Gamified Cyber Security and AI Training Program Launched for Students in Telangana
While the three-month certification course was conducted at Little Flower Degree College and TMREIS Bahadurpura, a one-day intensive workshop was organized at the College of Journalism at MANUU.
Hyderabad: A new digital learning initiative is gaining momentum in Telangana as the state government, in collaboration with the US-based organization MASK NextGen, has introduced an innovative gamified Cyber Security and Artificial Intelligence training program for school and college students.
The program is designed as a 36-hour certification course spread over three months, combining technology education with interactive learning methods. The initiative aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to safely navigate the digital world and understand emerging technologies.
In the first phase, the program received an enthusiastic response from students across several institutions. More than 100 students each from Little Flower Degree College, the girls’ school of Telangana Minorities Residential Educational Institutions Society at Bahadurpura, and the Maulana Azad National Urdu University’s College of Journalism completed the Cyber Security and AI internship.
While the three-month certification course was conducted at Little Flower Degree College and TMREIS Bahadurpura, a one-day intensive workshop was organized at the College of Journalism at MANUU.
Avni Trivedi personally interacted with students and distributed certificates to the participants. During her visit, she also met Mohammad Azharuddin, Rev. Bro. John Kallarackal, Director of Little Flower Degree College, and Prof. Ehtesham Ahmed Khan, Dean of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at MANUU, to discuss expanding the training program to benefit more students across the state.
What makes the initiative unique is its gamified learning approach, where complex topics such as cyber threats, online scams, cyberbullying, and Artificial Intelligence ethics are explained through storytelling, interactive games, and real-life case studies. Fictional characters like Captain Fish Hook and TK Troll King are used to help younger students understand concepts such as online privacy, safe gaming, and digital hygiene in an engaging manner.
Speaking about the initiative, Avni Trivedi said that today’s children are growing up in a highly connected digital world where technology shapes their education and communication. She added that the program aims not only to teach cyber security but also to build digital responsibility, ethical awareness, and critical thinking among students so that they can become responsible digital citizens.
Global partner Joseph Christopher, who is associated with the initiative, said the program focuses on strengthening digital awareness and resilience among young learners. In the next phase, MASK NextGen plans to provide computers and laptops free of cost to several institutions to enroll more students and expand the reach of this digital literacy movement across Telangana.
