Mumbai-based Vivekanand Education Society's College of Architecture (VESCOA) has formalised a partnership with computational design practice rat[LAB] to provide 100 architecture students with hands-on experience across real-world projects in parametric design, computational design, and artificial intelligence applications in architecture.

Business News This Week reported that the collaboration is designed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and professional practice, equipping graduates with skills increasingly demanded by architecture and built environment firms integrating advanced digital tools into their design and delivery workflows.

Under the partnership, students will work directly on live projects and case-based assignments alongside rat[LAB] industry experts, gaining practical exposure to the tools, workflows, and methodologies shaping contemporary architectural practice.

Anand Achari, principal of VESCOA, said practical exposure is essential in shaping future architects as it enables students to engage with real-world challenges beyond the classroom, adding that collaborations of this kind build stronger problem-solving capabilities using advanced technologies and ensure students are better prepared for professional practice in the digital era.

Sushant Verma, founder of rat[LAB], said the partnership marks a significant step toward strengthening the role of computational and parametric design education within architectural academia, and that students will gain access to cutting-edge tools, workflows, and methodologies that bridge the gap between design exploration and real-world execution.

VESCOA has previously partnered with organisations including Folds Design Studio, IFC, USGBC, IGBC, and EDS, integrating practical modules and industry interactions into its curriculum.

The partnership highlights a wider shift within architectural education globally, as institutions respond to growing demand from practices and developers for graduates proficient in computational design, parametric modelling, and AI-assisted workflows as the built environment sector accelerates its adoption of digital delivery methods.

Read the full report on the VESCOA and rat[LAB] collaboration and its implications for architectural education.