Externship

On-campus 20-week Supervised Externship Certification Program

AI-ML Digital Marketing

1. Overview

Ashok Wahi, a distinguished alumnus of Thapar University and the lead inventor of NasalGuard® Technologies (Patented), iMiracle™ Skincare Technology, and the iMiracle Skin & AllerAid+ Mobile Apps, is offering a 20-week, on-campus supervised externship certification program in AI-ML Digital Marketing. This unique opportunity offers a maximum of 36 students a chance to gain experience and is designed for motivated Thapar students to leverage Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI-ML) in digital marketing of mobile applications and products. The primary objective is to increase app awareness and significantly drive installations for the AllerAid+ App. This app enhances awareness of the miseries caused by atmospheric pollution.

2. Credo

This externship is built on the belief that learning is most impactful when paired with real-world applications. It offers motivated students the opportunity to acquire valuable business skills that can shape future career paths and collaborations, while gaining firsthand experience in AI-ML enhanced digital marketing. We aim to help these externs become pioneers in the ever-changing Digital Marketing landscape by working on live projects that drive measurable results. Participants will not only strengthen their technical capabilities but also develop the confidence, creativity, strategic thinking “Big”, and team coordination skills needed to thrive in the evolving digital economy and become AI Digital Marketing Champions while building the Thapar brand to new heights!

3. Staff

i.) Mr. Ashok Wahi: Director, B.E. (M.E), TIET, 1970; M.S (O.R.) NYU; and Founder of Trutek Corp.

ii.) TBD, Program Manager (On Campus)

iii.) Mr. Maulik Tanna: Co-Manager; Subject Expert; Trainer/Coach; Adjunct Professor at Parul University and consultant to Trutek Corp.

iv.) Mr. Kevin Bartolome: Program Assistant

v.) Ms. Anishka Bhargava; Director’s Student Advisor (On-Campus)

4. Program Outcomes

This externship offers a practical, real-world lens through which participants can acquire business insights and apply academic knowledge within a professional setting. The program specifically provides Thapar University students with hands-on work experience in real-life projects, allowing them to become productive and contributing team members in a collaborative environment. Through this immersive experience, participants will develop critical and innovative thinking skills essential for achieving desired business outcomes. They will achieve direct exposure to and practical utilization of AI-ML digital marketing efforts to increase app awareness and drive installations. Examples of such immersive digital marketing experiences include conducting live A/B testing on ad campaigns, analyzing real-time user acquisition data, optimizing SEO strategies based on AI-driven insights and designing content for app engagement using AI-powered tools.

i.) Gain hands-on work experience in real-life projects: Participants will actively engage in real-world digital marketing initiatives such as social media campaigns, podcast development, influencer collaborations, and other promotional strategies, contributing by creating engaging content that increases brand visibility, producing podcasts that build audience trust, coordinating influencer posts that expand reach, and testing promotions that optimize campaign performance.

ii.) Become a productive and contributing team member in a teamwork environment: Students will collaborate in diverse, interdisciplinary teams to design, coordinate, and execute promotional activities across multiple channels, including digital platforms and community outreach. They will learn how to contribute effectively within a structured, goal-oriented environment, actively supporting team goals by coordinating tasks, sharing creative ideas, and ensuring smooth execution of campaigns that drive measurable results.

iii.) Think critically and outside-of-the-box to achieve desired business outcomes:
The program encourages innovative problem-solving and critical thinking. Participants will develop creative marketing strategies, exploring non-traditional media such as short-form video, blogs, live discussions, and interactive content to meet and exceed marketing performance goals, generating unique campaign ideas and solutions that increase engagement, reach, and brand impact.

iv.) Exposure to and utilization of AI-ML digital marketing efforts: Students will gain firsthand experience using AI and machine learning tools to design and optimize campaigns, personalize content, and enhance social media targeting. They will apply these technologies to increase app awareness and user acquisition. For instance, they will reach out to scores of medium and large educational institutions in the territories where atmospheric pollution creates havocs & public health crisis during October and February every year, leveraging AI insights to target the right audience, improve messaging effectiveness, and drive measurable user engagement.

v.) Improve Communication Skills: Students will refine their ability to present marketing concepts through podcasts, social media storytelling, video content, and live presentations. They will reach out to schools and colleges in the regions where Ashok Wahi attended to engage them in raising awareness about pollution and strategies for reducing its impact, for example, through DAV institutions nationwide. They will also practice giving and receiving constructive feedback in collaborative team environments, enhancing their persuasive communication and audience engagement skills while effectively conveying campaign objectives.

vi.) Build Your Resume and Career: This externship will strengthen each student’s professional profile. By highlighting practical experience in running real campaigns such as social media engagement, podcasting, influencer marketing, and digital content creation, participants will stand out in the employment market for jobs or internships in marketing, AI, or Technology, demonstrating tangible results and hands-on expertise that make them competitive candidates in their chosen field.

Review Reference Material

Increase app awareness and drive installations for the AllerAid+ App. This Externship initiative will showcase Thapar University as a leading, forward-thinking institution that embraces AI-driven digital marketing. As part of this effort, students will reach out to scores of educational institutions by targeting the 4-month peak pollution season in India, aiming to generate significant user adoption and bring greater public attention to the challenges

and health impacts caused by atmospheric pollution.

5. Marketing & Promotion :

The externship coincides with the calendar of India’s largest techno-university festivals; along with major religious and year end holidays. These events will be leveraged as high-impact platforms for all farreaching digital visibility campaigns for the AllerAid+ app.

6. Externship Team Structure :

The externship will consist of six teams. Each team will be led by a Promoter (Team Lead) responsible for driving installations and public engagement, supported by five Co-Promoters in their team who provide technical, analytical, creative and execution support under the guidance conveyed by the Promoter (Team Lead).

7. Promoter (Team Lead) Role :

Promoters, or Team Leads, are the driving force behind their team’s success. They are responsible for leading and guiding their five Co-Promoters. A crucial aspect of this role is acting as the intermediate between the Senior Promoter and their team, ensuring clear communication and goal alignment. This position requires strong leadership skills, a deep sense of confidence in management, and the ability to motivate the team to achieve the ambitious goals of the externship. Promoters (Team Leads) will be encouraged from both Schools of Management and for Engineering and, from both Patiala and Dera Bassi Campuses.

8. Co-Promoter & Support Roles :

Co-Promoters are the core of each team, providing essential technical, analytical, creative, and executional support under the guidance of a Team Lead. Students will engage in hands-on work, using their skills in engineering, AI, math, communications, English, or design to run analytics, A/B testing, and optimization projects. They will be responsible for creating compelling content, executing ad campaigns, and driving campaigns into new networks and communities. This role requires a high degree of self-motivation and a willingness to be managed, as they will be working closely within a collaborative, goal-oriented environment.

9. Team Composition Requirements :

To foster a diverse and well-rounded learning environment, every team must adhere to each of the following composition guidelines for all five co-promoters on the team selected by the Promoter:

i.) Representation of both junior, and senior students

ii.) Representation of students from both genders

iii.) Minimum of 1 student from the School of Management

iv.) Student with Mathematics or English Major (Suggested)

v.) Co-promoters will be encouraged to participate from both Patiala and Dera Bassi campuses

10. How to Enroll :

The externship program will enroll 6 motivated students who will serve as Promoters (Team Leads). Each Promoter will be responsible for assembling a team of five Co-Promoters, ensuring the team meets the required composition criteria indicated above. Students who wish to become a Promoter must submit:

i.) A personal profile (1-2 paragraphs) highlighting their background, leadership qualities, relevant skills in digital marketing/AI-ML/communications/entrepreneurship, and their motivation to lead a team in this externship.

ii.) A statement (1–2 paragraphs) explaining why they see themselves as a Team Lead and outlining how they will select their 5 members/co-promoters.

iii.) A short statement (1–2 sentences) describing the credentials and potential contributions they expect from each of their five Co-Promoters.

Selections will be made based on leadership potential, creativity, and demonstrated commitment to achieving the ambitious program goals.

Team Leads who have assembled teams that meet or exceed the criteria will be eligible to start the externship program immediately, generally on a first-come, first-served basis.

Review Reference Material

11. Goals :

The externship’s primary goal is to achieve within the 20-week program, concluding on February 28, 2026.

i.) 12 million installs for AllerAid+ or 2 million installs per team.

1. Install volume driven through their channels.
2. Engagement rates (shares, comments, referrals).
3. Creative, large-reach campaign effectiveness.
4. Ability to leverage influencer and partner networks.

12. Timeline :

i.) Start Date: September 1, 2025

ii.) End Date: February 28, 2026 (allowing for December 2025 month break)

13. Incentive :

All participants will receive a Certificate of 20 weeks of Supervised Externship Completion. Top-performing teams will receive a Certificate of Excellence.
To ensure accountability, motivation, and quality utilization of the 20-week program, a performance-based stipend will also be introduced:

14. Performance Stipend :

i.) Each Promoter and Co-Promoter will receive a performance stipend of 20,000 INR, as long as they remain active, payable upon reaching 30% of the Team or Program target by November 30, 2025:

a. 30% of Team target: 600,000 installs

b. 30% of Program target: 3.6 million installs.

ii) Upon achieving the remaining 70% of the target (Team or Program), as long as they remain active, each member will be awarded another performance stipend of 25,000 INR payable by March 15, 2026.