On 18 July 2025, the Symbiosis Institute of Computer Studies and Research in Pune hosted an engaging AIORI Regional Faculty Workshop, aimed at building awareness and practical understanding of Internet Standards, measurement practices, and the growing digital infrastructure. The event brought together faculty, students, and internet experts to explore technical, governance, and research perspectives, highlighting AIORI’s commitment to connecting academic learning with real-world infrastructure initiatives. The workshop commenced with a warm welcome emphasizing the importance of exposing students to the practical aspects of internet engineering, encouraging participants to consider how knowledge of protocols and standardization could position them as future contributors to the digital infrastructure by engaging in research that impacts performance and reliability. The first technical session, led by Mr. Anand Raje (Chair, Internet Society – India Kolkata Chapter), provided an in-depth exploration of AIORI’s mission, detailing technical aspects like latency measurement and network resilience. Mr. Raje highlighted the significance of distributed measurement nodes, particularly the “Raspberry Pi–based AIORI Anchors”, deployed across institutions to collect actionable performance data. He explained how these anchors feed into a national-level observability framework, allowing researchers, policymakers, and ISPs to analyze network behavior, emphasizing how even small-scale devices can generate data with wide-ranging impact, encouraging faculty and students to participate actively. Following this, Mr. Anupam Agrawal (Chair – IIFON) led a session for AIORI Ambassadors, emphasizing opportunities for students and faculty to engage in collaborative research projects and participate in hackathons that foster innovative solutions for measurement. The workshop also featured discussions on stakeholder roles and contributions, highlighting frameworks supported by MeitY and NIXI, illustrating the interplay between policy, governance, and technology, and showing how data collected informs decision-making and strengthens national standards. In a subsequent technical session, Mr. Anand Raje demonstrated the functionality of AIORI Anchors, walking participants through the process of data collection, processing, and visualization, reinforcing the link between academic knowledge and real-world implementation. The workshop also included engagement with international standards organizations, particularly the IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force), where participants learned how they could actively contribute to global forums and shape internet protocols, encouraging the application of skills beyond national boundaries. The closing session recognized the enthusiasm and active participation of students and faculty, with certificates awarded to all. The deployment of AIORI Anchors symbolized the practical commitment to knowledge, contributing to AIORI’s nationwide observability network. As an Associate Partner, Internet Society – India Kolkata Chapter takes immense pride in supporting this forward-looking initiative. Our involvement, guided by the Internet Society’s mission to advance open development and use of the Internet, helped facilitate knowledge sharing, promote hands-on engagement, and support the broader objective of building a measurable and efficient internet ecosystem. We sincerely appreciate AIORI leadership, IIFON, MeitY, NIXI, and the faculty and students of Symbiosis Institute of Computer Studies and Research for their commitment. This transformative educational experience empowered participants to bridge academic learning with real-world measurement, governance, and standardization initiatives, affirming our commitment to continuing collaboration to strengthen the digital ecosystem through research, innovation, and community-driven participation.
