IIT Roorkee establishes School of Data Science & Artificial Intelligence

The School will be supported by global experts from the field of Artificial Intelligence for knowledge exchange

With a vision to cater to the growing global demand for Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence experts, the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee is collaborating with the Mehta Family Foundation (MFF), USA, to establish the Mehta Family School of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two organizations was signed between Prof. Ajit K. Chaturvedi, Director, IIT Roorkee, and Rahul Mehta, Chief Executive Office, Mehta Family Foundation, USA.

Expressing his views on this international academic collaboration to address the need of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence experts, Prof. K. VijayRaghavan, Principal Scientific Advisor, Government of India, said: "Artificial Intelligence research and training is key to our future. AI technologies are critical for India and will have a significant social and economic impact in the coming years. This international academic collaboration between IIT Roorkee and MFF is a commendable effort to ensure that India continues on its innovation trajectory."

Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral Degree programs

Under this collaboration, the new School will offer Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral Degree programs. The School will welcome its first cohort of Bachelor's degree students in September 2022. The objective of this School is to develop new and skilled manpower in the areas of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence along with an aim to empower existing manpower by offering focused Trainings and Certifications in these fields.

Speaking during the event, Prof. Sandeep Verma, Secretary, Science and Engineering Research Board, Government of India, said: "I am sure this collaboration between IIT Roorkee and Mehta Family Foundation will provide a strong theoretical as well as a practical foundation to the students. IIT Roorkee is pioneering in the field of AI and Data Science and this MoU with Mehta Family Foundation will provide an additional boost in creating resource centres for knowledge and information."

Addressing the audience, Prof A.K. Chaturvedi, Director IIT Roorkee, said: "A large number of faculty of the Institute have contributed in conceiving this School. I am sure they will nurture the growth of the Mehta Family School of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at IIT Roorkee."

The School will be housed in a new dedicated building at the IIT Roorkee campus developed with the support provided by MFF. In addition to the infrastructure, renowned experts in the field of AI including Prof. Ananth Grama, Prof. Shankar Subramanium, and Prof. Rajesh Gupta, will actively participate in designing the curriculum, faculty recruitment, monitoring and suggesting new research ideas to the Indian students of this school. These experts will also facilitate MFF’s student scholarships and faculty exchange programs to make this initiative a success.

The Mehta Family School of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence focuses on being at the forefront of providing technical support to national and international projects related to the growth of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. Its other objectives include supporting the Make-in-India and Atma-Nirbhar initiatives of the Indian government by seeding entrepreneurship and startups related to Data Science and Artificial Intelligence and creating resource centres for information and knowledge sharing.

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