The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has received Rs 110 crore endowment today from Sunil Wadhwani towards setting up the Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI.

Sunil Wadhwani is an alumnus of IIT Madras and the co-founder of IGATE and Mastech Digital.

With a vision to be among the top AI-focused schools worldwide, Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI also aims to advise the government and policymakers on data science and AI-related policy areas. The MoU was signed today between Sunil Wadhwani and Prof V Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, in the presence of faculty, students, alumni, and researchers. 

Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI will offer the following courses:

–  BTech programme in AI and Data Analytics

–  MTech programme in Data Science and AI

–  MS & PhD Programmes in Data Science and AI

–  Joint MSc in Data Science and AI with the University of Birmingham, UK

–  International Interdisciplinary Masters Programme in Data Science

–  Interdisciplinary Dual Degree in Data Science

–  Web-enabled MTech in Industrial AI

Admissions to the programmes will start in July 2024. The school will also run a Joint MSc in Data Science and AI with the University of Birmingham, UK, and will admit 30 students and an international interdisciplinary masters programme, an IIT Madras statement said.

Highlighting the need for such a school, Prof V Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said, “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. IIT Madras has started this highly interdisciplinary school involving faculty from many departments joining hands to work on niche areas, including Responsible AI. I also express my deep gratitude to Sunil Wadhwani and his family for sponsoring this School with a generous donation through their foundation, which is close to Rs 110 crore.”