- BITS Pilani revises its undergraduate curriculum with greater focus on AI, interdisciplinary learning, research, industry exposure and student wellbeing, including 60 hours of structured experience-based activities.
The Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani has redesigned its undergraduate curriculum to prepare students for the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI), placing greater emphasis on interdisciplinary learning, research, industry exposure and student wellbeing. V Ramgopal Rao, group vice-chancellor of BITS Pilani and former director of IIT Delhi, says the revised approach aims to move beyond conventional classroom-based teaching and provide students with greater flexibility to pursue their academic interests.
The revised curriculum combines core foundations in science, engineering and computing with exposure to humanities, arts, design thinking, entrepreneurship and real-world problem-solving. The institute is strengthening its Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme (UROP), Advanced UROP and Super UROP to make research and project-based learning an integral part of undergraduate education.
Through these initiatives, students can work on societal challenges and receive funding to develop and test practical solutions. The Practice School programme also provides industry mentorship, while entrepreneurship pathways help students explore opportunities to develop their ideas into ventures.
BITS Pilani says it has invested more than ₹50 crore this year to upgrade undergraduate laboratories across its Pilani, Goa and Hyderabad campuses, aligning facilities with technological developments and the changing requirements of higher education.
The updated curriculum places emphasis on emerging fields, including artificial intelligence, data science, software construction, and quantum information and computation, astronomy, and materials chemistry. Students can select interdisciplinary electives, allowing them to explore subjects beyond their primary areas of study and develop a broader understanding of technology and its applications.
According to Rao, the curriculum responds to AI’s impact on education and the need to equip students with the confidence and practical skills to create solutions independently. The approach seeks to strengthen hands-on learning and encourage students to apply their knowledge to problems beyond traditional academic settings.
The revised undergraduate framework also introduces a Points of Experience system that formally incorporates physical and mental wellbeing, social conduct and community engagement into student learning.
Students are required to complete 30 Points of Experience, equivalent to approximately 60 hours of activities. These include fitness, creative pursuits, wellbeing workshops and community engagement. The activities are recognised through experience points rather than conventional academic credits.
Through these changes, BITS Pilani aims to combine technical education with practical experience, interdisciplinary exploration and personal development, preparing graduates to navigate an evolving technology-driven environment.
