Guwahati: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati’s Mehta Family School of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (MFSDS&AI) has marked a significant academic milestone with the graduation of its first batch of BTech students in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.
The Mehta Family School of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (MFSDS&AI) at IIT-Guwahati was launched in 2021, with the School being one of the first in the IIT system to introduce a dedicated undergraduate programme in Data Science and AI.
The 2021–2025 cohort is the institute’s first group of undergraduates to complete the programme, which was introduced in collaboration with the Mehta Family Foundation (MFF).
According to IIT Guwahati, the initiative was launched before the recent global rise in AI applications, with the aim of creating a structured academic foundation for future data and AI professionals.
Over four years, students were trained through a mix of mathematics, science, computer science, and engineering courses, alongside specialised modules in artificial intelligence and data-driven systems.
According to IIT Guwahati’s official placement data, 91 per cent of students from the inaugural batch have been placed. Out of 22 students, 20 received offers from multinational companies such as Google, Microsoft, and Warner Bros Discovery, while one student will pursue higher studies at Carnegie Mellon University in the United States. Two students opted out of the recruitment process.
Professor Devendra Jalihal, Director of IIT Guwahati said that the programme’s outcomes validate the relevance of data science and AI in the current employment landscape and reflect the preparedness of graduates to contribute to the sector.
The curriculum included a year-long project component that involved students working on topics such as Deepfake detection, large language model automation, multimodal healthcare systems, and robotics. Several of these projects have been published or are under review in academic conferences and journals. Students also participated in national-level competitions including the Inter-IIT Tech Meet, Amazon ML Challenge, and Citadel Terminal, among others.
The School’s faculty team comprises over 25 members with research interests in areas such as healthcare AI, sustainable finance, and neuro-inspired computing. Faculty members have received funding support from agencies including the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and the Indo-Dutch Merian Fund.International advisors from institutions such as MIT, Purdue University, the University of California San Diego, and the University of Oklahoma have also contributed to the School’s academic development and research collaborations.
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In addition to the BTech programme, the School offers MTech PhD, and Online BSc (Hons.) courses in Data Science and AI. According to an official statement, IIT Guwahati and the Mehta Family Foundation aim to expand the School’s role as a centre for advanced AI research and education.
