The Department of Information Technology successfully organized the ATAL Faculty Development Program (FDP) on “Generative AI Mastery: From Foundations to Applications" from December 16th to 21st, 2024. This FDP was sponsored by the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) under AICTE Training And Learning (ATAL) Academy (ATAL) with a funding of ₹1,00,000. This FDP aimed to equip participants with both theoretical and practical knowledge of generative AI technologies, fostering deeper insights into its applications and ethical considerations.

The FDP commenced on 16th December 2024 with an inaugural session at 6:00 PM. Dr. Rahul Sharma, Head of the Department of Information Technology, delivered the opening address, setting the tone for an enriching learning experience. Following this, Dr. Nitin Sharma, and Dr. Shivani Agarwal, FDP- Coordinators outlined the objectives and anticipated outcomes of the FDP, emphasizing its relevance in the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence.

The six-day FDP featured a series of insightful sessions delivered by ten distinguished speakers from academia and industry, both internationally and nationally. On the first day, Dr. Rozha Kamal Ahmed from Sulaimani Polytechnic University, Iraq, introduced participants to Generative AI, emphasizing its significance and diverse applications. Dr. Markus Bertl, Principal Architect for Data, AI & Automation at UNISYS, Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, delivered an engaging session on Quantum Generative AI. Ms. Elli Valla from the Department of Software Science, TalTech, Estonia, explored the power and potential of transformer-based neural networks. In the following days, Mr. Shravan Yadav provided an in-depth look at the history and evolution of Generative AI, offering participants a strong foundational understanding for the program. A list of all the speakers is attached with this report.
At the end of the FDP, an assessment test was conducted to evaluate the participants' understanding of the topics covered. The program concluded with a Vote of Thanks delivered by Dr. Shivani Agarwal, Co-Coordinator of the FDP, acknowledging the efforts of the speakers, participants, and organizing team.

Outcomes and Feedback
The FDP witnessed enthusiastic participation, with 128 attendees from diverse institutions across the country. Participants appreciated the program’s balance between theoretical depth and practical insights.

A key outcome of the FDP was the enhanced understanding of cutting-edge technologies such as Generative Adversarial Networks and Transformer models, which are widely regarded as the future of AI research and application. Many participants reported gaining valuable insights into how these technologies can be applied across various domains, including data generation, text generation, and image synthesis. The discussions on training challenges in GANs and ethical considerations were highlighted as thought-provoking, urging participants to consider the responsible use of AI technologies in their respective fields.

The hands-on sessions allowed participants to explore the practical aspects of implementing the discussed models and tools. Many attendees reported that they gained a deeper understanding of the mechanics behind popular AI models and how to integrate them into their research or industry projects.

The demonstrations of applications such as text generation with AI, image generation, and data generation using VAEs proved to be highly beneficial for participants looking to incorporate generative AI into their work.

Conclusion
The ATAL Faculty Development Program on “Generative AI Mastery: From Foundations to Applications" was a resounding success, meeting its objectives of enhancing participants' understanding of generative AI and equipping them with the knowledge and skills to apply these technologies in real-world scenarios. The program effectively bridged the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical implementation, providing attendees with a comprehensive view of the current state of generative AI technologies and their vast potential for innovation.

Looking ahead, the Department of Information Technology is committed to continuing its efforts in organizing similar capacity-building initiatives that cater to the evolving needs of the academic and professional community. This FDP has further strengthened the department's mission of promoting research, innovation, and the application of emerging technologies in the field of computer science and engineering.