New Delhi: From the story of one of India’s smallest communities to the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence, Lady Shri Ram College for Women’s Summer School 2026 is bringing together subjects that rarely share the same classroom.
According to administrators, the programme, themed Rooted and Rising: Where Foundation Meets Innovation, reflects a growing recognition that students need both technological skills and cultural understanding to navigate the future.
Among its standout offerings is one of the first undergraduate-level certificate courses in the Delhi University ecosystem to focus on AI agents, autonomous workflows and advanced tool use beyond basic prompting. At the other end of the spectrum is The Parsi Presence: Migration, Integration, Innovation, a course developed in collaboration with TISS and ParZor Foundation that explores the history, heritage and contributions of the Parsi community in India.
Announcing registrations, LSR has brought together leading academic partners, including Rutgers University, Tata Institute of Social Sciences and Delhi School of Public Policy & Administration, to support course design and faculty engagement. The fully online programme offers five interdisciplinary certificate courses to prepare students for an increasingly AI-driven and socially complex world.
A major highlight is Beyond the Prompt: Machine Learning to Agentic AI, which moves beyond conventional AI literacy to introduce learners to AI agents, autonomous workflows and advanced tool usage. The programme also includes courses on responsible AI, entrepreneurship, public policy, psychology and Indian knowledge systems, creating a blend of technical, social and cultural learning.
“Meaningful progress needs roots in timeless knowledge and the creativity to innovate. Summer School connects both. Rooted and Rising is our answer to the AI moment. Students need agentic AI skills, but also the wisdom of Indian knowledge systems and civic responsibility to use them well,” said principal Kanika K Ahuja.
The Parsi Presence: Migration, Integration, Innovation aims to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of Parsi culture, heritage and Zoroastrian beliefs, while exploring the community’s migration history, integration into Indian society, and significant contributions to the nation’s social, cultural and economic development. Through expert-led discussions, field visits, interactive learning experiences and engagement with archival and community resources, learners will gain insights into issues such as demographic change, cultural preservation, artistic traditions and the role of women in safeguarding heritage.
Another course, Design Thinking for Innovative Entrepreneurship: Incorporating Responsible AI, focuses on practical innovation and ethical technology use. Developed with academic resource support from Rutgers University, the programme introduces participants to the fundamentals of design thinking, problem-solving, prototyping and entrepreneurial pitching, while emphasising the responsible use of AI in research, ideation and communication.
Open to students, researchers, faculty members and working professionals worldwide, the courses will feature interactive lectures, case studies and practical assignments, including pitch presentations evaluated by industry experts.
Meghna Dhulia is an Assistant News Editor at The Times of India, ...
Read MoreMeghna Dhulia is an Assistant News Editor at The Times of India, bringing over a decade of experience in journalism. She specialises in education reporting, covering both foundational and higher education with a clear, insightful lens. Her work sheds light on critical issues shaping the future—ranging from policy impact and systemic challenges to compelling human stories from the field. Her experience also extends to the news desk, where she has overseen editorial workflows, ensuring readers receive balanced, reliable and impactful news.
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