On 26 July 2025, St. Joseph’s College of Engineering in Chennai hosted a highly interactive AIORI Regional Faculty Workshop, focused on Internet Standards, measurement practices, and the development of the digital infrastructure. The event successfully brought together faculty, students, and internet experts for an immersive day of learning and technical demonstration, reflecting AIORI’s mission to connect academic institutions with real-world research. The workshop provided a unique platform for participants to gain hands-on exposure to advanced internet engineering concepts, governance frameworks, and practical measurement techniques. The event began by emphasizing the significance of understanding protocols, routing, and standardization for developing robust digital infrastructure, underscoring the importance of active academic participation in national digital projects.The first technical session was led by Mr. Anand Raje (Chair, Internet Society – India Kolkata Chapter). He delivered a detailed session on AIORI’s mission, explaining the significance of internet measurement for research and performance optimization. Students were introduced to concepts such as latency measurement and network resilience, and Mr. Raje elaborated on the functionality of Raspberry Pi–based AIORI Anchors, which are deployed at academic institutions to collect performance data and contribute to a national observability framework. The session emphasized how small-scale measurement devices can provide actionable insights that inform policy and improve infrastructure, demonstrating the tangible impact that students and faculty can have on national-scale research initiatives.Following this, Mr. Anupam Agrawal (Chair – IIFON) conducted a session for AIORI Ambassadors, focusing on hackathon orientation and student workshop engagement. He explained how students and faculty could actively participate in AIORI initiatives, contribute to documentation, join collaborative research projects, and take part in national hackathons. This session inspired participants to adopt a proactive approach to learning, combining technical expertise with practical application. Subsequent sessions highlighted the involvement of various stakeholders, including contributions from MeitY and NIXI, illustrating how governance, policy, and research intersect with technical implementation to build a robust digital infrastructure. These discussions reinforced the critical importance of collaboration between academic institutions, government bodies, and research organizations. Another key highlight was the technical demonstration of AIORI Anchors by Mr. Anand Raje. Students and faculty observed how the Raspberry Pi nodes are configured to collect real-time metrics, process data, and generate insights via AIORI dashboards. This demonstration effectively bridged the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world implementation. Engagement with global standards was also a crucial component, with Mr. Anupam Agrawal leading a session on the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), explaining how students and researchers can participate in international forums, contribute to working groups, and influence global internet standards. The session highlighted the importance of aligning local research with international best practices.
The workshop concluded with a closing session and certificate distribution, recognizing the active participation of students and faculty. The event successfully combined technical knowledge, governance insight, and hands-on demonstration. The Raspberry Pi–based AIORI Anchors exemplified how academic institutions can participate in a national-scale observability project, collecting real-time data on latency and network performance. As an Associate Partner, Internet Society – India Kolkata Chapter is proud to have supported the Chennai AIORI Workshop. Our involvement, guided by the Internet Society’s mission to advance open development and use of the Internet, contributed to knowledge dissemination, hands-on learning, and fostering engagement with national digital initiatives. We sincerely appreciate AIORI leadership, IIFON, MeitY, NIXI, and the faculty and students of St. Joseph’s College of Engineering for their commitment, and look forward to continued collaboration to strengthen the digital ecosystem through research and community-driven participation.
