KOCHI: Mahatma Gandhi University, in a bid to empower its students in cutting edge subjects, is launching a future knowledge initiative by offering optional electives in its UG and PG programmes from the next academic year, according to Dr Babu Sebastian, Vice-Chancellor. Topics like Artificial Intelligence, Robotic Science, Internet of Things (IoT) and Green Technology will be offered for the first time in India in an affiliated university. A bouquet of foreign languages will be included in the topics of study.  Students can opt for 25 per cent of the total course credit from the new generation programmes, for which academic regulations will be amended before the next academic year, the Vice-Chancellor said.  

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The Internet of things (IoT) is the emerging area of study which connects the network of physical devices, vehicles, home appliances, and other items embedded with electronics, software, sensors, actuators, and network connectivity which enable these objects to connect and exchange data. Each thing is uniquely identifiable through its embedded computing system but is able to inter-operate within the existing Internet infrastructure. When IoT is augmented with sensors and actuators, the technology becomes an instance of the more general class of cyber-physical systems, which also encompasses technologies such as smart grids, virtual power plants, smart homes, intelligent transportation and smart cities.  

Future technology experts have predicted that there will be about 30 billion objects by 2020. Green technology encompasses a continuously evolving chain of methods and materials, from techniques for generating energy to non-toxic cleaning products. Students aspiring for foreign assignments as well as technical writers, content developers, translators and interpreters will have the option to take up foreign language courses.