While AI was being taught as a part of Indian Institute’s curriculum for long time, it got its deserved place as a separate stream more recently. As Facebook showed photo of a meeting held at AICTE in 2017, I thought it would be good to write out the story for others to know.
At TIFAC, we had worked upon Technology Vision 2035 ( a set of 13 documents, consisting of a Main Vision document for India along with road maps for 12 sectors of importance such as Education, Healthcare, Energy etc.). See my blog on this at Making and Launching of Technology Vision 2035.
In April 2017, a committee was formed by AICTE to help in “Preparing Short & Medium Term Perspective Plan for Engineering Education in India”. Here is the photograph of the first committee meeting in AICTE HQRS in Delhi in May 2017.
Later on, the committee was modified a bit and industry partners were brought in that released the final report. Here are a couple of snapshots of few recommendations made in the report.
After completion of my tenure at TIFAC in April 2018, I joined D Y Patil International University(DYPIU), Akurdi, Pune as its Founder Vice-Chancellor. As DYPIU became operational on March 14, 2018, few programs were started before I joined. However, the engineering program was not started.
As a founder Vice-Chancellor, I had both challenges and opportunities. With technology changing faster than expected and the academic curriculum very slow to change, the gap was widening. Changes were happening at the time scale of 1-2 years and even before a student graduates, technology would have changed.
Based on my earlier experiences as a Scientist and Professor(Please see my blog My Experience with the First “Greenfield” University of Reliance) as well as Head of India’s Technology Think Tank, after internal discussions, I shared a completely revamped B Tech (Computer Science and Engg.) curriculum based on a multi-track specialization system. This was shared with the public at large including social media for feedback and there was a huge response. Please see my blog on this for details: Award Winning Next Generation B Tech(Comp Sci and Engg) at D Y Patil Int Univ, Akurdi, Pune
While details about the program are given in the blog above, basically, it was a 4 year B Tech Degree program in Computer Science and Engineering with 10 track options in :
1. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
2. Data Science
3. Robotics and AI
4. Intelligent Transport System and Logistics with integrated MBA in Transport/Logistics Management
5. IoT
6. Cyber Security
7. FinTech (Financial Technology) – Includes Blockchain – with integrated MBA (Financial Management)
8. Bio-Informatics
9. Cloud and Systems Administration (including Data Center Management)
10. Web and Mobile Application(Covering Web 3.0, 5G applications along with Cloud Computing) – Integrated option of MDes (AR/VR/Holography/Games Design)
Specialization tracks were to be chosen after completion of foundational courses in the first two years. Foundational courses were also revamped completely in view of many changes that have taken place in both academic structures as well as technology changes. Some of these were Computational Thinking, Design Thinking, Technology Commercialization and Entrepreneurship, Fab Lab, Python as the programming language of choice, integrated electronics, communication, embedded systems, AI etc. A unique “Lab in the Bag” concept was introduced to make students comfortable working on hardware from home too as they do for software.
Details of the program were shared with AICTE to see how they respond to this concept. I was pleasantly surprised to see an appreciation letter coming from AICTE based on their 8th meeting of the All India Board of Under Graduate Studies in Engineering & Technology on Feb 19, 2021. The letter read as –
“Your proposal was placed before the 8th meeting of All India Board of under Graduate Studies in Engineering & Technology decided as under:
The Board finds the proposed approach of having two years of foundational subjects and tracks or minors letting the students pursue their area of interest, as innovative. With standardized name of the degree, there will be flexibility that tracks can be deleted or added depending on the needs of the industry/ job market. Also it will be useful to effectively bridge the gap due to fast changing technology. It is suggested that name of track chosen by students be specified in the degree, in bracket.”
This was a piece of very happy news and showed the flexibility our regulatory authorities were willing to demonstrate. This program was also awarded by All India Council of Robotics and Automation for Best Academic Innovative Curriculum for Higher Education in 2019.
What followed was even more interesting – AICTE formed a committee to suggest new UG courses in emerging areas of technology. The committee was also entrusted to revise the model UG curriculum of Computer Science and Engg.
I was also made a member of this committee. Based on deliberations of this committee and follow up actions by AICTE, a number of UG courses were initiated by AICTE in 2020-21 academic year. A number of these were influenced by what we had started in 2019-20 academic year at DYPIU. This can be seen in this screenshot.
At our end, we successful launch of Muti-track BTech(CSE) program, we initiated BTech(Bioengineering) and MBA(Digital Business) programs in 2020-21 along the same pattern. Bioengg program is covered in blog: DYPIU Launches Multitrack Futuristic BTech(Bioengineering) Program.
AICTE moved one more step and formed a committee to set up IDEA Labs across the country on the pattern of Fab Lab. I was requested to Chair the National Steering Committee for this purpose. Committee members have been very dedicated to this game-changing work, which can lead to much better skills among engineering graduates and the capability to design products and improve the manufacturing sector of the country.
DYPIU was also recognized to be the winner of New Code of Education Awards 2021(NCOE) for its effort to transform Comp Sci and Engg curriculum on March 19, 2021 in Private/Deemed Univ category. The jury members consisted of Dr Anil Sahasrabudhe(Chairman, AICTE), Dr Pankaj Mittal(Secretary General, AIU), and Dr Prem Singh (Advisor, Higher Education, NITI Aayog).
With a path-breaking National Education Policy 2020 and flexible regulatory system supported by appropriate socio-cultural practices, India would be moving ahead on the path to a better quality of life as envisioned in Technology Vision 2035.
[PS: Following this post on May 20, 2021, we received one more award in the form of “Most Emerging Educational Institute of the Year” on June 22, 2021 during an online event from Dr Anil Sahasrabudhe, Chairman, AICTE. Jury members for this award were Dr Anil Sahasrabudhe(Chairman, AICTE), Dr Pankaj Mittal(Secretary General, AIU), and Dr. Indrajit Bhattacharya
Director, NABET- QCI. See the video below. All of this further strengthens our resolve to continue forward on our journey to keep innovating in the education sector.]
Very fabulous thing ,krantikari,
i suppose such idea for you was easy, to make better future.