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An inaugural virtual event titled “AI for the Future: Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) and University of Maryland” was held on June 1, under the Viksit Amritsar Partnership 2026 initiative, bringing together both institutions to discuss the launch of an artificial intelligence (AI) certificate program that will benefit 30 students from GNDU Amritsar.
Delivering the keynote address virtually, Lieutenant Governor of Delhi and a founding member of the Viksit Amritsar initiative, Taranjit Sandhu, emphasized the importance of education in driving progress.
“Education is the foundation of progress, and this initiative demonstrates how members of the Viksit Amritsar leadership—many of whom studied in India and later built successful careers in the United States—have not forgotten their motherland. Instead, they are giving back by creating opportunities for future generations,” Sandhu said.
He noted that the program had identified and selected some of the brightest students with strong academic records and provided them access to advanced learning opportunities in AI.
“I congratulate everyone involved, especially Guru Nanak Dev University, for making this vision a reality,” Sandhu said. He added that as a public university serving many students from rural communities, GNDU plays a crucial role in expanding access to quality education. He said the initiative would help students better understand AI, one of the most transformative technologies shaping the future, and prepare them for emerging opportunities.
Calling the program a starting point for broader collaboration, Sandhu encouraged additional partnerships with leading institutions across India, including universities in Delhi.
“This is only the beginning,” he said. “By building these partnerships, we can create even greater opportunities for our youth.”
Sandhu also referenced Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphasis on preparing young people to contribute to global development, noting that skills in AI and emerging technologies are increasingly essential.
Opening the event, Dr. Sanjiv Lakhanpal, founder of Viksit Amritsar, expressed gratitude to both India and the United States.
He said his appreciation extended beyond the free college education many members of the initiative received in India. Education, he noted, is shaped not only in classrooms and universities but also by the communities in which people grow up.
“There is nothing called a self-made man,” Lakhanpal said, adding, “It’s the community that raises us.”
Lakhanpal recalled that Viksit Amritsar was established by a group of friends from Amritsar, including Dr. Sudhir Seksaria, Gurpreet Takhar, and Sandhu, who was then India’s Ambassador to the United States.
“Our goal here is connecting talent with opportunity, and artificial intelligence is already the theme of today, and it will be the theme of tomorrow,” he added.
Dr. Sandeep Sharma of GNDU described the current moment as a technological turning point. Thanking the organizers for introducing the course, he said the university had prepared participating students with both foundational concepts and practical training to help them understand, build, and responsibly apply AI systems. He noted that 30 students were selected from a pool of 150 applicants based on established selection criteria.
GNDU Vice Chancellor Prof. Karamjeet Singh said the initiative represents more than an academic partnership and reflects a shared commitment to advancing humanity through “knowledge, innovation, and ethical responsibility.”
He said the university draws inspiration from the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and seeks to promote a future guided by “wisdom, quality, and service…”
“Let us collectively ensure that technology remains guided by human values, that innovation remains inclusive, and that progress remains sustainable,” he added.
Dean of the University of Maryland School of Computer Sciences, Amitabh Varshney, welcomed the 30 selected students, describing them as “brilliant minds” who would benefit from the joint certificate program.
“This is not a small thing, and this is a moment that really matters,” Varshney said adding artificial intelligence is no longer a subject that is confined to textbooks or research labs. It is reshaping medicine, agriculture, business, and the way the societies’ function.
Board Member of Viksit Amritsar, Takhar, described the initiative as a historic and generational effort made possible through the collaboration of dedicated leaders and educators.
“We are totally honored to be part of this initiative,” he said, calling it “historic, because this is a generational thing.”
Takhar reflected on the vision of the university’s founders and noted that the world now stands at the intersection of technology and decades of accumulated knowledge. He said advancements such as virtual meetings like Zoom demonstrate how transformative AI could become in the years ahead.
Maryland Secretary of Higher Education Sanjay Rai highlighted the potential of technology to expand educational opportunities globally through partnerships such as this one.
He noted that higher education collaboration between India and the United States has flourished for more than seven decades.
“I’m looking forward to hearing the kind of research you [students] will do,” Rai said. “I have a feeling that just like Google developed on our [University of Maryland] campus on this side of the world, the next Google of AI may happen, may start from Guru Nanak Dev University. It may be started by one of our 30 students who are going through this program.”
Prof. Harvinder Singh, dean of Academic Affairs at GNDU, said the course would provide students with valuable exposure to international academic systems and help them better understand global practices and opportunities.
Dr. Seksaria, Board Member of Viksit Amritsar, said the initiative aims to engage people in Punjab and the United States around a shared vision of educational collaboration. He encouraged broader community participation and support, not only through financial contributions but also through a collective commitment to advancing education and social progress.
Several student representatives, including Navkirat Singh, Gurleen Kaur, Akansha S., Sujal Mahajan, Kamakshi Prashar, Ridham Sharma, and Harbaz Singh, also shared their expectations for the program and their aspirations for the future.
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