St Xavier’s University will start a school of engineering in 2026 and introduce BTech programmes in artificial intelligence (AI) and computer science.

Vice-chancellor Father Felix Raj said they were focussing on AI because it was an emerging field with the potential to create many jobs as industries look for professionals with expertise.

The university in New Town started with courses in commerce and humanities and introduced a school of science in 2022 with courses in statistics and computer science.

The vice-chancellor said the university was in the process of developing infrastructure for the BTech courses.

It is also finalising whether to hold its own entrance test or screen students for the BTech programmes through the examination conducted by the state JEE board.

Father Felix Raj said the school of engineering will also offer a diploma course in design.

“We will start our school of engineering in 2026 with the introduction of BTech programmes in AI and computer science. The university is in the process of developing the necessary infrastructure for this. AI and machine learning are the fields which are emerging fast. We will be in touch with industry experts to frame the syllabus,” the vice-chancellor told Metro.

The university is constructing a separate building to house the BTech classes and the workshops.

Courses like artificial intelligence, data science and machine learning are fast emerging as the most sought-after disciplines in the premiere institutes of Bengal.

Ramakrishna Mission Residential College, Narendrapur, introduced an MSc course in AI and data science from the 2024-25 academic year.

The college held an industry-academia interface to learn from experts before drawing the contents for the course.

The college in Narendrapur is spending ₹50 lakh to develop an AI laboratory.

Father Dominic Savio, the principal of St Xavier’s College, Calcutta, said in the convocation held in January that the college was planning to introduce BSc in AI and data science.

At St Xavier’s University, each BTech course will have 60 students.

Father Felix Raj said the objective was to draw bright students.

An official of the state education department saidone of the reasons why universities like Jadavpur and Calcutta fail to retain many top students in their BTech courses and hold repeated counselling to fill the vacant seats with students who rank low in the state JEE, is because they don’t focus on new-age subjects like AI and machine learning.

“Today, when a promising student seeks enrolment, he or she assesses what new the institute offers. Offering courses in new-age disciplines will help these institutions attract bright students. If an institute continues to stick to traditional disciplines, they cannot progress beyond a point,” the official said.