Prof Prabhat Ranjan,
Vice Chancellor, DYPIU, Akurdi, Pune
I am very excited to share the story of how starting in 2018, within a short time, we have become the trendsetter in curriculum across the country! I took over as founding Vice Chancellor of D Y Patil International University(DYPIU), Akurdi, Pune in May 2018. The University got approval from the State Govt to go ahead in Middle of March 2018. Few programs were initiated in 2018 in Design, Journalism and Mass Communication, Commerce, Management, Computer Application and Biotechnology along with skills development programs in the 2018-19 academic session. University got a good response from the student community in the first year itself with all seats getting filled. As we were entering 2019, we planned to start engineering discipline from the academic year 2019-20.
During 2013-2018, I was heading India’s Technology Think Tank, TIFAC, in Delhi. During this period we prepared the “Technology Vision 2035” document for India. While preparing this, I realized that technology is changing much faster than we can imagine. It was important for India to bring appropriate mechanisms to continuously make changes in the education system to prepare students for this ever changing technology landscape.
While starting the Engineering program, I decided to focus first on Computer Science and Engineering since this is the sector that is changing very fast and no sector is left untouched by this technology. Most of the educational institutes in India have not been able to cope up with the fast changing scenario in this sector. Each new institution that starts has an opportunity to make major changes since there is no baggage to deal with.
We had internal discussions with a group of faculty on campus and based on my own experiences, we created the first template of our program. This was shared on Social Media (Facebook, LinkedIn) and it generated a lot of interest(more than 50,000 views) and a lot of feedback was received. Based on all the feedbacks, we created a 4 year B Tech Degree in Computer Science and Engineering with 10 track options in :
1. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
2. Data Science
3. Robotics and AI
4. Intelligent Transport System and Logistics with integrated MBA in Supply Chain management
5. IoT
6. Cyber Security
7. FinTech (Financial Technology) – Includes Blockchain – with integrated MBA (FinTech)
8. Bio-Informatics
9. Cloud and Systems Administration (including Data Center Management)
10. Web and Mobile Application(Covering Web 3.0, 5G applications along with Cloud Computing) – Integrated option of MDes (AR/VR/Holography/Games Design)
First two years would be common revamped curriculum and from the 3rd year they would start taking courses related to tracks. Due to space limitations, I am not able to give more details here and they can be seen on the University website(dypiu.ac.in) or on my blog site(ranjan.in). However we completely revamped the first two years of offerings including concepts such as Computational thinking, Design Thinking and hands on training using Fab Lab as well as “Lab in Bag”. Internship in each summer has also been conceived along with these to give practical exposure. To make our students “Job Creators”, Technology Commercialization and Entrepreneurship would be covered in 2nd year. We are following the international concept of “Team Teaching”. This is facilitated by offering Teaching Assistantship to Masters and PhD students. It would not be out of place to mention here that we have a unique Interdisciplinary PhD program that completely removes the barriers of discipline and leads to a much better potential for research.
We were super excited to receive appreciation letter from AICTE saying that based on deliberations in meeting of All India Board of under Graduate Studies in Engineering & Technology on Feb 21, 2019
“The Board finds the proposed approach of having two years of foundational subjects and tracks or minors letting the students pursue their area of interest, as innovative. With standardized name of the degree, there will be flexibility that tracks can be deleted or added depending on the needs of the industry/job market. Also it will be useful to effectively bridge the gap due to fast changing technology.”
Following this AICTE adopted many parts of this program that has led to countrywide improvement of CSE curriculum. This program was awarded by All India Council of Robotics and Automation for Best Academic Innovative Curriculum for Higher Education too and more recently New Code of Education Awards 2021.
Enthused by the response, we have launched more programs along this in 2020. One of them is BTech(Bioengineering) with four tracks covering: (a) Biochemical Engineering (b) Biomedical Engineering (c) Cell and Tissue Engineering and (d) Food Biotechnology.
In 2020, we also launched MBA(Digital Business) with three tracks: (a) Fintech (b) Marketing Analytics and (c) Supply Chain Management. Similarly our Bachelor of Design course offers two tracks: (a) Graphic Design and (b) User Experience Design(UX)
I would also add that our campus is one of the most green campuses in this area and the new extension for University is ultramodern and with the latest infrastructure along with fully air conditioned labs/classrooms to give the best learning experience to students.
Many students/parents are not aware of the tremendous potential that these futuristic courses offer so it is my earnest request to them to have a close look at these programs to have a secure future rather than doing outdated courses, with which they may be familiar. To end this article, I would like to share a mail that a student sent me recently after watching news of DYPIU receiving NCOE Award 2021 as winner of Private/Deemed University category on National TV channel:
“After watching this news, it was overwhelming for me. Nowadays students go for a brand and they waste their money in such colleges that have the only name and fame but not quality education. I am so happy to be a part of this University and will try my best to make you feel proud of me as a student. Thank you so much for being so supportive and D Y Patil International University has the best group of faculties I have ever seen.”
