Indian Students Win Global Recognition for AI-Powered Coding Tool for Visually Impaired Learners

Galgotias University students earn top honours at international innovation competition with inclusive STEM education project

A team of students from Galgotias University has brought international recognition to India after winning top honours at EDVentures 2026, a global innovation and entrepreneurship competition hosted by The Education University of Hong Kong, for developing an innovative coding-learning tool designed for visually impaired students.

The project, named TACTO, was created to make programming education more accessible by helping visually impaired learners understand coding concepts through touch, sensors, buttons and audio feedback. The device aims to bridge a long-standing gap in STEM education, where visually challenged students often face barriers due to the heavy reliance on screen-based learning tools.

Representing India at the global competition were students Gaurang Pant, Shristi Mandoliya, and Kavya Singh, who showcased how TACTO enables learners to explore programming through tactile interaction and sound-based responses. The innovation offers an inclusive approach to teaching coding and aligns with global efforts to make technology education accessible to all.

Hosted in Hong Kong, EDVentures 2026 brought together 19 teams from 10 countries, with participants presenting education-focused innovations linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Among the international entries, TACTO emerged as one of the standout projects, earning the team the AWS Championship Prize along with a support package worth $7,000 (approximately Rs 6.7 lakh).

Education experts say innovations such as TACTO highlight the growing role of Indian students in developing assistive technologies that promote inclusive education and digital accessibility. With coding increasingly becoming a core skill in modern education, tools that support learners with disabilities are gaining importance worldwide.

In another achievement for the university, a second student team from Galgotias University represented India at the competition through Tekurious Pvt Ltd, a startup that showcased a virtual reality-based immersive learning platform aimed at enhancing student engagement and improving classroom learning experiences.

The success of both projects reflects the increasing emphasis on innovation, entrepreneurship and inclusive education within Indian higher education institutions, while demonstrating how student-led solutions can address real-world educational challenges on a global stage.