Engg colleges get future-ready, to teach AI, cyber security

UPDATED VERSION

Engg colleges get future-ready, to teach AI, cyber security

Institutions To Collaborate With Industry, Train Faculty And Set Up Centres Of Excellence

15.07.2020

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

More than 60 engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu will offer new degree programmes in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence and data science, cyber security, computer science and business systems, and machine learning from 2020-21.

Of the 536 engineering colleges, more than 50 colleges, both autonomous and affiliated, will offer BTech in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, a course which colleges believe will attract both students and companies. Another new course, BTech Computer Science and Business Systems, which plans to introduce management science to computer science students, is also gaining popularity among the colleges.

Colleges are trying to train their faculty members for emerging areas by entering MoUs with IT majors and setting up centres of excellence on their campuses.

RMK Engineering College is introducing two new courses -- BTech in Computer Science and Business Systems, and BTech in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science.

“Students will learn computer science along with business in BTech in CSBS. We are in the process of signing an MoU with TCS. They will provide syllabus and training to our faculty members. They will also offer internships to the students,” said R M Kishore, vice-chairman of RMK Engineering College.

The college is planning to establish an artificial intelligence lab in partnership with Cognizant. Anna University has provided syllabus for BTech in AI and Data Science.

Sri Sairam College of Engineering is planning to offer these two UG courses. “Students are showing more interest in joining courses in emerging areas. CSBS course is equivalent to the technology management course offered in the foreign universities. Students will get exposure to both technical and management domains in the course,” said K Maran, director of the college.

Valliammai Engineering College will offer BTech and MTech in cyber security along with BTech AI and data science.

“For all new programmes in emerging areas, computer science is the base. So, cyber security will have 70%to 80% syllabus from computer science engineering. There will be four or five new courses related to cyber security in the third and fourth year,” said B Chidambararajan, principal of the college.

“A report from NASSCOM said there will be big demand for engineers in the cyber security field for next few years,” he said.

Anna University approved the syllabus for BTech in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science. “Some of the courses have been introduced in affiliated and autonomous colleges. For autonomous colleges, we are allowing new courses approved by AICTE,” said M K Surappa, vicechancellor of Anna University.

For affiliated colleges, the university is planning to introduce specializations where students would study in a particular area in their final semesters. “Students will have broad options if they choose standard degree programmes instead of specialized programmes at UG level,” he said.

TAKING A CALL: An engineering counselling in progress in Chennai