IIT-M partners with Vertiv and Pravartak to upskill students in Data Center Operations and Maintenance

chennai/mumbai: indian institute of technology madras (iit madras) has partnered with vertiv (nyse: vrt), a global leader in critical digital infrastructure, and iit madras pravartak technologies foundation to build a skilled workforce in data center operations and maintenance (o&m). the collaboration aims to train over 2,000 stem students through a 35-hour self-paced online program, with 160 students qualifying for a 5-day immersive training at the iit madras campus.participants of the immersive program will receive a certified intelligent data centre-operations & maintenance (cidc-o&m) certificate from iit madras, a credential recognized across the industry for its focus on ai-powered, data-driven infrastructure. the curriculum integrates theory with practical exposure to meet the growing demand for skilled professionals in india's expanding digital infrastructure ecosystem.announcing the initiative, subhasis majumdar, managing director, vertiv india, said, “by partnering with iit madras and iitm pravartak, we aim to equip the next generation of engineers and technicians with practical knowledge of data center technologies—an area that forms the foundation of today's digital economy.”the program covers key aspects such as data center infrastructure, thermal and power management, remote monitoring, and predictive maintenance, along with case studies and demonstrations on real-world applications.highlighting the significance of the collaboration, prof. ashwin mahalingam, dean (alumni and corporate relations), iit madras, said, “this partnership equips students with cutting-edge skills and contributes to india's digital transformation journey.”dr. m. j. shankar raman, ceo, iit madras pravartak technologies foundation, added, “with the growth of ai and data centers, this program prepares students to become a future-ready workforce capable of managing and operating such critical infrastructure.”implemented by iitm pravartak under the national mission on interdisciplinary cyber-physical systems (nm-icps) of the department of science and technology, the initiative reflects vertiv's commitment to bridging the gap between academia and industry and supporting stem education for india's digital future.for more information, visit vertiv.com