Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE) Chairman K. Madhu Murthy on Friday stressed the need for industry-integrated training to equip students for the rapidly evolving AI-driven job market.Addressing the career awareness programme, ‘AI Career Launchpad-2026’, organised by Dhanekula Institute of Engineering and Technology in collaboration with Calibo AI Academy and in partnership with the Andhra Pradesh government, Prof. Murthy said APSCHE, in association with Calibo AI Academy, had launched a statewide initiative to provide Artificial Intelligence (AI) training to 50,000 students.As part of the initiative, 20 students selected under Cohort 2025-26 received offer letters.The organisers said the programme aimed to familiarise students with global career opportunities in AI while equipping them with industry-relevant skills.Director of Dhanekula Institute of Engineering and Technology D. K. R. K. Ravi Prasad said the collaboration with Calibo AI Academy had already produced encouraging results. Sixteen students from the institute had secured placements in leading companies with annual salary packages of ₹10 lakh, while four others had been selected for paid internships carrying a monthly stipend of ₹25,000, he said.Mr. Ravi Prasad thanked Calibo AI Academy Founder and Executive Chairman Raj Vattikuti for supporting the initiative.The programme was attended by Dhanekula Institute Chairman Dhanekula Ravindranath Thakur, Secretary and Correspondent Dhanekula Bhavani Prasad, Principal Ravi Kadiyala, Head of the Department K. Soumya, deans, coordinators Mishra Ravikanth and R. Phani Kishore, faculty members and students. Published - July 03, 2026 06:10 pm IST