curriculum is to equip engineering participants with a robust, cross-disciplinary foundation in computational problem-solving, modern IoT (Internet of Things) architectures, Edge-AI solutions, data analytics, and comprehensive cyber-physical cybersecurity.

With the rise of internet-connected systems and Industry 4.0, integrating secure industrial data structures and MLOps (Machine Learning Operations) has become vital. This course bridges the gap by addressing present and legacy system defense mechanisms, emerging attack vectors, and advanced Cybersecurity strategies.

Learning Outcomes

  • End-to-End IoT & Edge-AI Architecture

    Master advanced techniques and implement end-to-end CPS and intelligent edge architectures seamlessly.

  • MLOps & Data Science Integration

    Deploy sophisticated data science pipelines, model deployments, and automated MLOps pipelines on the edge.

  • Secured Prototype Engineering

    Confidently build, secure, and manage functional, data-driven cyber-physical prototypes using state-of-the-art Cybersecurity guidelines.

Key Benefits

  • PhD Coursework Waiver & Credit Mapping

    Earned credits from this certificate programme can be mapped directly for pursuing a PhD at IIIT Dharwad, allowing candidates to skip regular PhD coursework.

  • Bridging Hardware and Edge-AI

    Inject digital intelligence and high-efficiency Edge-AI models directly into localized physical systems.

  • Robust Cybersecurity Defense

    Gain proficiency in risk assessment, modern IoT attack patterns, threat mitigation, and device-level cybersecurity.

  • Advanced GPU & Lab Infrastructures

    Hands-on access to heavy GPU environments and specialized IoT/MLOps labs for scalable system design.

National Empowerment Mission

The Vision: Why This Premium Course is Offered Completely Free

AICTE and IIIT Dharwad have fully subsidized this high-value PG Certificate Programme to power India's transition into a global leader in Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS). Here is the driving motivation behind our zero-fee model:

Democratizing Deep Tech

Specialized training in IoT, Edge-AI, and CPS is often locked behind commercial, expensive barriers. We believe that access to cutting-edge technical education should be a democratic right, enabling every talented academic and industry aspirant to learn without financial constraints.

The "Train-the-Trainer" Impact

By training 50 selected engineering faculty members, we establish a profound multiplier effect. Every educator who upgrades their skills in this course returns to their home institution to inspire, teach, and mentor hundreds of prospective students annually, propagating industry-ready knowledge nationwide.

Empowering Tier-2 & Tier-3 Hubs

Engineering departments in regional colleges often lack access to highly specialized modern hardware, GPU clusters, and custom labs. Through this sponsored, cost-free initiative, IIIT Dharwad brings world-class computational resources to those who otherwise could not experience them.

National Cyber Security Safeguards

As India rapidly transitions to digital power grids, smart cities, and automated transport, securing our cyber-physical infrastructures is a matter of critical national security. Building a highly qualified workforce of defenders cannot wait for commercial pipelines; it is an urgent public priority.

"AICTE's Quality Improvement Programme (QIP) is designed specifically with the philosophy that human capital is India's greatest strength. By removing fee structures entirely for this PG Certificate course, we ensure that purely merit-driven and passionate professionals come together to shape the future of India's secure industrial automation."

AICTE QIP Mission Directive

Curriculum Structure

A systematic progression featuring IoT, Edge-AI, MLOps, and Cybersecurity modules to build industry-ready specialists.

Core 1

Problem Solving through Python

Fundamentals of algorithmic engineering and initial scripting templates used in data operations and IoT setups.

Faculty & Affiliation:
Dr. Krishnendu Ghosh
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Computer Science & Engineering
Dr. Suvadip Hazra
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Computer Science & Engineering
CS Core 2

Data Science for Engineers

Advanced machine learning models, statistical analytics, and production-grade MLOps pipeline automation.

Faculty & Affiliation:
Dr. Sunil Saumya
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Data Science & AI
Dr. Manjunath K V
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Data Science & AI
Domain Core

CPS Architecture & Security

Hardware interfaces, scalable IoT physical network topologies, and edge Cybersecurity paradigms.

Faculty & Affiliation:
Dr. Sunil CK
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Computer Science & Engineering
Dr. Pavan Kumar C
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Computer Science & Engineering
Domain Specialized

Cyber-Physical Systems Engineering

Integrating real-world environments, modern embedded Edge-AI compute models, and automated logic controllers.

Faculty & Affiliation:
Dr. Pramod Yelmewad
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Computer Science & Engineering
Dr. Shirshendu Layek
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Data Science & AI
Culminating Module

Hands-on CPS Project

Synthesize your skills to design, secure, and deploy a comprehensive, hands-on prototype merging IoT, Edge-AI, MLOps, and Cybersecurity to solve structural industrial problems.

Delivery Schedule

A highly structured, robust hybrid course flow designed to optimize on-campus physical access and continuous remote engagement.

Phase 01
1

Offline Session 1

14 Days (On-Campus)

Kickoff at IIIT Dharwad campus. Get localized setup guidance, early practical labs access, key physical architecture introductions, and initialize core program parameters.

22/06/2026 – 03/07/2026
Phase 02
2

Online Sessions

113 Days (Remote Learning)

Extensive online sessions covering advanced theory and remote coding sandbox structures. In-depth model construction, remote server deployments, data optimization, and specialized modules.

04/07/2026 – 25/10/2026
Phase 03
3

Offline Session 2

14 Days (On-Campus)

Final intensive on-campus phase at IIIT Dharwad. Focus on model performance assessment, physical board validation, evaluation reviews, and culminating collaborative project submissions.

26/10/2026 – 06/11/2026

Eligibility Criteria

Official admission guidelines set forth by the AICTE Quality Improvement Programme

Admission Guidelines

ADMISSION GUIDELINES FOR AICTE-QIP-PG CERTIFICATE PROGRAMME ARE AS FOLLOWS:

  • Full time Regular / Permanent faculty members of AICTE approved institutes can apply.

  • The programme wise eligibility is decided based on the department a faculty members serving or the course in which the faculty member is graduated/ post graduated. Please see Annexure I for the details.

  • Faculty members of computer science & allied subjects, applied science, computer application and Management disciplines are also eligible to apply as per programmes listed in Annexure I.

  • Minimum 3 years teaching experience at graduate/diploma level from AICTE approved institution.

  • In addition to the above minimum eligibility, criteria of respective host institution shall be applicable.

Academic Waiver: PhD Credit Mapping

A stellar value proposition of this certificate course: Earned course credits can be mapped directly for pursuing a PhD at IIIT Dharwad. Candidates who subsequently enroll for PhD studies can utilize this mapped pathway to successfully skip the mandatory coursework in their PhD program, saving significant time.

AICTE QIP-PG Official Portal

Access more detailed programmatic information, structural instructions, and general notifications.

Get Course Details

* Eligible candidates are selected fully based on AICTE criteria. Registration and coursework expenses are subsidized completely under the sponsor scheme.