IIT Kanpur IFACET partners with BIRD to improve research, training in banking, finance, AI, more

NEW DELHI: The IIT Kanpur Foundation for Advanced Consulting, Education and Training (IFACET) has partnered with Bankers Institute of Rural Development (BIRD) in order to enhance training, research, and joint initiatives across several key areas. The agreement was signed by professor BV Phani, project IFACET director and Shefali Agrawal, joint director of BIRD.

According to the agreement, IFACET and BIRD will jointly develop and update training modules with focus on banking and finance, microfinance, FinTech, AgriTech, climate change and finance, digital agriculture, digital banking, human resource development, the use of AI in banking and finance, and cybersecurity.

IITK-BIRD pact: Key areas

Joint certification programmes will be introduced as part of the IIT Kanpur-BIRD collaboration, which will include organising workshops and seminars. Training programmes and networking opportunities will also be created through events.

The collaboration will also encompass consultancy services, offering expertise in areas including banking and finance, agriculture, digital agriculture projects, AI and machine learning, microfinance, and climate finance.

Professor Manindra Agrawal, director of IIT Kanpur, said: "We are excited about this partnership with BIRD as it aligns with our mission to foster innovation and excellence in education and research.”

Shefali Agrawal, joint director of BIRD, said: “BIRD’s proficiency in capacity building across agriculture, rural development, climate change, microfinance, and human resource development complements IFACET’s innovative training solutions. By combining our expertise, we aim to address pressing challenges and drive meaningful impact.”

Bankers Institute of Rural Development (BIRD), is an autonomous body promoted by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) that offers training and research facilities, consultancy services in banking, both in India and abroad.