IIT Madras, UNESCO MGIEP join hands to develop next-gen AI and immersive learning technologies

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras and UNESCO's Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP) have formed a partnership to create advanced AI and immersive learning technologies. This collaboration was announced recently, with key figures including Obijiofor Aginam, Director of UNESCO MGIEP, Manu Santhanam, Dean of Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research at IIT Madras, and M Manivannan, Head of the Experiential Technology Innovation Centre (XTIC) at IIT Madras.

The project aims to revolutionize education by integrating digital learning solutions. UNESCO MGIEP's strength in Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) will combine with IIT Madras' expertise in AI, Extended Reality (XR), game design, and immersive technologies. Aginam emphasized that this open-source AI will enhance the integration of SEL into daily classroom practices while reducing teachers' workload by providing a practical platform for embedding SEL into lesson plans, teaching activities, and assessments.

The resulting OpenAI models are expected to be cost-effective and effective even in areas with limited internet connectivity.

The collaboration extends beyond just technology development. It also includes joint research in educational technology, pedagogy, AI, and learning sciences, as well as opportunities for faculty and researcher exchanges, workshops, conferences, and seminars. This initiative aligns with UNESCO's Sustainable Development Goal 4.7, which promotes education for peaceful, inclusive, and sustainable societies.

Ultimately, the goal is to develop scalable digital learning technologies that can be applied across various educational systems worldwide.