VIT-AP Charts AI, Quantum and Deep-Tech Course as Campus Expands
VIT-AP has grown from 600 students in 2017 to about 21,500, with plans to reach 50,000 in ten years while expanding AI, quantum and deep-tech research.
Vellore Institute of Technology-AP, which opened in Amaravati in 2017 with roughly 600 students, has expanded to about 21,500 students, 1,100 research scholars and 625 faculty members. Around 14,500 students live on its 100-acre campus.
Vice-Chancellor P. Arulmozhivarman said the institution views its growth as part of the Andhra Pradesh government's effort to build Amaravati into a knowledge hub anchored by institutions of national importance. He said VIT-AP intends to contribute to the State's plan to develop five lakh youth and has set a target of reaching 50,000 students over the next decade.
Preparing students for an economy shaped by artificial intelligence is a leading priority, he said. While strong foundations in each discipline remain essential, students must also be adaptable, creative and agile in the face of technological change. AI-related learning is being offered across engineering, business, digital marketing, law and humanities.
Quantum technology is a second focus area. VIT has assembled a quantum faculty cluster spanning quantum devices, materials, sensing, algorithms, post-quantum cryptography and applications, with more than 40 faculty members engaged in the field. The university has developed its own quantum operating system and quantum simulator, and is setting up a National Quantum Laboratory to give students exposure from school through university level.
Faculty working on quantum technologies across VIT's four campuses are being consolidated into a shared research cluster. The university is also working with the National Quantum Mission and Amaravati Quantum Valley.
On the academic side, a "Design Your Own Degree" model allows students from the second year to take a minor or a second major in another discipline. A student could, for example, add a robotics specialisation to another major, with additional courses offered in summer so the programme can still be completed within four years.
More than 100 clubs and chapters give students avenues for leadership development and contact with industry experts, building professional and interpersonal skills.
Industry engagement has supported placements, the Vice-Chancellor said. More than 1,100 companies visited VIT last year, with around 90% of students placed. The highest package was ₹96.26 lakh and the average ₹7.05 lakh.
Research at VIT-AP is being broadened through direct and Deep Tech PhD programmes. The V-Launch initiative, he said, moves innovations from the laboratory to the market. Student ventures have come up in agriculture, healthcare, defence, electric vehicles and drones, with some attracting more than ₹70 crore at the initial stage.