C3iHub, IIT Kanpur, Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University (CSJMU) Kanpur, and the Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj Innovation Foundation (CSJMIF) have signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch a vocational course in cybersecurity for students of CSJMU.

The MoU signing ceremony, held on August 4, 2025, was graced by distinguished guests including Prof. Vinay Kumar Pathak, Vice Chancellor, CSJMU and President, Association of Indian Universities; and Prof. Manindra Agrawal, Director, IIT Kanpur. The MoU was formally signed by Dr. Tanima Hajra, COO and Interim CEO, C3iHub, Dr. Shilpa D. Kaistha, CEO, CSJMIF and Mr Rajesh Kumar, Registrar, CSJMU.

Other dignitaries present included Prof. R.K. Dwivedi, Director, College Development Council, CSJMU, and Shri Ashok Tripathi, Finance Officer, CSJMU.

The newly launched semester-long program aims to equip students with essential cybersecurity knowledge and practical skills. The course will be delivered entirely online and in Hindi, making it accessible and easy to understand for a broad student base. This course covers the basics of cybersecurity and will be delivered in Hindi language for easy understanding to the  students. This course will cover Cyber crime and cyber hygiene, Social media threats, identity theft , personal data leak, women and child online safety, dark web , cyber terrorsim and illegal activities. Quizzes and Course feedback will be an integral part of the course, supported by customized virtual labs to provide students with real-world, practical experience.

A key highlight of the program is the inclusion of expert-led webinars featuring professionals from Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand Police, the Ministry of Home Affairs’ I4C (Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre), and other renowned cybersecurity experts.

Under this collaboration, C3iHub will design and deliver the curriculum, while CSJMIF will provide the platform and technical infrastructure for course deployment. The initiative aims to reach up to 1 lakh students, contributing significantly to India’s cybersecurity capacity-building efforts.

Quotes:

Prof. Manindra Agrawal, Director, IIT Kanpur:
 “Today we are signing an MoU with CSJMU. This idea began a year ago from a simple yet powerful realization — that we need a cybersecurity-focused program for the masses, to help them understand the dos and don’ts of cyberspace and safeguard their digital lives. Over the past year, we have developed and refined this course. With our partnership with CSJMU, we are confident of delivering quality content and scaling the initiative further.”

Prof. V.K. Pathak, Vice Chancellor, CSJMU & President, Association of Indian Universities:
 “This is not just a program — it’s a gateway to new dimensions of learning and progress. At CSJMU, we consider this the start of a long-term collaboration with premier institutes like IITs. Our goal is to bring such transformative initiatives closer to the common student and society at large. This pilot program, in partnership with IIT Kanpur and C3iHub, could become a model for universities across the country. As President of the Association of Indian Universities, I believe this initiative has the potential to drive a ground-up transformation in higher education.”

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Launch of SCOPE by C3iHub

C3iHub also announced the launch of SCOPE (Security and Outreach Program for Education) — a dedicated training wing that offers a suite of cybersecurity training programs. Through SCOPE, C3iHub is inviting proposals from organizations interested in delivering cutting-edge cybersecurity education across sectors.

About SCOPE Training Programs

SCOPE offers flexible training solutions — online or on-site — designed to meet diverse organizational needs. These include:

• Tailor-made hands-on training modules
• Large-scale skilling programs for workforce development and capacity building

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Who Can Apply?

Academic institutions, government agencies, defense forces, corporates, MSMEs, and NGOs seeking to strengthen their cybersecurity posture are encouraged to apply.

Partner with Us

Organizations can propose collaborations to contribute to India’s cybersecurity resilience.

📩 training@c3ihub.iitk.ac.in | 🌐 https://c3ihub.org/scope | 📞 +91 8853525830