The Education Magazine
6th May 2025
To broaden access to crucial technology skills, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has created five online courses focusing on Artificial Intelligence (AI). These courses are now available completely free of charge on Swayam Plus, the government’s learning platform designed with industry relevance in mind. The aim is to give more people the tools they need in today’s tech-driven world.
A key feature is the open access – IIT Madras stresses that you don’t need any background in AI or even coding to jump in. Just basic computer familiarity and enthusiasm are enough. This opens the door for a wide range of people, from college students (undergrad and postgrad) and university faculty to professionals already working in fields spanning engineering, science, commerce, and the arts.
What You Can Learn: Practical AI Skills
The program includes five distinct online courses, each built around practical application and lasting between 25 to 45 hours:
- AI in Physics: How tools like machine learning can tackle real physics challenges.
- AI in Chemistry: Gets into using AI for tasks like predicting molecular behavior, using Python.
- AI in Accounting: Connects familiar accounting ideas with how AI can automate tasks and analyze data.
- Cricket Analytics with AI: Uses actual cricket data to teach sports analytics through Python and data science.
- AI/ML using Python: Offers a solid start in AI and Machine Learning, covering Python basics, statistics, and related concepts.
All courses incorporate hands-on work with real datasets and explore practical case studies.
Potential Impact on Education’s Future
This kind of effort by IIT Madras could genuinely influence how education evolves. Offering top-tier, specialized training without a price tag, via a national platform like Swayam Plus, chips away at the usual barriers of cost and location. It points toward a future where quality skill development is more widely available.
Tying these courses into the National Credit Framework (NCrF) also suggests a move towards weaving practical, online modules into formal degree programs, making higher education more adaptable and better equipping learners for the job market right away.
The Role of Swayam Plus
These courses are delivered through Swayam Plus, a platform IIT Madras operates for the Ministry of Education. Its specific goal is to create a stronger link between academic learning and the skills demanded by employers, often featuring courses developed with industry input.
Professor R. Sarathi, who serves as Dean (Planning) and coordinates Swayam Plus activities at IIT Madras, mentioned the NCrF alignment. This opens the possibility for universities to grant academic credits for these courses, boosting students’ skill sets. While learning is free, those who want a formal certificate can get one for a small fee.
A Real Chance to Upskill
For many across India, this offers a concrete way to gain practical AI knowledge without worrying about cost. Making these IIT Madras courses available through Swayam Plus is a clear step toward making advanced technical education reachable for more people.
Anyone interested can sign up for these free AI courses directly through the Swayam Plus portal. The window for registration closes on May 12, 2025.
Also Read: Viksit Bharat 2047: Is India Relying Too Much on Skills Alone?
