The International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIIT-Bangalore) and online learning company upGrad launched a six-month online Executive Post Graduate Programme in Forward Deployed AI Engineering on 3 November 2026. The programme is aimed at experienced software and AI/ML engineers who want to build and deploy AI systems directly for enterprise clients.
The launch comes as Indian companies move from small AI pilots to full deployments, and as IIIT-Bangalore expands its AI footprint after the Karnataka government approved a ₹35 crore AI hub at IIIT-Bangalore in September.
What the Forward Deployed AI Engineering programme covers
A forward deployed engineer works on the client side, turning AI models into working products inside a customer’s systems. The programme follows that full cycle, from client discovery and solution architecture to enterprise deployment and delivery, according to the institute.
- Five courses covering production engineering, large language models (LLMs), retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) pipelines, agentic AI and AI security.
- About 120 hours of live online sessions, guided labs and practice drills, delivered in a cohort format.
- A live client capstone in which participants build and deploy an AI solution on a real project.
- A one-day campus immersion at IIIT-Bangalore.
Participants who complete the course receive a Postgraduate Programme Certificate from IIIT-Bangalore.
Who can apply
The programme is designed for software engineers, AI/ML engineers and technical professionals in pre-sales and solutions roles. Applicants need a relevant technology degree, working knowledge of Python and experience of building a data pipeline or a REST API, the institute said in its official statement.
What IIIT-Bangalore and upGrad said
Prof. V Sridhar, Head of Continuing Professional Education at IIIT-Bangalore, said the programme aims to give professionals hands-on experience of building, designing, deploying and delivering AI solutions in enterprise settings, preparing them for the evolving role of the forward deployed engineer.
Anuj Vishwakarma, CEO of Higher Education at upGrad, also pointed to growing demand for engineers who combine technical depth with business sense and customer delivery skills. The launch adds to upGrad’s recent expansion, which includes the completion of its Unacademy acquisition in a major edtech consolidation.
Why it matters for AI skilling in India
Indian institutes are increasingly pairing with edtech platforms to offer applied AI courses for working professionals, as seen in the IIT Roorkee and Scaler advanced AI engineering programme. Campuses are also building AI into core engineering education, such as CIT Coimbatore’s AI-native engineering centre CRANE. The IIIT-Bangalore course stands out for its focus on client-facing deployment rather than model research alone.
Details of the programme are available from IIIT-Bangalore, and the launch was also reported by Business Fortnight.
Key takeaways
- IIIT-Bangalore and upGrad launched a six-month online Executive PG Programme in Forward Deployed AI Engineering on 3 November 2026.
- The course offers about 120 hours of live learning, a live client capstone and a one-day campus immersion.
- It targets experienced engineers with Python skills and data pipeline or REST API experience.
FAQ
How long is the IIIT-Bangalore Forward Deployed AI Engineering programme?
It runs for six months online, with about 120 hours of live sessions, labs and drills.
What certificate do participants get?
Successful participants receive a Postgraduate Programme Certificate from IIIT-Bangalore.
Who is eligible?
Applicants need a relevant technology degree, Python proficiency and experience building a data pipeline or REST API.
Featured image: IIIT-Bangalore campus, Electronics City, Bengaluru. Photo: Sundar / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
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