BITS Pilani has revised its undergraduate curriculum to respond to the growing role of artificial intelligence in education and work, while giving students greater flexibility in choosing subjects and pursuing research, industry projects and other activities.
V Ramgopal Rao, group vice chancellor of BITS Pilani and former director of IIT Delhi, said the new curriculum combines science, engineering and computing with subjects in the humanities and arts. Students will also have opportunities to study design thinking, entrepreneurship and work on practical problems.
The revised programme places greater emphasis on research and project work. Rao said the institute had strengthened its Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme, along with Advanced UROP and Super UROP.
Under these programmes, students can work on societal problems and receive funding to develop and test solutions as part of their curriculum.
The Practice School programme will provide industry mentorship, while entrepreneurship pathways will allow students to take their ideas further, Rao said.
NEWS AREAS OF STUDY
The revised curriculum includes artificial intelligence, data science, software construction, quantum information and computation, astronomy and materials chemistry.
Students will also have greater scope to take interdisciplinary elective courses and explore subjects beyond their primary areas of study.
BITS Pilani said it has spent more than Rs 50 crore this year on upgrading undergraduate laboratories at its Pilani, Goa and Hyderabad campuses.
The new curriculum also introduces a Points of Experience framework covering physical and mental wellbeing, social conduct and community engagement.
Students will be required to complete 30 Points of Experience, equivalent to about 60 hours of activities. These include fitness, creative pursuits, wellbeing workshops, social conduct and community engagement.
The activities will be recognised through experience points rather than academic credits.
Rao said the curriculum changes were made in response to the impact of AI on education as well as concerns over student mental health.
The revised structure therefore gives students a combination of disciplinary study, interdisciplinary electives, research and project work, industry exposure and structured activities outside conventional academic credits.
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