The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has announced an endowment of Rs. 110 crore from distinguished alumnus Mr. Sunil Wadhwani. The generous contribution is earmarked for establishing the Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI, making it one of the largest gifts ever bestowed by an alumnus upon an educational institution in India. On January 30, Mr Sunil Wadhwani and Prof. V. Kamakoti, the Director of IIT Madras, signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) formalising this momentous donation. Renowned scholars, teachers, students, and alumni were present for the occasion.
The Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI aims to become a global leader in AI-focused education. In addition to offering state-of-the-art academic programmes, the school hopes to give government and policymakers insightful information on Data Science and AI-related policies.
The Wadhwani Institute of Sustainable Healthcare (WISH Foundation) and the Wadhwani Institute of Artificial Intelligence (WIAI) are two organisations that Mr. Sunil Wadhwani has supported over the years. Scientific research, social welfare, and affordable healthcare were promoted through his family foundation, the Wadhwani Impact Trust.
The Director of IIT Madras, Prof. V. Kamakoti, underlined how important it is to have a school like this in the age of Industry 4.0. He stated, “With the advent of Industry 4.0, wherein AI and Data Science are the main movers, the need for a school for Data Science and AI is critical.” The interdisciplinary nature of the school involves faculty from various departments collaborating on niche areas, including Responsible AI.
Co-founder of Mastech Digital and IGATE, Mr Sunil Wadhwani, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to support his alma mater. He emphasised the necessity for a dedicated institution that focuses on basic and applied data science and artificial intelligence research. Mr. Wadhwani highlighted his affiliation with IIT Madras as a proud alumnus, acknowledging India’s potential to be a global leader in these sectors.
Along with joint programmes with the University of Birmingham in the UK, BTech and MTech programmes, MS and PhD programmes, an International Interdisciplinary Masters Programme, and more will be offered by the Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI. The first admissions are scheduled for July 2024.
Prof. Mahesh Panchagnula, Dean of Alumni and Corporate Relations at IIT Madras thanked Mr Wadhwani for his unwavering support and emphasised the impending influence of the School on the international scene.
Similarly, the multidisciplinary vision was presented by Prof. B. Ravindran, the founding head of the school, who emphasised the importance of collaboration between AI researchers and domain specialists. “Data Science and AI are inherently interdisciplinary fields. The Wadhwani School will enable close collaboration between domain experts and AI researchers to develop solutions that integrate AI with existing approaches,” he added.
IIT Madras will be at the forefront of data science and artificial intelligence thanks to extensive research. Healthcare, agriculture, smart cities and transportation, energy and environment, manufacturing, systems biology, education, and defence are among the areas in which the school conducts applied research.
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