PSNA College and Garuda Aerospace signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a Centre of Excellence and a drone pilot-training programme.
This partnership aims to bridge the gap between academic study and industrial application. By integrating professional drone operations into the curriculum, the collaboration seeks to create a pipeline of skilled manpower capable of supporting the indigenisation of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capabilities within India.
The agreement focuses on developing technical expertise in Madurai and Chennai. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to strengthen industry-academia collaboration, allowing students to engage with real-world technology and operational standards used by the drone startup, which is backed by MS Dhoni.
These efforts align with the inauguration of the AICTE Industry Fellowship Programme on Jan. 19, 2026 [1]. That programme serves as a framework for enhancing the practical skills of students through direct industry engagement.
Through the Centre of Excellence, PSNA College will provide the academic infrastructure, while Garuda Aerospace contributes technical guidance and operational training. This model is intended to accelerate the deployment of UAV technology across various sectors, ensuring that the workforce is prepared for the evolving demands of the aerospace industry.
“The partnership seeks to create a pipeline of skilled manpower capable of supporting the indigenisation of UAV capabilities.”
This collaboration reflects a strategic shift in Indian technical education toward specialized, industry-led certifications. By partnering with a commercial entity like Garuda Aerospace, academic institutions can bypass the slow pace of traditional curriculum updates to provide immediate, market-ready skills in the rapidly growing UAV sector.
