MOHALI | October 22, 2026: Students in Punjab are set to gain access to more industry-focused artificial intelligence training after I.K. Gujral Punjab Technical University (IKGPTU) signed an agreement with Focal Skill Development Pvt. Ltd. (Focalyt) to train 300 young people in AI across the university’s Mohali and Jalandhar campuses.
The partnership was announced on October 21 as part of the Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC) initiative, Samsung’s corporate social responsibility programme. It is being implemented in collaboration with the Telecom Sector Skill Council (TSSC). The announcement confirms 300 trainees across the two campuses combined; it does not state that all 300 seats are for Mohali alone.
Photo: Photograph accompanying the IKGPTU–Focalyt Samsung Innovation Campus announcement. Source: City Air News, October 21, 2026.
IKGPTU Samsung Innovation Campus 2026: what has been announced?
- Training target: 300 youth in total across Mohali and Jalandhar university campuses
- Core subject: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and industry-relevant digital skills
- University: I.K. Gujral Punjab Technical University (IKGPTU)
- Training partner: Focal Skill Development Pvt. Ltd. (Focalyt)
- Initiative: Samsung Innovation Campus, in collaboration with the Telecom Sector Skill Council
- Announcement date: October 21, 2026
- Campus-wise seat allocation and exact batch dates: Not disclosed in the announcement
Who signed the AI training agreement?
The memorandum of understanding was signed by Prof. (Dr.) Arvind Kumar Bansal, Vice-Chancellor of IKGPTU, and Parveen Bansal, CEO of Focalyt, according to reporting published by City Air News and Punjabi Jagran.
Officials present included IKGPTU Registrar Dr. Navdeepak Sandhu, Computer Science Department head Dr. Rajeev Bedi, and other representatives of the university and Focalyt. The partnership is intended to connect academic learning with the practical expectations of a technology-led workplace.
What will participants learn through Samsung Innovation Campus?
At a national level, Samsung Innovation Campus 2026 guidance from the Electronics Sector Skills Council of India identifies Core AI and Generative AI as curriculum areas. It also outlines classroom teaching, self-paced study, assessments and project-based exercises. These details describe the broader national programme; IKGPTU has not yet published a separate, campus-specific timetable or detailed syllabus for the newly announced 300-place agreement.
Samsung has described its 2026 India initiative as aiming to empower 20,000 young people across 10 states, combining practical training with future-oriented career preparation. The IKGPTU–Focalyt agreement connects Punjab’s technical university campuses with that wider skilling effort.
Why the initiative matters for Mohali’s tech and student ecosystem
Mohali is home to IT businesses, technology service providers, educational institutes and an expanding digital workforce. For students, structured AI training may offer a way to apply classroom concepts to datasets, automation problems and practical use cases. For employers, familiarity with AI tools and sound technical fundamentals can be useful when evaluating entry-level talent.
The immediate outcome is the training partnership, not a guarantee of jobs, internships or placement numbers. Neither the university announcement nor the partner reports specify a promised placement rate for these 300 trainees. Outcomes will depend on the eventual batch format, participants’ work and recruitment conditions.
Eligibility and how interested students can check updates
The national Samsung Innovation Campus 2026 programme generally lists an age range of 18–25 and relevant stages of B.Tech, BCA, B.Sc., MCA and M.Sc. courses in its published participant guidelines. Those guidelines also point applicants to the programme’s official registration portal.
However, applicants should verify the selection process, local eligibility, availability, fees (if any) and timetable for IKGPTU’s particular Mohali and Jalandhar batches directly with the university or programme administrators. A national registration option does not by itself confirm admission to the newly announced campus training places.
Related local innovation and education initiatives
The latest training agreement adds to a series of institution-led technology initiatives across the region. Read our earlier report on Panjab University’s planned Indovation Centre with AICTE and Mohali Semiconductor Laboratory’s student chip-design activity.
Frequently asked questions
How many students will IKGPTU train in AI?
The announced agreement targets 300 youth combined across Mohali and Jalandhar campuses.
Is the Samsung Innovation Campus training only in Mohali?
No. The October 21 agreement names both the Mohali and Jalandhar university campuses.
What are the course dates for the 300 trainees?
The local announcement does not provide exact training start dates or batch allocations.
Will trainees receive guaranteed jobs?
No job or placement guarantee for these 300 participants is stated in the announcement.
Sources and verification: City Air News, October 21, 2026; Punjabi Jagran, October 21, 2026; Samsung Innovation Campus 2026 participant guidelines, ESSCI; Samsung India on the wider 2026 programme.