NST’s BTech in AI Equips Students with Skills in NLP and Generative AI: Co-Founder Siddharth Maheshwari

In an exclusive interview with Shiksha.com, co-founder Siddharth Maheshwari discussed the BTech program in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, shedding light on the institute’s efforts to continually update the curriculum to stay in sync with the fast-evolving technological landscape and industry needs.

In today’s rapidly evolving tech industry, staying ahead of the curve requires continuous upskilling. Newton School of Technology (NST), founded in 2023, offers a four-year, on-campus BTech program in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence. The institute provides an industry-aligned curriculum designed to meet the ever-changing demands of the tech world.

Below are the excerpts from Shiksha’s interview with co-founder Siddharth Maheshwari, Newton School of Technology

Q: How is Newton School of Technology preparing students to meet the demands of the rapidly evolving AI landscape?

Answer: Newton School of Technology (NST), founded in 2023, offers a four-year on-campus BTech in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence. The curriculum blends foundational AI concepts with advanced technologies like deep learning, generative AI, and NLP. Emphasizing industry-relevant skills, project-based learning, and one-on-one mentorship, NST empowers students to solve real-world problems. With a focus on innovation, critical thinking, and hands-on application, NST goes beyond theory to foster practical expertise in AI. The interactive, digital-driven teaching approach ensures immersive learning, bridging the gap between academia and industry needs.

Q: What unique AI-focused programs or courses does the school offer, and how are they tailored to industry needs?

Answer: With one-of-a-kind BTech in computer science and Artificial intelligence, we offer students an updated, industry-ready curriculum to meet the evolving demands of the tech industry. With a successful track record of placing first-year students in internships with a stipend as high as INR 1.25 lakh and an average of INR 30,000 per month, NST’s course is designed for exposure and intelligence to adapt and acquire practical skills needed to excel in high-demand domains. Some of our AI-driven products include AI Resume Evaluator- Optimizing resumes for industry standards, AI CodeLens- enhancing coding proficiency with intelligent feedback, AI Tryouts for efficient student and teacher time management, are not only make the system more efficient but simulate real-world problem-solving scenarios.

 

Q: Can you share any specific research projects or collaborations in AI that Newton School is currently involved in?

Answer: NST fosters creativity and competency through research and impactful collaborations. Recently, in partnership with ISRO-URSC Bangalore, we organized a 10-day AI challenge for scientists, including a 3-day intensive training with top AI experts from IITs and industry. Our second-year students, in collaboration with IIT Roorkee, are developing an AI platform to help underprivileged students and job seekers find relevant resources. Our innovative AI project, CODELENS, is enhancing learning potential, and earning recognition from industry leaders for its impact and approach.

 

Q: What skills or qualities are essential for students to excel in AI-related careers, and how is the curriculum structured to cultivate these?

Answer: To excel in the competitive industry it's critical to adopt a 360-degree approach and curriculum with a combination of critical thinking, technical proficiency, and adaptability. With hands-on projects on real-world case scenarios, we at NST, enable students for a structured and analytical mindset. With a focus on mathematical rigour, we inculcate the foundation for essential concepts like reasoning, probability, linear algebra, and statics. With a strong focus on programming skills, we offer students the opportunity to excel in languages such as Python, SQL, TensorFlow, PyTorch, and deployment platforms like Docker for handling diverse AI applications. Exposing students to agile development methodologies fosters adaptability to thrive in dynamic ecosystems.

 

Q: What is the admission process at Newton School of Technology?

Answer: The process is designed to identify high-potential students regardless of their prior background. With selective student intake and a carefully designed admission process, we identify potential students and evaluate their readiness for a tech-focused education. Students have to first appear for our thoughtfully designed aptitude test NSAT (Newton School Aptitude Test), followed by a personal interview. NSAT is designed to evaluate problem-solving abilities and critical thinking whereas personal interview is focused on students’ ambition, drive and commitment to succeed.

 

Q: What are the key areas within AI (e.g., NLP, robotics, computer vision) that Newton School prioritises, and why?

Answer: NST prioritises industry-relevant education by collaborating with mentors and leaders to shape our curriculum. Emphasizing foundational skills in AI, we focus on key areas like Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Computer Vision, which are critical for industries such as e-commerce, healthcare, and autonomous vehicles. These in-demand skills enable students to excel in high-growth careers. Additionally, our focus on Generative AI prepares students for creative and automation-driven applications, equipping them to thrive in the competitive tech landscape.

 

Q: How does Newton School engage with tech companies and industry partners to ensure that students gain practical, hands-on experience in AI?

Answer: NST partners with tech companies to offer students live industry projects, working with real datasets to gain hands-on AI experience. Students participate in global tech events, hackathons, AI challenges, conferences, study trips, and internships, bridging the gap between theory and practice. Notable achievements include first-year students qualifying for ICPC regionals, Mehak Jain securing a 1.25 lakh internship through Google Summer of Code 2024, and three students attending the HPAIR 2024 Conference in Bangkok. Over 30 first-year students earned paid internships, and one student was selected for the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Innovation Walk. Through these initiatives, NST prepares students with cutting-edge AI skills for the future.

 

Q: What future developments or trends in AI do you believe students should be aware of, and how is Newton School positioned to address these?

Answer: Generative AI, ethical AI frameworks, autonomous systems, and scalable AI infrastructure are emerging trends in the technology landscape that we focus on. In an ever-evolving industry, it is important to constantly upskill and stay ahead of the curve. With emerging trends, we ensure our curriculum is updated and students are equipped with skills and necessary knowledge in the tech landscape. As an educational institute, we truly believe it is our responsibility to focus on the importance of ethical use of technology. With a responsible approach towards technology, we place a strong emphasis on morally correct application. We are not only focused on integrating future-ready education but also building the future leaders of tech.

 

Q: Could you elaborate on the types of companies that partner with the Newton School for recruitment and the roles typically offered to graduates?

Answer: With over 2000 hiring partners and 3000+ successful placements in tech giants such as Google, Microsoft, and Amazon, including others, we help organisations with quality recruitment and industry-ready professionals. Since our course offerings primarily focus on Data Science and artificial intelligence, we have placed students in roles like Data Scientists, AI Engineers, Machine Learning Spelcialists, and AI Product Analysts. With a constant focus on industry readiness and technology, we train students for cutting-edge technologies and professional roles to meet the dynamic industry demands.

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