IT Kharagpur to Offer Bachelor of Science Courses In AI & Data Science In Bengali

In a fresh move, IIT Kharagpur will now offer its four-year BS (Bachelor of Science) course in Bengali, with a consideration for the students who speak the language from India, Bangladesh and even worldwide and accord priority to the National Education Policy 2020.

Statement By IIT Kharagpur Director Suman Chakraborty

"Now the need and significance of modern courses such as Artificial Intelligence or AI, Data Science, and Electronic Systems are great. They can be completed online or through NPTEL (National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning). This time we have initiated offering these courses in Bengali," IIT Kharagpur Director Suman Chakraborty explained.

As the director states, if one studies the courses for four years, they will be awarded a BS degree (which is equivalent to BTech and BSc). There is also the benefit of obtaining a diploma or certificate degree through short courses, which will also be available in Bengali.

Earlier this year, there were discussions between IIT Kharagpur Director Chakraborty and IIT Madras Director V. Kamakoti on how to jointly manage these BS degrees or NPTEL courses. After the discussion, a team from IIT Madras' NPTEL and BS programmes at high level visited IIT Kharagpur last Friday to hold a meeting.

Sources indicated that the matter of imparting the BS (Bachelor of Science) course in local or regional languages ​​via NPTEL was debated, with consideration for the interest of the students from marginalised sections and those who are not proficient in English. Professor Chakraborty suggested that IIT Kharagpur is interested in providing BS degree, diploma and certificate courses in AI, Data Science in the Bengali language. Likewise, he also suggested translating the courses into the Bengali language.

But the technical portion will also have to be taught in English. In accordance with the IIT Kharagpur director, the institute possesses qualified professors to translate and educate such courses into Bengali. They are very adept in Bengali as well as English.