Known for its revolutionary applications, from healthcare to finance, or even transportation and education, Artificial intelligence has emerged as a transformative technology. Recognizing this demand, and with a clear aim of letting AI enthusiasts get a deeper dive into the real world of AI, colleges and universities are increasingly offering courses and programs dedicated to this cutting-edge field. Thadomal Shahani Engineering College (TSEC) takes a clear lead in this pursuit, getting identified as the emerging institute for its opportunities evolving in the realm of Artificial Intelligence.
Founded about a decade ago, TSEC began offering a 4-year course in Artificial Intelligence with a capacity of 120 students in 2020. “We succeeded in extensively integrating Machine Learning, Deep Learning, and Natural Language Processing into the Computer Engineering, Information Technology, and Electronics & Telecommunication branches, resulting in widespread competency development among all students to varying degrees,” shared Dr. G. T. Thampi, the Principal of the Tech Institute.
Advancing AI Education and Research
Offering a 4-year B.E program in Artificial Intelligence & Data Science, TSEC tries its best to help students to keep them updated on the latest technology practices. Their ongoing academic research, leading to Ph.D. degrees from the University of Mumbai, covers a diverse range of topics spanning various industries and applications. These include Intelligent Robotic Process Automation in the Indian Automotive Industry, Modeling Futuristic E-governance Practices Leveraging Deep Learning Techniques, AI-Driven CRM Services for Digital Commerce Platforms, and many others.
To support these initiatives, TSEC has successfully procured a large number of NVIDIA chip-embedded machines for number crunching. These machines facilitate learners in conducting a wide range of training, including those related to Neural networks, Generative Adversarial Neural networks, and reinforced learning. Currently, the college is also engaged in research on Large Language Models and Visual Language models, with patents filed by both faculty and students.
Some notable projects and patents include the development of AI-based COBOTS for manufacturing cars and automotive parts in the Indian Automotive Industry. Additionally there is an onboard framework and a process formulated for accommodating various learning styles and abilities through customized instructional content. Furthermore, the faculty actively contributes to the literature of AI, with a total of 160 publications in journals and conference proceedings.
Redefining Infrastructural Brilliance
Coming to the infrastructural part of TSEC, the tech institute is equipped with multiple centers of excellence laboratories featuring high-end computational machines for faster number crunching and neural network training. Additionally, they heavily leverage open-source software tools for project work and other exercises. Students are provided with unrestricted access to high-end desktop machines with GPU/CPU for carrying out regular exercises and project work. The college also accesses educational content from the public domain and relies heavily on research journals to access the latest literature on fast-evolving language models.
In the Days to Come
Going down the line, the college is currently looking forward to organizing funded projects for various identified use cases aimed at developing solutions and APIs for cost and quality arbitrage for enterprises aligning with the United States. TSEC is also planning to establish widespread collaboration with institutes of higher learning to build synergies for productive and early outcomes. Furthermore, they are committed to allocating all resources to meet the demands of the AI market, which is projected to grow annually at a rate of 28.46% from 2024 to 2030, resulting in a market volume of US$826.70 billion by 2030.
Dr. G T Thampi – Principal
Dr. G. T. Thampi, is a distinguished academician and researcher with over 34 years of experience in renowned educational institutions. With a Ph.D. degree in Technology, Dr. Thampi has made significant contributions to the field of engineering education, particularly in the areas of business process and reengineering. His expertise and guidance have played a pivotal role in shaping the research landscape and expanding the existing body of knowledge in technology.
Dr. G. T. Thampi’s research endeavors have been marked by innovation and scholarly rigor. He has conducted several interesting research projects, focusing on business process and reengineering in the realm of engineering education. His research outcomes have not only contributed to the theoretical framework of the discipline but have also provided practical insights for educational institutions.
Furthermore, Dr. Thampi’s dedication to research supervision is evident through his role as a guide for multiple research scholars in the technology field. Under his mentorship, 20 research scholars have successfully obtained their Ph.D. degrees, showcasing his commitment to fostering a culture of research and academic excellence.
