The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has decided to approve a Bachelor of Technology (B. Tech) course in Artificial Intelligence and data science to cater to the growing demand for skilled manpower in these technologies, said AICTE chairman Anil Dattatraya Sahasrabudhe in Chennai on Saturday.
Responding to a question during a session at a conference organised by Education Promotion Society for India (EPSI), he said a committee constituted to assess the need for offering degree programmes in technologies, which are driving the next big transformation, had approved AI and data science alone.
“Other technologies like Internet of Things, Blockchain, and Cyber Security were considered.
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“However, it was decided that we need not have full-fledged degree programmes on these now. Instead, they can be offered as specialisations,” he said.
Listing a slew of initiatives being rolled out by AICTE to improve the quality of technical education, he highlighted that a semester-long training programme for faculty members has been made mandatory.
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“All new joiners must complete this training to become eligible to teach. For those working, this is mandatory for promotions,” he said.
On the proposal to award ‘graded autonomy’ to institutions that meet certain criteria in terms of excellence, he said: “There is a meeting on September 20, where a decision will be made and implementation will happen soon after,” Mr. Sahasrabudhe added.
Governor Banwarilal Purohit, who inaugurated the conference, appealed to educational institutions to impart knowledge to institutions catering to rural and backward areas.
G. Viswanathan, president, EPSI, and founder-chancellor of VIT University, stressed on the need for increased government spending on education.