October 2025
Tirupati, India — Fresh off its recent recognition as a full-fledged University in India, Madanapalle Institute of Technology & Science (MITS) University has partnered with U.S.-based nonprofit HuMAINority Inc. to launch the inaugural AI-Augmented Problem Solving (AAPS) Hackathon 2025, an international event uniting over 60 teams of students and mentors to tackle “Cybersecurity Fraud Detection in an AI-Driven World.”
The collaboration stems from Professor Joseph X. Ng’s visit to India in August 2025, during which he proposed the AAPS Framework as a next-generation academic model to integrate Generative AI, ethical reasoning, and real-world problem solving into higher education. In less than two months, thanks to the supportive MITS administration and the leadership of Mr. Ashok Kambaluru, Department of Computer Science and Technology, the concept was transformed into a live, campus-wide event marking the official launch of the AAPS initiative.
As part of the challenge, students are working with datasets modeled after real-world banking message formats to simulate industry-grade financial transactions and fraud patterns. Each team is required to present their methodology, model results, and ethical reasoning through a structured presentation, aligning with AAPS’s experiential and reflective learning design.
AAPS is a forward-looking curriculum framework that blends technical fluency, critical thinking, and ethical judgment, anchored in HuMAINority’s Human ETHOS principles of Empathy, Truth, Humility, Ownership, and Stewardship. It prepares students for the future of work, where human–AI collaboration, cybersecurity, and digital trust define competitive advantage.
To celebrate the launch, MITS University announced a doubling of the first-place prize money, underscoring its commitment to fostering ethical AI innovation. Winning teams will also have the opportunity to collaborate with HuMAINority’s mission-driven projects, advancing toward participation in nonprofit industry conferences in 2026.
“This collaboration exemplifies how academia and social innovation can work hand-in-hand to build the next generation of responsible technologists,” said Professor Joseph X Ng, Founder of HuMAINority.
“The AAPS framework builds on the ‘Code to Conscience’ pilot I introduced earlier to embed moral reflection and ethical awareness into AI learning. To see it evolve from concept to international launch in under two months—thanks to MITS’s leadership and Mr. Ashok’s tireless coordination—is truly inspiring.”
Mr. Ashok Kambaluru, Coordinator of the AAPS Hackathon, added: “Our students’ response has been overwhelming. Over sixty teams joined from across disciplines, demonstrating their commitment to ethical AI and cybersecurity. The AAPS model will redefine how we teach, learn, and apply AI responsibly.”
This inaugural hackathon was made possible through the vision and guidance of the MITS University leadership, whose unwavering support brought the AAPS collaboration to life:
- Chief Patron: Dr. N. Vijaya Bhaskar Choudary, Founder & Chancellor
- Patrons: Mr. N. Dwarakanath & Mrs. Keerthi Nadella, Pro Chancellor & Executive Director
- Program Chair: Dr. C. Yuvraj, Vice Chancellor (I/c)
- Co-Chair: Dr. P. Ramanathan, Principal
- Convenor: Dr. Chandra Prakash Gupta, Professor & Dean, School of Computers
- Co-Convenor: Dr. K. Dinesh, Associate Professor & Head, CST
- Coordinator: Mr. K. Ashok, Assistant Professor, CST
Through their leadership and collaboration with HuMAINority, MITS University has emerged as a model for AI-integrated, ethics-first education, advancing the ‘Code to Conscience’ principles within the AAPS Curriculum Framework.
Media Contact:
Office of Academic Partnerships
HuMAINority Inc.
📧 press@humainority.org | 🌐 https://humainority.org
