Calicut University to add AI and Computing to its undergraduate and postgraduate courses

Calicut University is planning to undertake comprehensive changes to its undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) courses. The university will incorporate Artificial Intelligence (AI) and fundamental computing knowledge into these courses. According to a report by The Hindu, these academic reforms are being implemented considering the rapid changes in the global employment market and the increasing trend of students going abroad for higher education.

Speaking at an expert committee meeting on 'New Generation Programmes and Curriculum Strategy' held on Thursday, Vice-Chancellor P. Ravindran stated that these reforms will be implemented using the university's existing infrastructure. He clarified that these changes will not lead to any increase in the current workload of the teachers. However, these reforms will be implemented only after receiving approval from bodies such as the Syndicate and the Academic Council.

The expert committee is being led by K. George Thomas, a former professor of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram. Mr. Thomas stated that while reforming the curriculum, the rules and frameworks established by national and state-level educational institutions, including the Kerala State Higher Education Council, University Grants Commission (UGC), All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), will be strictly followed.

To ensure that students receive technical education and that there is no additional burden on teachers, 'Massive Open Online Courses' (MOOCs) will be launched in Malayalam and English languages. Pro Vice-Chancellor P. Rashid Ahmed stated that this initiative is part of the expansion of new generation academic programmes. He further added that the repository of new courses prepared by the expert committee will be published by next month, which will allow affiliated colleges to evaluate and select appropriate courses as per their requirements.

Other dignitaries, including Syndicate members T.M. Vasudevan and A.K. Shahina Mol, K.P. Soman, Dean of the School of Artificial Intelligence at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, and N. Mohammedali, Director of the College Development Council, were present at this important meeting.