IIT Madras graduates 177 students in BS Data Science & Applications

chennai: iit madras celebrated a significant milestone as 177 students graduated from its bs (data science and applications) program on thursday, 30th may 2024. this ceremony marked the graduation of the first batch of 10 students who completed the 4-year program in just 3 years, receiving their course completion certificates.iit madras launched the world's first 4-year bs degree in data science and applications, offering flexible exit options at the foundation, diploma, or bsc levels. mr. nalinikanth gollagunta, ceo of mahindra and mahindra's automotive division and an iit madras alum, praised the program's inclusivity, highlighting the diverse backgrounds of the students, including professionals and retirees.during the event, 26 students received their bsc degrees in programming and data science. an additional 120 students were awarded provisional bsc certificates as they continue towards their bs degrees. diplomas in data science were awarded to 122 students, and 19 students received diplomas in programming. ten students achieved both diplomas, and 411 students were awarded provisional double diplomas.ina video message, iit madras director prof. v. kamakoti emphasized the program's relevance in the age of ai and digitization, forecasting new job opportunities with a strong data analytics component. he encouraged students to embrace lifelong learning and innovation.prof. mahesh panchagnula, dean of alumni and corporate relations, welcomed the new graduates to the iit madras alumni community, while prof. prathap haridoss, dean of academic courses, congratulated the degree recipients.prof. andrew thangaraj, coordinator of the iitm bs program, noted ongoing collaborations with institutions for masters and phd pathways and highlighted the program's success with over 29,000 current students and 25,000 new applications for the upcoming term.the event also honored top performers. ms. ayushi sharad gang from hyderabad, with a cgpa of 9.74, is set to pursue a master's at the university of southern california. other toppers included dr. nikhil sadineni, ms. sherry thomas, ms. sanjana mohan, and mr. srikanth.overall, 85 students received certificates of academic distinction and merit for their outstanding achievements at the foundation and diploma levels. the program's direct admission to diploma stream also recognized top performers, including ms. shilpa paul and mr. ashish pukale, for their exemplary performance.applications for the next term will open on 15th june 2024, continuing the program's mission to democratize high-quality education in data science and programming.