IIT Bombay announce that AI and Data Science Now Mandatory for All Undergraduates

The Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B) has taken a significant leap forward in embracing the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Science (DS) by introducing these subjects as mandatory courses for all undergraduate students. This applies to both BTech and Bachelor of Science (BS) programs, starting from the current academic year.

Professor Deepankar Choudhury, head of the civil engineering department at IIT-B, who chaired the committee responsible for the revision of the BTech curriculum, explained the rationale behind this pioneering decision. He stated, "Earlier, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology used to be common courses that everybody had to learn. Now AI-DS is a new addition to that list in our curriculum. Whether they use it or not, everybody will get the flavor of it by being equipped with the knowledge to use it."

The committee's recommendations included the introduction of AI-DS as a common course with mandatory credit in the first semester of the second year. While all students will receive this foundational education in AI-DS, those who are particularly interested will have the option to pursue more advanced courses in the field.

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Professor Avinash Mahajan, Dean of Academics at IIT-B, emphasized the broad applicability of AI-DS. He stated, "Except the design course, which is a completely different field, the common course (AI-DS) is applicable for all Bachelor of Science (BS) courses too. We have BS in Economics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. They, of course, do a lot of data analysis."

IIT-B already boasts a center for machine learning and data science offering specialized postgraduate and PhD programs in AI and DS. The decision to introduce these subjects at the undergraduate level reflects the increasing need for AI skills across disciplines.

Choudhury emphasized the goal of providing students with essential knowledge early in their undergraduate studies. He explained, "Later, depending on their department or program requirement, they can opt for another course at a higher level which will be department-specific… so that our students are future-ready for jobs and also become successful creators of jobs."

AI and DS are not limited to computer science and electrical engineering but are increasingly relevant in other engineering branches like mechanical, civil, and aerospace. This move by IIT-B underscores the industry's growing reliance on AI and DS and the necessity of preparing students for this reality.

This decision aligns with the evolving landscape of undergraduate education at IIT-B. In a curriculum overhaul last year, the institute introduced a range of non-engineering subjects to cater to changing trends among students, including subjects like Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, Management, Entrepreneurship, and Design.

IIT-Bombay's move to make AI and DS mandatory for all undergraduates reflects the recognition of AI's transformative power across industries and the importance of equipping the future workforce with these skills.

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