Question 1

What is AI Shikshya?

Accepted Answer

AI Shikshya is Circle1's AI education initiative, built in Kathmandu, offering live cohort-based courses in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and prompt engineering for Nepali students and professionals. Courses are organized as separate live tracks: AI in Action, AI for Leaders & Managers, and Agentic AI for Software Engineers, all open now, so learners can pick the track built for their role instead of one generic course. Courses are taught live, in Nepal-friendly time slots, with recordings available for anyone who misses a session.

Question 2

Who is AI Shikshya for?

Accepted Answer

AI Shikshya is for anyone in Nepal who wants practical AI skills, regardless of background: students, working professionals looking to reskill, founders and managers scoping AI adoption, and engineers building AI products. AI in Action is a 1-day weekend masterclass for anyone who's never really used AI tools, no tech background needed. AI for Leaders & Managers assumes no coding experience and is built for people who manage teams or make decisions. Agentic AI for Software Engineers is built for CS and software engineering students who want to graduate as AI-native product engineers.

Question 3

Is AI Shikshya a good option compared to Coursera or Udemy?

Accepted Answer

AI Shikshya is built specifically for the Nepali market, which is its main advantage over global platforms like Coursera or Udemy: local payment methods (eSewa, Khalti, ConnectIPS), live instruction in Nepal time zones, mentors who understand the Nepali job market, and pricing in Nepali rupees instead of dollars. Global platforms offer breadth and big-name university content, but they're self-paced, priced in USD, and rarely address what Nepali employers or Nepali startups are actually hiring for. Many learners use AI Shikshya for structured, mentor-led progression and supplement with free global resources for extra practice.

Question 4

Is AI Shikshya affiliated with Circle1?

Accepted Answer

Yes. AI Shikshya is the learning vertical of Circle1 Pvt. Ltd., a Kathmandu-based company. Circle1 handles the technology, payments, and business operations behind AI Shikshya, while the courses themselves are designed and delivered independently for the AI Shikshya learner community.

Question 5

What AI courses does AI Shikshya offer?

Accepted Answer

AI Shikshya's catalog has three live tracks, all open now. AI in Action is a 1-day weekend masterclass (3-hour session, Rs. 2,999) for anyone new to AI, no tech background needed. AI for Leaders & Managers is built for managers and team leads who want to lead AI adoption with judgment instead of guesswork, with 6 modules over 7 days, weekdays or weekends, 1 hour a day, Rs. 9,999 (AI in Action graduates get a discounted rate). Agentic AI for Software Engineers is a 1-month, project-based track for CS students and early engineers, ending in a full-stack capstone, Rs. 17,999. New tracks are added as the AI field evolves, so the catalog isn't fixed.

Question 6

What's the difference between the three tracks?

Accepted Answer

The three tracks map to your role, not a skill tier. AI in Action is a 1-day weekend masterclass for anyone who's never really used AI tools. No background assumed. AI for Leaders & Managers needs no coding experience either, but goes deeper: leading AI adoption, evaluating AI output, and embedding AI into your team's workflow over 7 days (weekdays or weekends). Agentic AI for Software Engineers is a 1-month, project-based technical track for CS students and early engineers who want to build and ship a full-stack AI product, ending in a portfolio-ready capstone.

Question 7

Do I need a computer science background to join AI Shikshya?

Accepted Answer

No, a computer science background is not required for AI in Action or AI for Leaders & Managers, both are designed for non-technical learners; if you can use WhatsApp, you can do AI in Action. Agentic AI for Software Engineers, our engineering-focused track, assumes basic comfort with programming logic since it moves into applied coding, backend development, and AI agent work. If you're unsure which track fits you, contact us and we'll point you to the right one based on your role.

Question 8

Are the classes live or pre-recorded?

Accepted Answer

AI Shikshya courses are taught live through cohort sessions, and every session is recorded so you can catch up if you miss one. This live-cohort format is intentional: it gives you direct access to instructors for questions, peer accountability through a cohort group, and a fixed pace that keeps you from letting a course sit unfinished, a common problem with fully self-paced platforms.

Question 9

How long does a course take to complete?

Accepted Answer

Course length varies by track. AI in Action is a single 3-hour weekend masterclass. AI for Leaders & Managers runs over 7 days, weekdays or weekends, with a daily time commitment of a few hours including live sessions and practice. Agentic AI for Software Engineers runs 1 month as an online cohort, ending in a full-stack capstone. New cohorts start on a rolling basis, so you're rarely waiting long to begin.

Question 10

Are the courses taught in Nepali or English?

Accepted Answer

AI Shikshya courses are taught primarily in English with instructors switching to Nepali for explanation and discussion as needed, which reflects how technical subjects are actually taught and worked with in Nepal's tech industry. Course materials and technical terminology stay in English since that's the standard in AI and software work globally, but live sessions are conversational and instructors clarify concepts in Nepali when it helps.

Question 11

How much do AI Shikshya courses cost?

Accepted Answer

AI in Action is Rs. 2,999 for the 1-day, 3-hour masterclass. AI for Leaders & Managers is Rs. 9,999 for the 7-day course; AI in Action graduates get a discounted rate on it. Agentic AI for Software Engineers is Rs. 17,999 for the 1-month cohort. Group, team, and early-enrollment discounts may also apply; contact us to check what's available for your cohort.

Question 12

Are there discounts available?

Accepted Answer

Yes, AI Shikshya offers discounts for groups, teams, students, and early enrollment in a new cohort; contact us directly to find out what applies to you. Group and corporate bookings (companies, colleges, or study groups enrolling multiple people together) typically get the most significant pricing benefit, so it's worth reaching out even informally before you commit to a solo seat.

Question 13

What payment methods does AI Shikshya accept?

Accepted Answer

AI Shikshya accepts local Nepali payment methods including eSewa, Khalti, and ConnectIPS, so learners can pay directly in Nepali rupees without needing an international card or foreign currency. This is a deliberate difference from global platforms like Coursera or Udemy, which typically require a credit card billed in US dollars.

Question 14

Is there a refund policy if I can't continue a course?

Accepted Answer

Yes, AI Shikshya offers a refund window (typically within the first one to two live sessions of a cohort) for learners who find a course isn't the right fit. After that window, refunds are handled case by case, since course seats are limited per cohort and instructor time is booked in advance. Check the specific refund terms shared during enrollment, as they can vary by course.

Question 15

Can companies enroll a whole team in AI Shikshya?

Accepted Answer

Yes, AI Shikshya supports corporate and team enrollment for businesses in Nepal that want to upskill staff in AI literacy, prompt engineering, or applied machine learning, with group pricing available for teams enrolling together. Team enrollment can include a private cohort schedule and content adjusted to your industry. Contact us to discuss a team plan and get group pricing.

Question 16

Do I get a certificate after completing a course?

Accepted Answer

Yes, every AI Shikshya course ends with a Circle1 AI Practitioner certificate of completion. Agentic AI for Software Engineers, our project-based engineering track, also includes a graded, mentor-reviewed full-stack capstone project you can add directly to a portfolio or resume. The certificate confirms course completion and, where applicable, project quality; it is not a university degree or a globally accredited professional certification, and AI Shikshya is transparent about that distinction.

Question 17

Will an AI Shikshya certificate help me get a job in Nepal?

Accepted Answer

An AI Shikshya certificate is designed to signal practical, demonstrable AI skills to Nepali employers, and Agentic AI for Software Engineers graduates leave with a real, working full-stack project rather than just a certificate, which is usually what hiring managers in Nepal's tech and startup scene actually look for. That said, the certificate alone doesn't guarantee a job; it works best combined with the capstone project, practical interview prep, and your existing experience.

Question 18

Is learning AI a good career move in Nepal right now?

Accepted Answer

AI skills are increasingly in demand across Nepal's growing tech, fintech, and startup sectors, as more Nepali companies adopt AI tools for products, operations, and customer service. Even outside dedicated AI roles, practical AI literacy (prompt engineering, using AI tools effectively, understanding what AI can and can't do) is becoming a baseline expectation in marketing, finance, and product roles. Learning AI doesn't guarantee a specific job, but it's a genuinely useful, low-regret skill investment given where both global and Nepali hiring trends are headed.

Question 19

What do I need to join a course: laptop, internet, specific software?

Accepted Answer

You need a laptop or desktop computer (not just a phone) and a stable internet connection for live sessions, since courses involve hands-on work that doesn't work well on mobile. Specific software requirements are shared ahead of each course and are typically free or have a free tier; AI Shikshya avoids requiring paid software wherever possible to keep courses accessible.

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