The Indian Institute of Technology in Madras (IIT-Madras) has announced an 18-month web-enabled, user-oriented Master of Technology (MTech) programme in Industrial Artificial Intelligence (AI). The course was released in collaboration with a private player to upskill working professionals and encourage the use of AI to address industrial problems.
The course will be offered online through virtual classrooms. The first cohort of students for the programme will be from private enterprises. According to the Director of IIT-Madras, V Kamakoti, the programme will use labs and include theoretical courses in fundamental mathematical techniques required to understand data science algorithms, time series analyses, multivariate data analyses, machine learning, deep learning, and reinforcement learning.
Applied courses will describe the implementation of AI solutions for industrial problems in a case study format. Put together, these courses are expected to provide a strong theoretical foundation and useful application perspectives to the participants, the Director added. In the course structure, each subject will have one mid-term and a final examination conducted online, besides project work. There will be a total of 28-30 hours of online classes every week, along with post-classroom activities, such as assignments, reading, and preparation, which could take up 20-22 hours per week.
Apart from upskilling the Indian workforce in industrial AI, the course aims to expand the country’s knowledge ecosystem, translate AI theory to practice, provide sustainable industrial solutions, and develop AI theory and pedagogical methods for AI training. Describing the programme, the course coordinator and dean of global engagement at IIT-Madras, Raghunathan Rengasamy, explained that AI is going to impact every aspect of human experience in the years to come. This course will provide a unique perspective on the impact of AI in industrial systems. Leveraging AI techniques in industries can lead to processes that are robust, inherently safer, and ultimately to environmentally-benign processes.
Earlier this month, OpenGov Asia reported that the IIT-Madras Robert Bosch Centre for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (RBC-DSAI) has invited students for the national-level ‘Summer Internships 2022’ programme. The goal is to help students gain hands-on experience working on cutting-edge discoveries, with some of the country’s leading experts in data science and AI.
RBCDSAI was established to bring a cohort of researchers together to tackle diverse challenges in big data using machine learning (ML) and AI. The centre said it was inviting exceptional undergraduates and researchers of all levels to join its ever-expanding team of researchers and make a positive societal impact through AI research. According to the website, RBCDSAI has a highly qualified team of researchers and support staff. The centre is well-equipped with the necessary infrastructure to lay down a conducive environment for researchers. It is currently working with different government organisations and industry players to provide insights and solutions to various aspects of nation-building. Students who are in the pre-final year of their fourth year (regular/full-time), under graduation (engineering or science) in any Indian university/education institution can apply.