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Computer Society of India (CSI) Student Branch
The Computer Society of India (CSI), established in 1965, is India’s first and largest professional body for Information Technology professionals. With the vision of “IT for Masses,” CSI is committed to advancing the theory and practice of Computer Science and Information Technology through professional development, technical excellence, research, innovation, and community engagement. Today, CSI has an extensive national network of student branches and professional chapters that provide a vibrant platform for learning, collaboration, leadership, and knowledge sharing.
The CSI Student Branch at MKSSS’s Cummins College of Engineering for Women (CCEW) was established on 7 August 2008 with the objective of nurturing technically competent, innovative, and socially responsible engineering professionals. Since its inception, the branch has served as a dynamic platform where students actively organize and participate in technical events, workshops, seminars, industry interactions, coding competitions, research initiatives, and professional networking activities. Through these initiatives, students develop leadership, communication, teamwork, and organizational skills while gaining valuable exposure to emerging technologies and industry best practices.
Over the years, the CSI Student Branch has earned national recognition for its consistent contribution to the CSI movement and technical education. The branch has been honoured with the prestigious Computer Society of India – National Best Student Branch Award for 2011–12 and 2012–13 and subsequently received the Award for Highest Hosting of CSI Events for 2013–14 and the Best Accredited Student Branch Award in 2017. The branch has also received recognition for its excellence in student innovation, with its teams securing First Prize in the CSI Regional Project Competition and Third Prize in the CSI National Project Competition during 2013–14.
Faculty members have been recognized for their outstanding contributions to CSI, with Dr. Madhuri Tasgaonkar receiving the Active Participation – Women Member Award (2011–12), Prof. Aparna U. Hajare receiving the Active Participation – Women Member Award, Prof. Ashutosh Muchrikar being honoured with the Significant Contribution Award (2013–14), and Prof. Vaishali Salgar receiving the prestigious CSI Award for Longest Continuous Student Branch Coordinator consecutively for the academic years 2015–16 and 2016–17.
Carrying forward the tradition of excellence, the CSI Student Branch is currently coordinated by Dr. Pranjali Deshpande, who is also serving as the Chairperson of the CSI, Pune Chapter, reflecting the branch’s strong engagement with the professional computing fraternity at the regional and national levels.
Activities and Initiatives
During the academic year 2025-26, the branch has expanded its scope by organizing high-impact programmes that integrate technical learning with research, industry collaboration, and societal engagement.
The branch conducted a series of flagship activities in emerging areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Deep Learning, Agentic AI, Prompt Engineering, AI-assisted Software Development, Cybersecurity, and Research Methodologies.
Major initiatives included the Advanced Deep Learning Workshop, featuring experts from Google, TCS Research, and MITU Research; an Industry Visit to Persistent Systems focusing on Generative AI in software engineering; an Agentic AI Guest Session; the Vibe Coding Session on AI-assisted software development; and “Bits of Paper,” a research discussion initiative designed to cultivate research aptitude and critical thinking among students. These programmes provided students with hands-on exposure to cutting-edge technologies while strengthening their research orientation and industry readiness.
As part of its commitment to creating socially responsible technology professionals, the CSI Student Branch actively engages in community outreach initiatives. In collaboration with the CSI Pune Chapter, the branch has organized Cybersecurity Awareness Programmes for senior citizens to promote safe and responsible use of digital technologies. Through interactive demonstrations and real-life case studies, these initiatives have empowered members of the community with practical knowledge to recognize and prevent cyber fraud, thereby contributing to digital literacy and cyber resilience.
Extending its impact beyond higher education, the CSI Student Branch actively supports initiatives that promote computational thinking and digital innovation among school students. The CSI Student Branch actively collaborates with the CSI Pune Chapter in supporting outreach initiatives such as the Inter School Compuskills Championship, organized by Acharya Shree Vijay Vallabh School, Pune. The championship provides a platform for school students to develop computational thinking, creativity, and programming skills, while strengthening the connection between school education, higher education, and the professional computing community.
The CSI Student Branch at MKSSS’s Cummins College of Engineering for Women continues to uphold its legacy of excellence by fostering a culture of innovation, research, technical leadership, and community service. Through meaningful collaborations with academia, industry, professional bodies, and the community, the branch remains committed to developing globally competent, ethically responsible, and socially conscious technology professionals capable of addressing the challenges of an ever-evolving digital world.
Dr. Pranjali Deshpande,
CSI Student Branch Coordinator, CCEW
Chairman, CSI Pune Chapter
Student Executive Committee (2025–26) :
- Isha Bhagat – Chairperson
- Saee Kale – Vice-Chairperson
- Anagha Kumar – Secretary
- Rishita Chourey – Treasurer
- Siya Shah – PR & Sponsorship Head