BNY and Cummins College of Engineering for Women Start the Shakti Alliance for Women in Technology
Global financial company BNY and Pune's Cummins College of Engineering for Women have started the Shakti Alliance, a multi-year programme to build AI and engineering skills among women engineering students and faculty.
By Sham Rathi ·
BNY, the global financial services company, and Cummins College of Engineering for Women (CCOEW) in Karvenagar, Pune have started a multi-year partnership called the Shakti Alliance. It was announced in Pune on 9 October 2026. The aim is to help women engineering students grow into technology leaders, with a strong focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and modern engineering.
What the Shakti Alliance will cover
The two partners are working on four areas:
- Learning by doing: students get hands-on exposure to software engineering, product development and agile ways of working through projects, mentoring and meetings with industry professionals.
- AI research lab: a lab for practical, industry-linked AI work and academic research.
- Curriculum: joint work on course content, possible final-year (capstone) projects and closer links between classroom and industry.
- Faculty development: training and knowledge sharing with BNY professionals so teachers can bring new technologies and current engineering practice into class.
What the leaders said
Leigh-Ann Russell, Chief Information Officer and Global Head of Engineering at BNY, said AI is changing the skills people need to succeed in technology. She said the alliance will let students use what they learn in real settings and help faculty take applied research and teaching further.
Dr. Madhuri Khambete, Principal of Cummins College of Engineering for Women, called the alliance an important step in the college's long relationship with BNY. She said it will give students new chances to build skills that the industry needs today.
About the college
Cummins College of Engineering for Women started in 1991 with support from the Cummins Diesel (India) Foundation. It was India's first engineering college only for women. The college is run by Maharshi Karve Stree Shikshan Samstha (MKSSS), founded in 1896 by Bharat Ratna Maharshi Dhondo Keshav Karve, and is affiliated to Savitribai Phule Pune University.
Questions and answers
What is the Shakti Alliance between BNY and Cummins College of Engineering for Women, Pune?
The Shakti Alliance is a multi-year partnership between BNY and Cummins College of Engineering for Women in Pune to build AI and engineering skills among women students and faculty, through hands-on projects, an AI research lab, curriculum work and faculty training.
When was the BNY and Cummins College of Engineering for Women Shakti Alliance announced?
BNY and Cummins College of Engineering for Women announced the Shakti Alliance in Pune on 9 October 2026.
When was Cummins College of Engineering for Women in Pune started?
Cummins College of Engineering for Women was started in 1991 with support from the Cummins Diesel (India) Foundation. It was India's first engineering college only for women and is run by Maharshi Karve Stree Shikshan Samstha.
