IIT Madras launches BTech in AI and Data Analytics; admissions open through JEE Advanced

NEW DELHI: The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has launched a BTech in Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics and will admit students from the upcoming academic year 2024-25. The institute will offer admission to the BTech programme through the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced 2024 exam. The Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JOSAA) counselling 2024 for the 2024 batch is currently underway at josaa.nic.in.

There will be a total intake of 50 students in the new course. The Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI, established with an endowment of Rs 110 crore by Sunil Wadhwani, a distinguished alumnus of IIT Madras and the co-founder of IGATE and Mastech Digital, is offering the course. “The vision is to be among the top AI-focused schools worldwide and also advise the government and policymakers on data science and AI-related policy areas,” the institute said in an official statement.

The engineering programme aims to provide expertise in diverse aspects of AI and data analytics, offering a complete view of its applications across industries. It will emphasize on math fundamentals, data science/AI/machine learning foundations, application development and responsible design besides a distinct interdisciplinary flavor.

The BTech programme will offer academic flexibility, allowing students to customise their learning journey through a wide range of electives from within the department and outside. From studying speech and language technology and computer vision to exploring applications in control and detection and time-series analysis, students can delve deeper into areas of personal passion and interest.

Highlights of BTech AI and Data Analytics

Highlighting the programme, professor V Kamakoti, director, IIT Madras, said, “AI is evolving across engineering, science and humanities disciplines. It is extremely important to understand these multi-disciplinary connections to be successful in this field. The BTech in AI and Data Analytics is uniquely positioned to address this aspect. It is the first of its kind in the world. The curriculum has evolved based on the experience gained by our faculty over more than a decade. Through this offering, IITM aspires to produce top-notch AI professionals, entrepreneurs and researchers who can take up with great confidence the grand AI challenges in the evolving market.”

Highlighting the aspects that make this programme unique, professor B Ravindran, head, Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI, said, “AI is at a point where computer science was 30 years back. Artificial Intelligence is going to be a very transformative technology and will be the defining technological development of this generation, and perhaps another generation to come. The flagship program is going to be the undergraduate program - The B.Tech. in AI and Data Analytics. We will ensure that the students know enough about the fundamentals of AI so that they can pick up things on their own if they want to get into a research career.”

Also read IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi launches 2 BTech programmes, new entrance exam for UAE

The core curriculum of the BTech programme has been designed to provide a comprehensive foundation in AI and data analytics, covering a diverse range of subjects such as foundational courses in linear algebra and calculus, specialized modules in machine learning, deep learning, and reinforcement learning.

Furthermore, practical experience has been inculcated in the curriculum through laboratory sessions, workshops, and real-world projects, ensuring students graduate not only receive theoretical knowledge but also get hands-on expertise ready for immediate application in the industry.