There’s no shortage of engineering colleges, and your view that engineering can’t be taught in silos anymore, what makes RISM fundamentally different?

We are rethinking the structure of engineering education itself. Traditionally, disciplines have been taught in silos, mechanical, electrical, computer science, but real-world problems don’t come packaged that way anymore. They are systems problems, requiring interdisciplinary thinking.

Industry is embedded into the learning process through co-designed curriculum, co-teaching, industry-led labs, and live problem statements every semester. Students also work on extended capstone projects from the second to the fourth year, ensuring sustained exposure to real-world challenges.

Finally, we are responding to the impact of AI on education. The focus has to shift towards higher-order skills, critical thinking, problem-solving, and the ability to work alongside AI. We’ve built a structured approach where students learn to use AI as a tool, a collaborator, and ultimately as something they supervise, not depend on.

Can you share details on programmes and scale?

We will begin operations in September 2026 with four programmes: BTech in Computer Science and Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and a BBA. The initial intake will be 400 students. Over time, the university will expand to nine schools, including areas like sustainability, biomedical engineering, and management.

What is the investment and campus plan?

We are investing about ₹850 crore over seven years. The campus, coming up near the BLR airport, will be a fully residential, integrated ecosystem with labs, housing, and research facilities. We will start with a transit campus before moving to the main campus by 2027.

Placements remain a key concern for students, how are you approaching this?

Our model is designed to make placements a natural outcome. Students will start internships from the second year itself with industry partners. But beyond placements, we want graduates who can work across industries as technology evolves.

What does the global partnership with University of Albany entail?

It covers curriculum, pedagogy, faculty exchange, and international benchmarking. Students can opt for 3+1, 2+2, or 4+1 pathways, allowing them to complete a master’s degree from University of Albany alongside their undergraduate degree. While joint degrees are not being offered immediately due to regulatory constraints, the pathways are designed to deliver global exposure.