C3iHub, IIT Kanpur, Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University (CSJMU) Kanpur, and the Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj Innovation Foundation (CSJMIF) have signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch a vocational course in cybersecurity for students of CSJMU.

The MoU signing ceremony, held on August 4, 2025, was graced by distinguished guests including Prof. Vinay Kumar Pathak, Vice Chancellor, CSJMU and President, Association of Indian Universities; and Prof. Manindra Agrawal, Director, IIT Kanpur. The MoU was formally signed by Dr. Tanima Hajra, COO and Interim CEO, C3iHub, Dr. Shilpa D. Kaistha, CEO, CSJMIF, and Mr Rajesh Kumar, Registrar, CSJMU. 
.Other dignitaries included Prof. R.K. Dwivedi, Director, College Development Council, CSJMU, and Shri Ashok Tripathi, Finance Officer, CSJMU.

The newly launched semester-long program will equip students with essential cybersecurity knowledge and practical skills. The course will be delivered entirely online and in Hindi, making it accessible and easy to understand for a broad student base. This course covers the basics of cybersecurity and will be delivered in Hindi so that students can understand it easily. This course will cover cybercrime and cyber hygiene, Social media threats, identity theft, personal data leak, women's and children's online safety, the dark web, cyber terrorism, and illegal activities. Quizzes and Course feedback will be an integral part of the course, supported by customized virtual labs to provide students with real-world, practical experience.

A key highlight of the program is the inclusion of expert-led webinars featuring professionals from Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand Police, the Ministry of Home Affairs' I4C (Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre), and other renowned cybersecurity experts.

Under this collaboration, C3iHub will design and deliver the curriculum, while CSJMIF will provide the platform and technical infrastructure for course deployment. The initiative aims to reach up to 1 lakh students, contributing significantly to India's cybersecurity capacity-building efforts.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof Manindra Agrawal, Director, IIT Kanpur, stated, "Deepening our ongoing collaboration with CSJMU for creating a cybersecurity-focused program for students at large to equip them with technology awareness in cyberspace for protection of information and digital assets, we have signed today's MoU. Over the last year, we have evolved the course further. The expert-led content will focus on basic aspects of cybersecurity and will be delivered in Hindi for easy understanding."

Prof. V.K. Pathak, Vice Chancellor, CSJMU & President, Association of Indian Universities: "This is not just a program — it's a gateway to new dimensions of learning and progress. CSJMU considers this the start of a long-term collaboration with premier institutes like IITs. We aim to bring such transformative initiatives closer to the common student and society. This pilot program, in partnership with IIT Kanpur and C3iHub, could become a model for universities nationwide. As President of the Association of Indian Universities, I believe this initiative can potentially drive a ground-up transformation in higher education."

Launch of SCOPE by C3iHub
C3iHub also announced the launch of SCOPE (Security and Outreach Program for Education) — a dedicated training wing offering cybersecurity training programs. Through SCOPE, C3iHub invites proposals from organizations interested in delivering cutting-edge cybersecurity education across sectors.

About SCOPE Training Programs

SCOPE offers flexible training solutions — online or on-site — designed to meet diverse organizational needs. These include:
•    Tailor-made hands-on training modules
•    Large-scale skilling programs for workforce development and capacity building