Assess AI Awareness
Among students and faculty across institution tiers.
PENTA MINDS · AI RESEARCH INITIATIVE
AI as the
AI as the
Hidden Curriculum:
How Learning is happening through AI Without being Taught?
AI Literacy · Educational AI · Higher Education ResearchA student-led research initiative studying how AI is encountered, used, and learned informally across Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 higher education institutions in India — without curriculum, without acknowledgment.
About the Project
AI as the Hidden Curriculum: How Learning is happening through AI Without being Taught? is a student-led research initiative exploring how Artificial Intelligence is understood, experienced, and used across Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 higher education institutions in India. Through field surveys, institutional observations, and faculty interviews across Tamil Nadu and NCR, we are building the first systematic, student-centred evidence base on AI in Indian higher education. Our findings will inform a Policy Brief, AI Literacy Toolkit, and Responsible Use Guidelines.
Meet the Team
Five minds. Two states. One mission.
The full team directory, departments, member profiles, and recruitment information live in the Team Division.
Our Research
Document Ground Reality
Of AI use in Indian higher education.
Identify Challenges
In integrating AI into educational practice.
Recommend Policy Directions
For responsible AI integration.
Focus Areas
Geographic Scope
Offline Field Visits
Thanjavur · Trichy
Online Survey
Thanjavur · Trichy · Chennai · Coimbatore · NCR
Publications, datasets, research notes, collaboration requests, and full research documentation are in the Research Division.
Active Projects
Two research initiatives. One ecosystem.
The Projects Division hosts the full depth of our research — detailed methodology, timeline, affiliations, survey access, and outputs.
PROJECT 01
AI Grand Challenge 2026
GPAI India Student Community · AI in Indian Higher Education
The AI Grand Challenge is an international student research competition organised under the Global Partnership on AI (GPAI) and Inria, France. Team Penta Minds is participating through the GPAI India Student Community, conducting original field research on how AI is understood, used, and encountered by students and faculty across Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 higher education institutions in India. Research outputs will be submitted to the OECD through GPAI policy frameworks.
PROJECT 02
AI as the Hidden Curriculum
How Learning is Happening Through AI Without Being Taught
AI as the Hidden Curriculum is the core research inquiry examining how students in Indian higher education are learning to use AI tools informally — outside any structured curriculum or institutional guidance. The central question: what does it mean when an entire generation of students is developing AI competency through trial, error, and peer observation, without the institution acknowledging it? This project generates the primary evidence base for the AI Grand Challenge submission.
The Ground-Up AI Literacy Toolkit
Free · Open Access · For All Institution Types
Designed to convert informal AI competence into critically grounded, equity-aware, and responsible academic practice. Six structured modules for students and faculty across Tier 1, 2, and 3 institutions.
The AI Literacy Toolkit © 2026 by Penta Minds islicensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
What Is AI Actually Doing?
Clear foundations for understanding AI systems.
Your AI Learning Audit
Map how AI already appears in study habits.
Reading AI Outputs Critically
Evaluate confidence, bias, and accuracy.
AI, Equity, and the Learning Gap
Understand access, language, and inclusion.
Responsible and Ethical AI Use
Build habits for transparent academic practice.
Co-Creating Your Institution's AI Guidelines
Turn local evidence into shared norms.
The full Toolkit Division hosts resources, documentation, and guidelines.
Penta Minds Ecosystem
Modular research infrastructure built for scale
Penta Minds
Brand Identity
The Penta Minds name, logo, and visual identity represent the official research ecosystem of Penta Minds and its affiliated initiatives.