Don Bosco University convocation
A view of the 8th Convocation of Assam Don Bosco University at Tepesia near Guwahati. Image credit - Northeast Now

Assam Governor Prof. Jagdish Mukhi on Saturday said the Indian government wants to establish the country as an ‘Artificial Intelligence (AI) Garage’.

Governor Mukhi said this while addressing the 8th Convocation of Assam Don Bosco University its Tepesia campus on the city outskirts.

“The government of India wants to establish the country as an ‘AI Garage’ which means that if a company can deploy an AI technology in India, it will then be applicable for the whole developing world,” said Prof. Mukhi.

“AI research in India will focus on healthcare – increasing access and affordability of quality healthcare; agriculture – enhancing farmer’s income, farm productivity and reduction of wastage; education- improving access and quality of education…”

AI research will also focus on “smart cities and infrastructure- efficient connectivity for the burgeoning urban population; and smart mobility and transportation- for smarter and safer modes of transportation and better traffic and congestion problems”, said the Governor.

Also read: 8th convocation of Assam Don Bosco University on Saturday

He further stated that “NITI Aayog’s policy to make India ‘the AI garage of the world’ has developed a very unique approach for its national AI strategy by leveraging it not only for economic and military growth, but also for social inclusion, calling it, ‘AI for all’.

This strategy aims to enhance and empower young Indians with the skills to find quality jobs, invest in research sectors that can maximise economic growth and social impact and scale Indian-made AI solutions that can be implemented to the rest of the developing world, added the Governor.

The Governor said the University is creating and disseminating knowledge and skills in core as well as frontier areas of education, developing reservoir of youth power, which effectively participate in nation building.

The Chancellor of the University, Fr. Januarius Sangma said, “Universities should contribute in a concrete way to upholding democratic values that will help our country, and humankind in general.

“Respect, fraternity, dignity for every kind of work, non-violence, standing for truth and principles, upholding the dignity of life, compassion, kindness—these are but some of the values that we need to live for. This is how we build a nation; this is how we build humanity,” added Sangma.

Presenting a report on the University, the Vice Chancellor, Fr (Dr) Stephen Mavely, said, “Assam Don Bosco University is becoming a nerve centre for the development of the North Eastern Region. The University has taken up development initiatives in 42 villages that surround the University.

A total of 816 degrees in various disciplines were conferred during the convocation.

Gold medals under various categories were awarded to 20 outstanding graduates with the highest Cumulative Grade Point average in each programme.