IIIT Hyderabad Launches CETLS to Reimagine Learning in the Age of AI
Hyderabad, September 5, 2026: The International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad (IIIT Hyderabad) has launched the Centre for Educational Technology and Learning Sciences (CETLS), a new interdisciplinary research centre focused on understanding how people learn in an increasingly AI-driven world.
The centre was formally launched by R. Chandrashekhar, former President, NASSCOM, in the presence of Prof. Sandeep Shukla, Director, IIIT Hyderabad; Srini Raju, Governing Council Member; Prof. P.J. Narayanan, former Director, IIIT Hyderabad; Prof. Vasudeva Varma and around 100 guests, faculty members and education practitioners. Srini Raju also unveiled the logo of CETLS.
The new centre will bring together learning sciences, cognitive science, psychology and technology to examine learning across different stages of life, from school education and higher education to workplaces and later-life learning.
CETLS to study learning in an AI-native world
A major focus of CETLS will be to understand how Artificial Intelligence can be used to make learning deeper, more meaningful and more effective, rather than simply making it easier.
The centre will particularly examine the difference between using AI to complete a task and using AI as a component of the learning process.
While AI can instantly provide explanations, summaries and solutions, CETLS will explore ways to design learning environments that encourage students to question, experiment, practise, reflect and develop independent understanding.
The centre will also study the concept of “slow learning”, which allows learners sufficient time for experimentation, reflection and productive struggle. The objective is to identify the right balance between challenge and technological assistance so that learners can develop deeper understanding and mastery.
‘AI brings both opportunities and challenges’
Launching CETLS, R. Chandrashekhar said Artificial Intelligence is fundamentally changing education and society and that its implications need to be understood carefully.
He said that while AI presents significant opportunities, it also brings challenges that need to be addressed before its full potential can be realised.
Chandrashekhar described CETLS as a timely initiative that could contribute to understanding how AI can improve learning outcomes in a cost-effective manner.
Prof. Raj Reddy calls for re-examination of traditional education
Addressing the gathering virtually, Prof. Raj Reddy, Chief Mentor, CETLS, Moza Bint Nasser University Professor of Computer Science and Robotics at Carnegie Mellon University and Founding Chairman of IIIT Hyderabad, said the emergence of AI requires a fundamental re-examination of existing education systems.
He questioned what should be taught in classrooms when knowledge is increasingly available online and AI can make that knowledge more accessible.
Prof. Reddy also raised questions about whether conventional models of classrooms, examinations and certification will remain adequate in an AI-enabled environment.
He highlighted the potential of AI to provide personalised, one-to-one learning support, particularly to talented learners in remote areas who may not have access to individual guidance.
He also stressed the importance of critical and sceptical thinking, noting that learners must be able to question and challenge AI-generated information.
According to Prof. Reddy, future education could place greater emphasis on real-world problem-solving, independent thinking and practical skills, rather than primarily focusing on memorisation.
Centre to examine how curricula and learning should evolve
Prof. Sandeep Shukla, Director, IIIT Hyderabad, said CETLS would examine the impact of AI on learning and education over the short, medium and long term.
He said the key question is how learning itself should change in an AI-native world.
The centre will examine how AI could influence curricula, research and preparation for workplaces where AI is expected to become increasingly commonplace.
CETLS will also study learning across the lifespan, including the educational needs of senior citizens and third-age learners.
Focus on AI education from school to workplace
With CBSE beginning a structured rollout of Artificial Intelligence and Computational Thinking education, CETLS will also explore how AI education should develop as students progress from school to higher education and eventually enter the workforce.
The centre will examine whether education should give greater emphasis to:
- Critical thinking
- Creativity
- Problem-solving
- Communication
- Experimentation
- Independent learning
- Intelligent collaboration with AI
The broader question is what students should learn when AI can increasingly provide answers and perform complex tasks.
AI-enabled personalised learning among key areas
CETLS will also explore the potential of AI to provide personalised educational support.
AI-powered learning platforms such as Khan Academy’s Khanmigo demonstrate how AI can potentially function as a personalised learning companion while also supporting teachers.
The centre will study how such technologies can be designed to identify learning gaps, encourage questioning and strengthen conceptual understanding without creating excessive dependence on AI-generated responses.
Prof. Vasudeva Varma, who leads CETLS, emphasised that technology should follow an understanding of learning rather than become the objective itself.
The centre aims to first understand what constitutes an effective learning experience for different learners and then develop technology that can support those learning needs.
CETLS to work across four key areas
The new centre will focus on four broad areas:
1. K-12 Education:
Exploring experiential and practical learning approaches and examining how AI can strengthen children’s thinking rather than promote passive consumption of information.
2. Higher Education:
Studying personalised learning approaches, including AI-enabled learning companions that can identify gaps, ask questions and encourage deeper understanding.
3. Executive Education:
Developing approaches for upskilling and reskilling as technology continues to transform workplaces and professional roles.
4. Third-Age Learning:
Exploring lifelong learning and educational environments suited to the cognitive, social and intellectual needs of older adults.
AI’s impact extends beyond traditional education
The launch of CETLS comes at a time when AI is being explored across scientific and industrial domains, including healthcare, drug discovery, agriculture, aircraft design, space research and materials science.
These developments raise broader questions about the skills people will need when AI becomes an integral part of research, scientific discovery, engineering and innovation.
CETLS intends to examine these changes from a learning-sciences perspective and explore how education can prepare people to work effectively alongside increasingly capable AI systems.
The centre's interdisciplinary approach is expected to bring together expertise from education, psychology, cognitive science and technology to develop evidence-based approaches for learning in the AI era.
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