Over the next five years, the university plans to raise ₹250 crore to support the expansion of the school, fund cutting-edge research, and attract top-tier faculty and students from across the world.
ASAC is designed to go beyond traditional computer science, embedding AI and computing into the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and entrepreneurship. The goal is to develop future leaders who possess not only technical expertise but also a deep understanding of the social, ethical, and historical implications of technology.
Ashoka University’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Somak Raychaudhury, said that ASAC represents a reimagination of computer science education, fostering an interdisciplinary, research-driven approach to addressing the complex challenges of modern times.
To equip students for the evolving digital landscape, ASAC will introduce a range of innovative academic programs. These include Computer Science and Mathematics, Computer Science, Economics and Mathematics, Computer Science and Philosophy, and Computer Science and Entrepreneurship. Future offerings will expand into Cognitive Science, Digital Health, and AI & Data Science.
The school will house several Centres of Excellence that will drive high-impact research at the intersection of technology and society. The Centre for Data Science and Analytics will aggregate large-scale datasets for AI-driven research, while the SafeExpress Centre for Data, Learning & Decision Sciences will focus on AI applications in climate modeling, financial fraud detection, and infectious disease simulations.
The Centre for Digitalisation, AI & Society will explore the ethical, social, and regulatory implications of AI, and the Koita Centre for Digital Health will lead advancements in digital healthcare and AI-driven genomics research.
ASAC has already attracted top-tier faculty from leading institutions such as IITs, ISI, Stanford, UPenn, MIT, and Yale. The school aims to continue bringing in world-class PhD students, postdoctoral scholars, and faculty members to build a robust research ecosystem. An Advisory Board comprising global experts from institutions like MIT, Stanford, Yale, and IITs will guide ASAC’s strategic vision.
Pramath Sinha, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Ashoka University, emphasised that ASAC is a significant step toward pushing the boundaries of computational sciences. By integrating AI with social sciences and humanities, the university aims to develop a new generation of computational thinkers who can engage meaningfully with the world’s most pressing challenges.
With this initiative, Ashoka University is positioning itself as a leader in India’s AI-driven digital transformation, shaping the future of technology and its societal impact.
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(Edited by : Anand Singha)
